333.7:2 3 0864 1004 5873 9 measure C SJMLDOCyMEf MAY 1; 1974 c re s 0. M. Ueland. Editor, 32 South Ewlng , Helena, Montana OFFICIAL NE-WS BULLETIN Mar-April, 1974 Vol. XXVI, No. 2 PREZ SEZ - Charles E. Lane, Jr. - The time is here when MACD must take the action directed by your officers and directors if we are going to continue to be the responsible organization that we think v;e are. With the flood of bills coming into the legislature each session which require new regu- lations that affect many of us, the Association needs someone in Helena watching out for our interests. It is impossible for your directors and officers to spend the time that is necessary to ride herd on the growing bureaucracy. They are just supervisors and have a farm or ranch to run as you do. This last session in Helena brought this point home to all those involved. . We have good rapport now but we need the continuity of personnel to represent us during the interim as well as the session. If the Association doesn't move forward now, districts as we know them will not be around in the near future. We are going to be fighting for the life of districts and local control. We will have to accept more responsibility to keep local control but the alternative is much worse. The assessment voted by the directors is due on July 1, 19 74. COMMITTEE REPORTS Research Committee - Tom Wharram - HR 755, the Saline Seep Bill was vetoed by the Governor, March 29th but the legislature has appropriated to the Department of State Lands funds of $265,000 for the establishment of a saline-alkali control and prevention program. There will be a saline-alkali control advisory council charged with responsibility of working with saline seep to develop a program. public Relations - Bill Sibra - Public relations has been too often used to create an image to cover up what is actually being done. I urge all districts to show their true colors by conducting tours of their district. Let's start by taking the ministers and their wives on a Soil Stewardship Tour. Follow this with a tour for farmers and ranchers showing what your range resource program has accomplished. "Carry out these tours - Just planning them does not do the job!" Education Committee - Milo Hilstad - Teacher Training - Districts ™^^^J to sponsor a teacher in Conservation Education. MACD especially Snn?^rS^ attendance at an Environmental Science Seminar being held at teScheJs !a?l ar.T'/""J ''"^"'^ ''.' ''''• ^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ primarily for ceacners (all grades) and community leaders who want to learn more about our environment. Several agencies including Soil Conservation Service, iJn^n^. o^i^^' ^"d Conservation Districts will have input into various nKrqL^ter'L^Sits?"' ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^-^^ ^-P- ^^e course carries of Natufa!^^!or ^°"^^^^^# - J°l^" Vanisko - SJR 52 states the Department Of Natural Resources and Conservation and Resource Advisory Council will ISei^lJ Sl^niL^°'' ""^^ ''V'' legislature concerning sediment control, ^f^r^ ^ planned is a working committee to assimilate a situation state- a rLuL?%^^ Jv.^'^^"'^'^^^ '^° ^^^ P^^''= ^^'^ pertinent organizations aSd InS ?^^?«iS^ t^- Participation in developing a sediment control program and legislation which will meet EPA requirements. Great Plains Committee - Oscar Hipp.e - Failure to adhere to contract schedules is causing the SCS to expend valuable manpower and other expenses in revising and extending contract schedules. Funds are needlessly tied up by tardy compliance with contract schedules, thus inhibiting the conservation effort. District supervisors have authority to take greater supervisory action in keeping contract schedules up to date, so we call on districts to take greater action in developing reasonable contract schedules and in attempting to keep contract work up to schedule. Budget and Finance Committee - Gladys Hippe - This is the time of year district supervisors should be preparing realistic budgets for fiscal year 1975 and meeting with county commissioners to give a report on their past years activities and future budget needs. DISTRICT DOINGS The Chouteau County Conservation District, headquartered at Fort Benton, Montana, is worthy of special recognition for public involvement in district programs. Using the special project provisions of the Montana District Law, they have organized a Highwood Alkali Association with nine directors, a rangeland improvement council with nine directors and a Tunis-Fort Benton Wind Erosion Control Group with fifteen members. These 33 leaders and the 12 supervisors of the Conservation District total 45 people in addition to the professional staff and associated agencies who are actively working in leadership positions in that district. All of these people are active and are making significant contributions to these special activities and the overall conservation program in that district. The Richland Conservation District had its Annual Report printed in the Sidney Herald (4200 circulation) for the first time. The Dawson CD had their Annual Report published in the Glendive Ranger Review (4000 circu- lation) . Teton County CD held two night meetings with twenty-three ranchers discussing the advantages of proper stocking, pasture planting for early and late fall grazing and establishing workable grazing systems. Flathead CD is planning their annual eighth grade school conservation tour for the fXrst week in May. This tour reaches 1,000 students in 3 days. Big Sky, Inc., a cooperator with the Gallatin County CD has requested assistance from the district in locating a sanitary landfill site for garbage disposal. 