SHIELDS VALLEY WATERSHED GROUP
Park Conservation District
General Membership Meeting
March 16, 2015 at 7:00 PM
Wilsall Fire Hall, Wilsall
-MINUTESPEOPLE PRESENT: (13 people total)
Daryl Shehan, Chair
Garry Cotant
Gary Hoyem
Carol Endicott, Montana FWP
Mike Dailey
Drew Scott, Montana FWP
Daryl Stutterheim
Jessica Anderson, Coordinator
Dylan Graves, BSWC – Park CD
Karen Loveless, Montana FWP
Alan Johnstone
Steve Tomschin
Jim Taylor
Daryl Shehan called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.
PRESENTATION: 2015 ELK BRUCELLOSIS SURVEILLANCE PROJECT
Karen Loveless of Montana FWP gave a presentation regarding the Targeted Elk
Brucellosis Surveillance project and a post-capture summary. The study,
conducted collaboratively with Montana Division of Livestock, has occurred for
the past five years across Southwest Montana and is in its final year of
operation. Loveless reported on the results thus far and on the objectives and
processes behind the project. Elk captured and tested as seropositive are then
monitored and tested for the following five years as part of the program. The
capture and testing has occurred throughout a designated surveillance area
(DSA), which has been moved by DoL officials three times since 2010 due to
study results indicating that Brucellosis positive elk have moved outside current
DSA lines. Elk that test as seropositive are fitted with a monitoring collar for
future tracking and those that are pregnant are fitted with vaginal implant
transmitters (VITs) that alert FWP researchers to birth events. Once the VITs
are expelled from the elk, researchers can test any remnants of the birth on site
for seropositive results and determine whether transmission occurs from mother
to offspring.
This year’s captures occurred in the Mill Creek (HD 317) and North Absaroka
(HD 560) areas in Park County. Of the 63 individuals tested in HD 560, only two
resulted in seropositive tests, and both of which were fitted with VITs. In HD
317, however, 16 of the 30 individuals captured tested seropositive, 11 of which
were fitted with VITs. The 53.2% seropositive result in HD 317 is much higher
than in other areas that have been tested and is a surprising result. The
individuals that tested seropositive will be tested annually for the next five years
and after five years, those that are still positive will be removed from the
population. A test for seroprevalence measures whether antibodies to the
bacteria are present in the individual, and, since it is possible to lose antibodies
over time, it is possible that some animals that tested positive at the beginning
of the study could test negative several years later.
[1]
5242 Hwy. 89 South Livingston, MT 59047
(406) 222-2899x111 or Jessica.Anderson@mt.nacdnet.net
SHIELDS VALLEY WATERSHED GROUP
Park Conservation District
The Montana FWP and DoL are hoping to use the data to create a transmission
risk model that will give a better understanding of brucellosis risk in the areas
surveyed. The model can help guide management of the elk population and
better protect ranchers and their cattle from wildlife interactions and potential
transmission. By tracking animal movement and interactions within the herd,
FWP is hoping to better track where elk are at various times throughout the
year. This will all be used by DoL and FWP to guide management in the future.
PRESENTATION: 2015 ELK MANAGEMENT HUNTS
Karen Loveless, wildlife biologist for FWP, gave an update on the Shields Elk
Management hunt for this year. The hunt harvested 119 elk between midDecember and mid-February. There are approximately 4000 elk in the Shields
as of the last count. 18 landowners were enrolled in the program, which started
right after the regular hunting season ended in February. 119 antlerless elk were
harvested, which is below objective levels and is attributed to the warm
weather, which forced elk up into higher elevations, away from hunters. In order
for landowners to qualify for the program, they had to allow enough hunters
onto their land during the regular hunting season. Hunters who wanted a tag for
the late season management hunts had to join a roster the previous summer for
a chance to be selected. Up to 25% of hunters on a landowner’s property could
be a landowner’s friends and family, as well. Loveless reported that FWP wants
to double the harvest to stabilize the population, and would have to more than
double it in order to reduce the population. However, it seemed promising that
when the winter was going well, approximately 30 elk were harvested per week;
the warm weather caused that rate to dwindle considerably later in the season.
