Park Conservation District
5242 Highway 89 South Livingston, MT 59047
Telephone (406) 222-2899x111
March 3, 2015
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
MINUTES
USDA Building, Conference Room, 5242 Hwy 89 South
Livingston, MT 59047
11:00 a.m.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Gayleen Malone, chair; Martin Davis, vice-chair; Daryl Stutterheim, Dave
Haug
NON-BOARD MEMBERS: Jessica Anderson, District Administrator; Dylan Graves, BSWC member
GUESTS: Dave Molebash, NRCS; Ron Hoaglund, NRCS; Buddy Drake, FWP; Craig Flick; Jan Greenough;
Larry Dears; Chad Standish; Susan Herrera; DeWitt Dominick
Gayleen Malone called the regular Park CD meeting to order at 11:01 a.m.
310 APPLICATIONS/SITE INSPECTION REPORTS/DECISIONS:
A. PK-16-15 Approved w/ Modifications – Yellowstone River: Heart K Cattle Co. Excavation of accumulated sediment from center of channel and placing sediment along
channel margins below high water elevation in order to maintain flow to side channel inlet.
Drake recommended that they only dig out a 10’ by 50’ trench to allow for flow and that all
debris must be removed from the 100 year floodplain. There was discussion of potential
issuance of an annual maintenance permit, however due to contentious issues with landowners
and the city, it was decided an annual permit is ideal at this point. Haug made a motion to
approve with modifications. Stutterheim seconded and the motion passed, 4-0.
B. PK-17-15: Denied – Yellowstone River: Corbin Robertson, Jr. c/o DeWitt Dominick:
Restoration of a 400 foot segment of a spring creek through the removal of ~2,150 cubic yards of
accumulated sediment within 4 separate zones. Maintenance of portions of historic hatchery
ponds through the placement of large woody debris to improve habitat. Relocation of pond
outflow in order to reestablish segment of spring creek. Drake mentioned that Montana FWP
believes that this project goes against their beliefs because it involves the dredging of a
determined natural channel of the river that falls in the 100 year floodplain. This would create
an issue in a flood event, whereby public fish could enter into the private ponds, which do not
have public access for fishing. Because there is no screen at the outflow, the property cannot
get a private stocking permit, and it is being proposed in a 100 year floodplain, FWP
recommended denying the permit. After deliberation among the board members, with Davis
and Haug arguing that the project might also cause excess erosion and sedimentation in the
case of a flooding event, Stutterheim moved to deny the project. Davis seconded and the
motion passed, 3-1, with Malone opposed.
C. PK-22-15: Approved w/Modifications – Shields River: Samuel Skillman - Bank
stabilization through the placement of rock rip rap along approximately 350 feet of riverbank.
Drake recommended that they only use rip rap on the lower half of the eroding bank and that
Skillman pull a fallen cottonwood log into the bank and anchor it with two cables into the
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Park Conservation District
5242 Highway 89 South Livingston, MT 59047
Telephone (406) 222-2899x111
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bank to provide additional bank stabilization. Stutterheim moved to approve with
modifications and waive the 15-day waiting period. Davis seconded and the motion passed, 40.
PK-19-15: Approved – Yellowstone River: Bernadine Gerfen c/o Steve O’Neil - Maintenance
and repair of rip rap through repositioning rock back onto armored embankment. The work is
necessary to mitigate erosion along the bank in an area that had previously been stabilized
using rock rip rap. After discussion, Stutterheim moved to approve the permit. Haug seconded
and the motion passed, 4-0.
PK-21-15: Approved w/ Modifications - Unnamed Tributary of Rainbow Lake: Crazy
Mountain Ranch – Installation of a culvert to provide a stream crossing for horseback riding.
Drake recommended that the culvert be 36” diameter and 20 feet long to reduce potential for
horses in the stream. Malone motioned to approve with modifications. Stutterheim seconded
and the motion passed, 4-0.
PK-20-15 Approved w/ Modifications – Unnamed Tributary of Hammond Creek: Crazy
Mountain Ranch - Removal of sediment upstream and downstream of culverts along with
subsequent sediment removal within culverts to reestablish flow. Drake recommended that
they use four sections of 20 foot long, 36” diameter culvert to ensure adequate flow. After
discussion, Stutterheim motioned to approve with modifications. Davis seconded and the
motion passed, 4-0.