6oil (Stewardship Week ilay 19-26. 1974 Governor Tom Judge has proclaimed May 19-26, 1974 as Soil Stewardship Week In Montana. The National Association of Conservation Districts, a non-governmental organization of 3,000 individual districts and their 50 state associations throughout America sponsor this event to emphasize that the basic motiva- tion for the conservation and orderly development of natural resources is man's recognition of his responsibility under God to protect and use wisely His precious gifts of soil, water, and the myriad of related elements making up our environment. MONTANA ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS Non-Profit Org. /„ „ ^. U.S. Postage Pd, 32 south Eving - Helen., Montana 59601 (Return Postagc Guaranteed) Permit No. 171 Butte, Montana ficres C y^O E LV'ALE '■y^ — -. liZLEHA :.;o:;t 520CI \^g n&asure a STATE DOCUMENTS c re s 0. M. Ueland. Editor, Mitchell Building, Helena, Montana O F F » C I A L N E^ S B U L L E T I N Jan-Feb., 1974 Vol. XXVI, No. 1 MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 930 East Lyndala Avenu:- '^elena, Montana 5960 PREZ SEZ - Charles E. Lane, Jr. - Time really has a way of rolling around faster all the time. It is later than we think in more ways than one. Time for our annual trip to Washington, D. C. To me, this is one of the best activities for Districts that we are doing. It lets Washington know that in Montana districts are sincere in their efforts for conservation and we get to brag a little and to complain a little while we are there. Also, we bring back some new ideas for districts to better serve conservation. New trends are in store for districts in the very near future which will be expanded on in the next and subsequent issues of Treasure Acres. I was privileged to attend two of the districts Conservation Days in the last month. I was really im- pressed by the talent that is available at the local level, it is fantastic and I'm sure it is the same all over the state. Districts are just going to have to brag a little bit more about what they have done in the past and let the public know they are around and doing one hell of a job. COMMITTEE REPORTS Education - Vi Swank - If you don't have the Speech Contest materials in the proper hands yet, please do so right away. You should have your districts order their Soil Stewardship material for Soil Stewardship Week. There is a better selection of materials this year. Regular church bulletins or bulletin inserts and pastor packs are available for use in the churches. There is also some colorful postors for public display and short tapes and films to be used for TV and radio stations. These would be a ideal way to reach the public with little expense. If you don't want to use the prepared tapes — a personal interview on TV or radio would be appropriate. Public Relations - Bill Sibra - All Districts will be receiving public relations resolutions that were passed at the last State Convention. I urge that all districts take prompt action on these resolutions to promote our pviblic image. Good conservation does not cost, it pays. Budget & Finance - Gladys Hippe - Iiany thanks are due a number of districts who hdve paid 100% of their dues for 1974. Associate member dues are lagging. Any individual who cares to financially help support the conservation district cause may do so for a $5.00 associate membership. Research - Tom Wharram - It looks as though there is strong support in the present legislature for funding for saline seep and alkali control research. This is a growing problem which many districts are tackling but need some extra help on. In addition there is support for a state study and development of a state plan for saline seep-alkali control. HB 755 and SB 707 are two bills under consideration for a state plan. Additionally a special appropriation bill will be introduced. Program and Outlook - Harold Jensen - A new cost-sharing program is again a reality after a lapse of a year. The new program is greatly reduced for the present year in amount of funds available. It is designed to apply to erosion control problems. Eventually long term 3-10 year contracts will be featured similar to the Great Plains Program. Conservation Districts will be involved to a degree that these contracts will require a CD approved conservation plan. Public Lands - Art Christensen - Jim McCann of Harlem represented the Montana Association of Conservation Districts at the recent National Public Lands meeting at Phoenix, Arizona. Legislative - John Vanisko - SJR 52 has been substituted for SB 401 and is under consideration in the legislature. This provides for a further study of various laws dealing with sedimentation and the drawing up of needed additional legislation to be submitted to the 197 5 session so as to comply with federal water quality