With that in mind, it is hoped that future late season hunts will be more
successful, with the goal being 800-900 elk harvested yearly to keep population
stable. To sign up for next year’s hunt, hunters should register for the roster
between June 15 and July 15 of this year, although there is some talk of
extending this period to allow more folks to get on the roster. In HD 393,
hunters who had previously filled their tag during the regular hunting season
that are selected from the late season roster will be given another B tag to use
in the management hunt, with a maximum of two total tags available per year.
PRESENTATION: NFWF YELLOWSTONE CUTTHROAT TROUT GRANT
Carol Endicott, Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout biologist with Montana FWP, gave an
update about the National Fish and Wildlife Fund that is being administered by
Park CD and is going to help fund the installation of the Shields River fish barrier
and with Brad Sheppard’s pit tag research on fish movement in the Shields.
Brad Sheppard, formerly with the Wildlife Conservation Society, brought the
grant to Park CD and SVWG to gauge interest in administering it in exchange for
the overhead money that it will pay to the CD. Park CD will be required to do the
grant’s reporting aspects, which Carol Endicott says she will aid in completing.
Sheppard and Endicott will be performing fish capture later in the season using
electro-fishing techniques to tag Yellowstone cutthroat trout and remove
invasive brook trout, which the fish barrier is designed to keep away from the
native cutthroat. The scope of the project, broadly, is to help replenish and
protect the native population.
[2]
5242 Hwy. 89 South Livingston, MT 59047
(406) 222-2899x111 or Jessica.Anderson@mt.nacdnet.net
SHIELDS VALLEY WATERSHED GROUP
Park Conservation District
COMMITTEE UPDATES:
A. Weeds
No update was provided.
B. Water Quality
Shehan updated the group, reporting that the DEQ 319 grant for which
SVWG had applied was declined. There was very little information given as
to why the application was denied, and the group thought it would be
important to have a meeting with Endicott of FWP to discuss strategies and
tactics before having a meeting with the DEQ to discuss ways to improve
their proposal and shed some light on why they were declined. Shehan also
stressed that it is important to find new sources of funding so the SVWG
restoration plans would not go to waste.
C. Forestry
There are two talks upcoming in Missoula and Bozeman about private
forestry management. A representative from Idaho will be coming to speak
on how private landowners can best manage forest resources.
D. Wildlife
See Elk Management update with Karen Loveless.
E. Livestock
No update was provided.
COORDINATOR UPDATES:
A. 2015 BSWC Member: Dylan Graves is the new BSWC member working
with the Park CD this year. He moved to Livingston from Michigan and will be
helping with a variety of tasks around the office. He started at the beginning
of January and will continue through November.
B. Montana Water Compact: Graves provided an update on the CSKT Water
Compact currently being discussed in the Montana House of Representatives
after its recent passage in the state senate. The CSKT water compact is
intended to settle the tribes’ water rights once and for all while protecting the
rights and historical consumption of irrigators and landowners. If the compact
passes, a joint state-tribal board of five members will be established to
determine reservation water rights conflicts. The CSKT has also said it will
renounce the rights to water east of the Continental Divide. If it fails,
however, it seems likely that the tribes will begin to take landowners to water
courts to litigate on their rights, which will create high costs for landowners
and the tribes having to litigate.
C. Upper Shields Fish Barrier & Road Improvements RRGL: The RRGL
grant for the Upper Shields fish barrier went before the Montana House
appropriations committee on March 16th to be discussed for funding. The
SVWG proposal is ranked low on the list of 101 projects wanting funding, but
Elena Evans of MACD mentioned to Stutterheim that the democrats in the
House are going to try to pass every project that the RRGL fund is
considering.