PK-14-15: Approved w/ Modifications – Shields River: T & P Ranch, LLC/Thomas
Harenburg c/o John Hogenson - Bank stabilization in three locations along the riverbank. 1)
Pulling 2 large cottonwood trees up against bank with a track hoe, returning river to original
channel and protecting cottonwood serving as each habitat. Placement of rip rap to secure
trees. 2) Bank stabilization through the placement of debris and rip rap for protection from
further erosion. 3) Bank stabilization through the placement of logs, which will be keyed in
with gravel and rip rap. Drake recommended that for site 1, they do not do any work with rip
rap due to an eagle’s nest near the project site that should not be disturbed. For site 2, he
recommended using soil to create a sloping bank at a low angle that runs from the current
channel to the furthest eroded spot to better accommodate future flooding and runoff. For the
placement of cottonwood trees along the bank, Drake recommended anchoring them to the
bank using cables to ensure that will not move. After discussion, Haug moved to approve the
permit with modifications and waive the 15-day waiting period. Stutterheim seconded and the
motion passed, 4-0.
PK-18-15 Approved w/ Modifications – Cottonwood Creek: 4 Diamond Ranch c/o Jim
Willis - Replacement of old irrigation diversion structures with more functional and efficient
structures. The only recommended modification was to allow 4 Diamond Ranch to repair a
pipe entrance, with permitted digging 3’ by 1’. Gates should be included at each site. Davis
made a motion to approve with modifications and waive the 15-day waiting period. Haug
seconded and the motion passed, 4-0.
PK-01-15 Approved w/ Modifications – Billman Creek: Brenda Gilbert - Culvert
replacement through the installation of a 5’ diameter squashed culvert. They are replacing a 36”
emergency culvert with a 5’ squashed culvert. Drake recommended that the area be reseeded
with native grasses after the project is completed. After discussion, Stutterheim moved to
approve with modifications and waive the 15-day waiting period. Haug seconded and the
motion passed, 4-0.
PK-23-15 Approved – Mill Creek: Paradise Valley Canal c/o Mike Atkins - Bank
stabilization project by banking back the canal bank and adding rock and anchor trees back to
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Park Conservation District
5242 Highway 89 South Livingston, MT 59047
Telephone (406) 222-2899x111
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bank to keep 80-100 feet bank from washing out. After discussion, Davis made a motion to
approve the permit and waive the 15-day waiting period. Haug seconded and the motion
passed, 4-0.
PK-24-15 Approved w/Modifications – Six Mile Creek: Alvin Pierce - Relocation of
existing headgate in order to get sufficient flow to structure. Davis described the project,
indicating that Pierce would like to move his headgate upstream to decrease sediment loading.
Drake recommended that they re-contour the stream and place rock at the toe of the ditch
while incorporating woody debris and native seed. Davis moved to approve with modifications
and waive the 15-day waiting period. Haug seconded and the motion passed, 4-0.
NATURAL STREAMBED & LAND PRESERVATION ACT (310) DISCUSSION:
A. PK-62-14 Approved - Cottonwood Creek: Warren Latvala – Construction of a pin and
plank structure for irrigation diversion. This project was tabled during the November Park CD
meeting until they came up with plans, which have now been completed. After discussion,
Stutterheim moved to approve the project with the new plans. Haug seconded and the motion
passed, 4-0.
B. PK-88-14 Approved w/ Modifications – Yellowstone River: Roger Bush c/o Lawrence
Dears & Standish Excavation – The project was tabled approximately 5 months ago to wait for
the applicant to apply for the Army Corps’ 404 permit and for Scott Opitz of Montana FWP to
view the site. They have now acquired the Army Corps’ Nationwide 13 permit to move forward
with the project, and have submitted new plans from a licensed PE.
C. PK-11-15
Permit Modification – Project location modified due to access issues with the
landowner. A conference call was held in March with three CD supervisors present to approve
the modification. The modification passed, 3-0.
TREASURER’S REPORT & FINANCIAL ITEMS:
A. Approval of checks and financial reports: Haug made the motion to approve the
treasurer’s report and financials, Stutterheim seconded and the motion passed, 4-0.
MINUTES APPROVAL
A. Approval of March 3rd, 2015 minutes: Stutterheim made the motion to approve minutes
from last month. Davis seconded and the motion passed, 4-0.