laws. Several other bills of interest to CDs are beinq watched. fecreation and Wildlife - Frank Thoir>pson - >1ACD has established a major standing committee to handle district programs in the area of recreation and wildlife. The general policy of this committee is to respond to pressure in a logical, responsible manner with proper concern given to the landowners and agriculture. We feel recreation can be of great value to our state and the local community with proper planning. Little conflict of interest should arise. In addition, it is our contention that the rural people are true environmentalists and should be considered as such when wildlife plans and programs are developed. Farm Forestry - Don Naegeli - I recently attended a meeting of the Woodland Council in Helena. We discussed a variety of subjects including forest practices, extension .publications , insects, timberland taxation, incentive forestry program, subdivision and water pollution control. MACD Councilman - Carl Johnson - The Annual NACD Council Meeting was held in Houston, Texas during the Conservation District's National Convention. Major items of business that were considered included the approval of the actions of the National Board of Directors during 197 3, confirming the election of National Directors and acting on many resolutions of national and regional concern. Major resolutions that generated considerable debate were relocation of offices by USDA, the return of national land use legislation for field hearings and the new RECP cost-sharing program. DISTRICT DOINGS Fergus County CD - Metro reported that District personnel are working on conservation planning now. The District office has been helping many cooperators complete Form 600 for water rights permits to the Water Resources Division. Dawson CD - Dick Powell, Hank Lille jord, Keith Warrenburg, all of the 1st Security Bank, were in attendance to discuss what could be done about grasslands being broken up and the economic affects of it. In some cases, the livestock enterprise may be affected. In some cases these lands may be susceptible to erosion hazards. Try to get people to check on their soil surveys before breaking up grasslands. Getting some articles in major farm magazines was suggested. A tour on farmland was suggested. Smaller meeting in local areas was suggested. Valley CD - The town of Opheim recently voted into the Conservation District. The new Supervisors, Donald Potter and Gordon Crandall, were welcomed as new Board members and signed the Oath of Office. Park CD - The Board plans to incorporate the Goodyear Awards Report in their Annual Plan of Work for 1974. Judith Basin CD - The Board of Supervisors have sponsored two RC&D organiza- tional meetings in Stanford and attended other meetings in Lewistown. Dr. Allen B. Jergo , CES , working with the Bitterroot RC&D Project spoke at the last meeting. He told of the project activity in the Bitterroot and the goals and policies of RC&Ds. There is a lot of interest in multi-county RC&D projects in central Montana. FORESTRY INCENTIVES - Don Drummond, Forestry Div/ision, DNRC The federal government is intensifying its efforts to help increase the production of wood products from small privately owned forest land tracts under the new Forestry Incentives Program sponsored by the Agricultural Sta±)ilization and Conservation Service through the state forestry organizations. The Forestry Incentives Program (FIP) will apply in designated counties. Money has been earmarked by the federal government to be used specifically for, and only for, incentive payments for approved forest improvement practices on private forest tracts of less than 500 acres. Non-designated counties will offer cost-sharing under the Rural Environmental Conservation Program. Information pertaining to cost-sharing practices will soon be available from local Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service offices, local Agricultural Extension Service Offices, and local Forestry Division and Con- servation District Offices. MONTANA ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS Non-Proflt Org. . ,. U.S. Postage Pd , 421 Mitchell Building - Helena, Montana 59601 (Return Postage Guaranteed; Permit No. 171 Butte, Montana ^^ ' TrcasDre|| 526CI 5 jreaisiure He res (\ 0. M. Ueland. Editor, 32 South Ewlng , Helena, Montana OFFtCI AL . NEWS BULLETIN ?;?»•' May- June, 1974 Vol. XXVI, No. 3 PREZ SEZ - Charles E. Lane, Jr. - MACD's new address is 1728 9th Avenue, Helena. Our Executive Vice President is Pete Jackson. At this time I don't know our phone number. Your confidence in our new move is fantastic and your officers and directors thank you. When 80 - 90% of the districts are willing to give it a try and finance the program, we must be on the right track to a strong and functioning MACD. We will have some difficult times ahead in getting organized and establishing the kind of service most valuable to districts. Don't expect miracles. Don't sit back and complain about what is or is not being done. Get in touch with our office and lay it on the line so we can try to help. Communication between districts is a must and hopefully through our new office we can increase it many times. PETE JACKSON, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, MACD - jfgg^^ Pete Jackson has resigned as Chief of the Grass Conserva- £^^^ tion Bureau in the Department of Natural Resources and # ^gJ^ Conservation to take the position of Executive Vice T^ imi President for MACD, effective July 1, 1974 as announced yg!p||r by President Charles Lane. V^2|^^^^_ This is a new full time position created to better ^^^J^^^^^^^ carry out the day to day concerns of the Association ^^^pA ^^^^^^ which the officers, directors and chairmen of the various ^^H jC ^^^^^^^H committees have been hard pressed to do despite good ^^^■^^^^^^^^^B cooperation from many people working with districts. ^^^■^H^^^^^^^H Pete comes to his new position with excellent qualifi- ^^^H^^^^^^^^^^H cations having served as President of the Association, i^mi^^^^^^^^f^^ State Legislator, a Supervisor of the Madison CD, NACD Director, President of the Society for Range Management, and many other conservation and agriculture interests. The Association office will assume the responsibilities of secretary currently held by Jeanne Baluka. Jackson's past responsibilities as Chief of the Grass Conservation Bureau in charge of administering the State Grazing District Law and the State Rangeland Resource Program in the Department of Natural Resources and Conserva- tion will be handled by reorganization of the Conservation Districts Division under 0. M. Ueland as Administrator, and a Deputy Administrator, which is yet to be filled, according to Gary Wicks, DNRC Director. COMMIHEE REPORTS Education - Milo Hilstad. It is with a great deal of pride that we announce the 1974 Montana winners of the NACD All is Chalmers Education Award in Environmental Education. The Teacher-of-the-Year Award was won by Mr. Joe Israel of Joliet, Mt. The Chouteau County CD has been judged the state winner for their Outstanding Environmental Conservation Education Program as well as winning the six state regional contest. Chouteau County is now in the running for the national award which is judged from among seven regional winners. ";;ONTANASTArf„eRA. '-'-"^v Montana 5960, Legislative - John Vanisko. Legislation dealing with stream bank preservation is being worked on by Siev Seidensticker, Chairman of the Ruby Valley CD and a large number of interested groups and agencies he has contacted.-- Work on studying present and proposed legislation as called for in SJR 52 is progressing. A situation statement has been drafted under the guidance of the Resource Conservation Advisory Council and will be mailed to anyone who is interested in helping with the sediment control problem. Public Lands - Art Christensen. A Resource and Economic Impact Evaluation of conservation activities in a county yet to be designated has been recommended by the Montana Resource Conservation Advisory Council patterned after a NACD Public Lands Committee Socorro County, New Mexico, study. The objectives will be to 1) show economic impacts resulting from conservation activities in a given area, 2) determine value of improvements made by users of public lands which benefit the public, 3) look at primary returns at various levels of development and management, 4) measure environmental impacts, 5) reflect secondary returns, 6) develop a data collection and analysis procedure for land use planning alternatives, and 7) show multiple use values as a result of private investments and/or public investments. Public Relations - Bill Sibra. MACD officers and directors are doing a good job. They need and should get the support of all districts. We elected them, so let's all give them the help they need. We need to keep the pressure on our range- land resource work for better management of Montana's rangelands. It is not too soon to be working on exhibits for county and state fairs. Carry through with these projects - just planning them does not do the job. COMING EVENTS NACD Public Lands Committee September 10 - 12 at Boise, Idaho MACD Area Meetings September 30 - Area V - Kalispell October 3 - Area II - Ekalaka October 1 - Area III - Fort Benton October 4 - Area IV - Hardin or Billings October 2 - Area I - Jordan October 5 - Area VI - Three Forks NACD Director's Meeting October 19 - 22 at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort MACD Annual Meeting November 11 - 13 at the Yogo Inn, Lewistown, Montana NACD Contour Trip to Europe and Russia September - October. Call Bob Whitmore (509) 564-1166, Pullman, Washington for reservations MILE HIGH CD - Judged Montana Winner of 1973 Goodyear Conservation Awards Program. Board members are Art Peterson, Chairman; Ray Ueland, Vice Chairman; Jim Ballard, Hugh Murphy, Paul Gneiting; Mary Seccombe, Secretary; Joan Marie Connor, Treasurer; David Dickens, Extension Agent; and Charles Bordsen, District Conservation- ist. These people and many fine cooperators are to be congratulated for their out- standing work. CASCADE CD - was judged second place with Bitterroot, Lewis and Clark, Richland and Big Horn in runner up spots. MONTANA ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS 1728 9th Avenue - Helena, Montana 59601 (Return Postage Guaranteed) ^^ ^^ireasDrej .'::':t state libhary 9:;0 E ly::^ali: !ielz:;a -.iciT 5:0c! Non-Prof it Org. U.S. Postage Fd . Permit Nc . 171 Butte, Montana