UPPER YELLOWSTONE WATERSHED BASIN
Park Conservation District
General Membership Meeting
June 4, 2015 at 7:00 PM
St. John's Church, Emigrant
-MINUTES-
PEOPLE PRESENT: (17 people total)
Jessica Anderson, Coordinator
David Molebash, NRCS
Marty Malone, Park Co. Commissioner
Karen Loveless, FWP
Dylan Graves, BSWC
Jerry O’Hair
Gayleen Malone, Park CD Supervisor
Caryl Bigenho
Colin Davis
Marty Malone
Joe Josephson, GYC
Bob Zimmer, GYC
Allen Redfield
Virginia O’Hair
Alvin Pierce
Erol Bigenho
Jon Springer
Allen Redfield called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m.
EMIGRANT MINE EXPLORATION DISCUSSION
Joe Josephson and Bob Zimmer of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition came to
discuss the Emigrant mine exploration and results from the comment period, in
addition to answering questions about the proposed exploration. The Emigrant
Gulch mine exploration process that Lucky Minerals has proposed has been
controversial since it was first proposed, in large part because the major
landowners in the area rely on the agriculture and the area’s water, specifically the
Yellowstone River and its tributaries, for their livelihood. Due to the area’s geologic
makeup and the low quality ore that constitutes the gulch, large-scale mining would
likely result in pollution of Emigrant Creek and, in effect, the Yellowstone River.
Pollution is a key issue for the Greater Yellowstone Coalition and area landowners
because of its effect it could have on agriculture and recreation. A major concern
with the proposal is that the ore being extracted is very low-grade, maybe as little
as 0.4 ounces of gold per ton of rock excavated. Additionally, the 70-80 cores they
would be drilling during excavation would be 1200-2000’ deep. These two facts, in
concert, suggests that the risk of groundwater and stream contamination could be
very real.
One question we had was whether Lucky Minerals would even have enough capital
to engage in exploration and excavation, since it was heard that they have very
little money on hand. However, the guys with GYC said that Lucky Minerals will be
able to get the money in the next few years if need be, and the reason their market
cap is so low is because it allow them to maintain a low level of liability.
Even if the proposal for exploration is approved, it will likely take two to three years
before exploration will occur because Lucky Minerals would have to pay for an
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5242 Hwy. 89 South Livingston, MT 59047
(406) 222-2899 x111 or Jessica.Anderson@mt.nacdnet.net
UPPER YELLOWSTONE WATERSHED BASIN
Park Conservation District
Environmental Assessment (EA) to ensure that costs to the environment are
minimized.
NRCS FALL/WINTER REGIONAL WEATHER FORECAST
Dave Molebash with the Livingston NRCS office provided an update forecasting the
fall and winter weather for Paradise Valley and Montana more generally. NOAA
projections indicate that there is a 90% chance that El Nino effects will hit Montana
this winter. El Nino occurs when equatorial currents from West to East are much
warmer than normal. This is characterized by warmer, drier winters, which would
result Montana’s fall and winter seem similar to last year’s precipitation levels and
temperatures. Typically in the past, El Nino seasons result in about 70% of normal
precipitation through the fall and winter.
That being said, however, NOAA also projects for a wetter than average spring with
high levels of rainfall. This would seem to improve the outlook for next
spring/summer agricultural production. Ultimately, Molebash told the group to
expect the next year to exhibit similar conditions to this year, which would mean
drier, warmer temperatures through the winter, but nothing too dire due to a
wetter than average spring.
PROPOSED FWP HUNTING REGULATIONS CHANGES
Karen Loveless with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks provided a presentation
detailing proposed changes to FWP hunting regulations in Park County and
specifically Paradise Valley/Gardiner areas for antelope, mule deer, elk, mountain
goats, and bison. For antelope, FWP is thinking of opening a district in Paradise
Valley between Gardiner and part of the West side of the Yellowstone River up to
Big Creek). There would be a low number of licenses and would depend on
landowner support for access. There are approximately 200-300 antelope in the
area, which has not been hunted for some time. For mule deer, FWP is considering
introducing a low number of antlerless B licenses in Gardiner, which is the only
place with a large enough population to support the hunt. HD 393 will likely receive
extra permits due to problems with mule deer in the town of Livingston; the extra
permits are designed to hopefully reduce numbers around the city. For elk, FWP is
considering allowing hunting in HD 314 north of Big Creek for brown tine or
antlerless elk, and south of Big Creek only brown tine. They are also considering
opening up cows to youth hunters south of Big Creek. In HD 313 near Gardiner,
there are very few elk and bull ratios are very low. To combat this, FWP would like
to enact limited draw permits. This does not seem very feasible, however, because
this would put stress on many businesses and could realistically cause some
outfitters to go out of business over the winter. A more reasonable option would be
to create subunits within the hunting districts that are limited draw, or close certain
subunits during portions of the year when bull elk are most active. Another
proposal would be to create a winter management season, with landowners
qualifying by allowing hunters onto their land during the general season. In terms
of mountain goats, FWP is considering opening up some female only licenses to
control population in the Crazy Mountains. This is to manage the population and
reduce the boom-bust cycle that causes mountain goat populations to spike and
then subsequently crash. The problem with a female-only hunt is that it is hard to
tell gender apart, so it is quite possible that hunters could accidentally hit a male by
mistake. Finally, FWP is proposing an early rifle hunt in the Absaroka-Beartooth
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5242 Hwy. 89 South Livingston, MT 59047
(406) 222-2899 x111 or Jessica.Anderson@mt.nacdnet.net
UPPER YELLOWSTONE WATERSHED BASIN
Park Conservation District
Wilderness backcountry, which would start on September 15 and would include an
unlimited permit. The thing about the bison hunt is that only hunters who have the
means of carrying the bison out of the backcountry would be able to do the hunt.