NEW BUSINESS:
A. Central Montana Weed Control Association Noxious Weed Trailer: As discussed at the
previous meeting, the CD has decided to donate money toward the purchase of an educational
noxious weed trailer for the Central Montana Weed Control Association. During a conference
call in late March, it was decided that they would contribute either $1000 or an average of
what other organizations donated, whichever was higher. After learning that the donations
had ranged from $100 to $2500, the supervisors decided that the $1000 donation would be the
preferred amount.
B. Noxious Weed Fair: The Noxious Weed Fair will be held on April 28th at the Park County
Fairgrounds in Livingston.
C. BSWC: Dylan Graves has been working on planning the floodplain workshop, doing SNOTEL
snow course surveys for NRCS, and helping administer 310 permits and the various duties that
the District Administrator is tasked with completing. He also was able to get out into the
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Park Conservation District
5242 Highway 89 South Livingston, MT 59047
Telephone (406) 222-2899x111
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Shields River with Montana FWP to do fish surveys at the end of March and, now that he has
the GPS unit to work with, can make further progress on the Jurisdictional Mapping project.
There is a technical training through the BSWC in Bozeman that is occurring on April 28-30
that Dylan will be attending.
Floodplain Workshop discussion: Dylan met with Barbara Woodbury on Friday, April 3rd to
talk about the workshop and make progress towards its completion. Barbara was thinking
that it would be smart to have it in mid to late May, possibly somewhere between May 11-14
and May 22-24. She was also thinking that it might be smart to try to reserve the Rolling
Rivers trailer for the event. We are hoping to hold it at the Park County Fairgrounds.
GPS Unit purchase: The GPS was purchased at a cost of $264, in addition to a $70 cost for the
landownership software. This is approximately $50 less than was originally expected because
Dave Molebash has a friend who works for Garmin.
310 Application: The 310 application has been altered slightly with several changes meant to
make it easier to understand and utilize.
DNRC 310 Admin. Grant: The grant’s paperwork has not come in yet for signature, but the
funds have been allocated for the present period and can now be accessed.
MACD Spring President’s Report: Jeff Wivholm, president of the MACD, sent out his spring
2015 report to all conservation districts. In the report, he highlights goals for the upcoming
year and talks about the divide between MACD and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts
of Montana Inc. (SWCDMI). Some goals include: calculating the economic impacts of CDs,
building additional capacity and partnerships, and better serving districts through the
Montana Watercourse Water Rights Training: The Water Rights Training took place on
April 9th in Billings. Topics included: Montana’s water resources, watersheds, water rights,
how to search for existing water rights, how to transfer water rights, how to get water rights
and maintain existing rights, and well log information and filing a 602 form. It was put on by
Montana Watercourse and the Montana DNRC.
Montana Envirothon: This year’s Envirothon competition will be held from April 20-21 in
Lewistown. Dylan Graves will be in attendance to volunteer at the competition and experience
the event.
OneMontana/Transition Agriculture: Joe Zimbric was at the meeting to interview the
supervisors for OneMontana’s Transition Agriculture website that he is compiling. Joe was
able to speak with Martin Davis and Daryl Stutterheim about the program and get their input
and feedback.
NRCS UPDATE:
Ron Hoagland provided the NRCS update this month. He mentioned that NRCS would like area CD’s
to host a local group committee meeting outside of regular CD board meeting times to address NRCSrelated issues. The board decided to hold said meeting at 10:30 AM prior to the next board meeting on
May 5th, 2015.
Snowpack update:
Upper Yellowstone: snowpack @ 84% of 30 yr. normal
South Fork – Shields: snowpack @ 82% of 30 yr. normal
Brackett Creek: snowpack @ 116% of 30 yr. normal
Monument/Boulder: snowpack @ 93% of 30 yr. normal
Porcupine: snowpack @ 12% of 30 yr. normal
April 7, 2015
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Park Conservation District
5242 Highway 89 South Livingston, MT 59047
Telephone (406) 222-2899x111
WATERSHED BUSINESS:
A. Upper Yellowstone Watershed Basin Updates:
 Next meeting: TBA
B. Shields Valley Watershed Group Updates:
 Next meeting: TBA
PUBLIC COMMENT:
There was no public comment.
MEETING ADJOURNED @ 2:08 PM
NEXT MEETING:
April 7, 2015
May 5th @ 11:00am
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