Loveless made it clear that none of the proposed changes are set in stone and that
FWP welcomes any questions, comments, or suggestions that folks think could
improve the hunt in Paradise Valley.
COMMITTEE UPDATES:
A. Weeds
Right now is a good time to spray for weeds. One concern starting to come
about is hoary alyssum, which is a weed native to Eurasia that can be toxic
to horses and can seriously harm alfalfa forage. Herbicides should be used
during the dormant stage or before the first cutting of alfalfa hay.
B. Range Committee
No update provided.
C. Irrigation Committee
No update provided.
D. Stream Stabilization Committee
No update provided.
E. Wildlife Committee
We talked about the recently proposed Bison Management Plan for
Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding region, with the ultimately
suggestion being that there should be no new or additional action taken
beyond what it presently is, mostly because there is no money in place to
enact any new management techniques.
F. Mill Creek Subcommittee
No update provided.
COORDINATOR UPDATES
A. Park CD 5th Grade Ag Fair: The 4th annual Ag Fair will be on Thursday,
September 24th at Nelson’s Spring Creek Ranch. It will be held for all 5th
graders in Park County, with twelve stations (two new ones featuring swine
and fisheries). The time frame will be such that the students will make it
back to their schools by the time the buses leave at the end of the day.
B. YRCDC draft Cumulative Effects Analysis: The YRCDC’s next meeting will
occur on September 25th at Fort Keogh in Miles City to address the 3rd draft
of the Cumulative Effects Assessment. Once it is approved at the business
meeting on the 25th, the YRCDC will be hosting three meetings in October to
discuss with the public, including October 12th in Big Timber.
C. Montana Range Tour: The Madison Conservation District is hosting the
Montana Range Tour on September 16 and 17 to showcase projects in
Madison Valley region. The two-day event will feature stops at several
ranches and management areas to highlight projects occurring in the
Madison Valley. Registration costs are $50 through September 8th and $60
until the day of the event.
D. Broadwater CD/Lewis & Clark CD Soil Health Day: The CD’s are holding
a soil health day in Winston, Montana on September 17th. It is being hosted
by the Staubach Creek Ranch at 12 Pole Creek Road from 8:30 AM to 4:00
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5242 Hwy. 89 South Livingston, MT 59047
(406) 222-2899 x111 or Jessica.Anderson@mt.nacdnet.net
UPPER YELLOWSTONE WATERSHED BASIN
Park Conservation District
PM and features presentations by Jay Fuhrer, NRCS soil health specialist and
Tim Dusenberry, an L&C County Producer. Registration is $15/person and
closes on September 14th.
E. EPA – Proposed Changes to Private Applicator Program: The EPA is
proposing changes to the Montana private applicators program, including
making closed book testing mandatory, creating mandatory category specific
training, changing the certification cycle from five to three years, requiring
applicators to be above 18 years old, and requiring that ½ credits be
obtained in the last 18 months. The EPA is taking public comments on their
website until November 3, 2015.
F. Ron Hoagland, NRCS District Conservationist: Ron Hoagland has retired
from the NRCS Livingston office after 39 years of service. Keri Bilbo, the
Bozeman area Assistant State Conservationist, has updated us by saying that
they are in the process of hiring a replacement District Conservationist and
will be filling the position in the next few months.
AGENCY UPDATES:
Marty Malone provided an update about the Forest Coalition Cooperative he is a
part of due to his role as county commissioner. Meeting with various agencies
and the Forest Service, the cooperative has decided that we are no longer
harvesting nearly enough to reduce forest fire risks, either via thinning live tree
stands or reducing understory downfall and brush. The USFS is no longer doing
enough harvesting and is moving away from some of the techniques that can
best improve forest health. The cooperative is meant to create a system for
harvesting that better addresses forest health in Park County and Montana.
APPROVAL OF June 4, 2015 MINUTES:
Gayleen made the motion to approve the June 4, 2015 meeting minutes. Dave
Molebash seconded and the motion passed.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
ADJOURN:
The meeting adjourned at 9:12 P.M.
Next Meeting: TBD
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5242 Hwy. 89 South Livingston, MT 59047
(406) 222-2899 x111 or Jessica.Anderson@mt.nacdnet.net