D. Park County Landownership Maps:
[3]
5242 Hwy. 89 South Livingston, MT 59047
(406) 222-2899x111 or Jessica.Anderson@mt.nacdnet.net
SHIELDS VALLEY WATERSHED GROUP
Park Conservation District
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
Anderson reported the Park Conservation District has Park County
Landownership maps in the booklet form to be available for purchase. Those
interested in purchasing a booklet should visit the Park Conservation District
or contact Anderson at 222-2899 ext. 111.
Park CD Board of Supervisors:
Anderson reported that Ned Zimmerman has replaced Matt Levers on the
Park CD Board of Supervisors and has been serving for the past two
months.
Noxious Weeds Trailer: The South Central Montana Weed Association
Council is hoping to purchase an informational weeds trailer that will provide
interactive educational programs for youth and adults in the seven county
south central Montana region. The CWMA and Park CD, in addition to other
conservation districts and weed councils, are donating toward the purchase of
the trailer. Park CD is hoping the trailer will be available in time for this fall’s
Ag Fair.
2015 Noxious Weeds Fair: The 2015 noxious weeds fair will be held either
April 27th or April 28th at the Park County fairgrounds. The keynote speaker
will be Mellissa Maggio-Kassner, the state Biocontrol Coordinator. She will be
speaking about biocontrol, especially as it pertains to the management of
spotted knapweed and leafy spurge.
Park CD/Park County Floodplain Administration workshop: Graves
provided an update on the workshop he is planning for the Park CD that will
take place sometime in late May or early June. Working with Barbara
Woodbury, the Park County Floodplain Coordinator, the workshop will provide
information on floodplain regulations and permitting processes in addition a
number of other regulations and information that pertains to water and
watersheds in the area. Warren Kellogg of the YRCDC has agreed to speak at
the workshop and Graves is in contact with the Army Corps of Engineers and
a few other agencies/organizations that might like to attend. Park CD is
working with the Montana Association of Realtors to get continuing education
credits for realtors who attend the workshop, although anyone from the
community will be welcome to attend.
Spurline’s Informational Fencing Meeting: Spurline is hosting a wildlife
fencing workshop on March 27th from 1-3pm at the First Interstate Bank in
Livingston. It will teach landowners how to best use fencing to keep wildlife
away from livestock and prevent interactions on their property.
MACD Irrigation Water Management (IWM) Service: Anderson
reported that MACD is offering open enrollment for the 2015 IWM service,
which can be used in conjunction with NRCS EQIP irrigation programs for any
irrigators. Registration forms and additional information are available at
macdnet.org.
Enhancing Montana’s Wildlife & Habitat v. Montana FWP lawsuit: The
Montana FWP has not yet been served for the lawsuit that Enhancing
Montana’s Wildlife and Habitat filed recently in response to the FWP’s plans to
conduct elk brucellosis monitoring. The alleging organization has stated that
they believe the agency’s plans are flawed and unconstitutional, although at
this point FWP has not decided to change its processes in any way as a
response.
[4]
5242 Hwy. 89 South Livingston, MT 59047
(406) 222-2899x111 or Jessica.Anderson@mt.nacdnet.net
SHIELDS VALLEY WATERSHED GROUP
Park Conservation District
AGENCY UPDATES:
Karen Loveless of Montana FWP provided an update on the elk survey she
completed recently in the Shields in HD 315 and HD 393. In HD 315, 1,228 elk
were counted, which is very similar to the 2014 results. Survey conditions were
fair, with warm temperatures and patchy snow conditions. Bulls were not
observed in the foothills, as per usual, likely due to the lack of snow in a lot of
spots. Loveless reported that she thought the number was likely
underrepresenting the herd size due to the lack of bulls able to be counted. The
1,228 is slightly above the objective of 1,000. In HD 393, 3,449 elk were
counted, fewer than the 4,211 observed in 2013. This is likely due to elk moving
into the hunting district north of 393. A group of 400+ elk were observed just
north of the boundary and is likely that this herd is associated with 393. The
3,449 is well over the objective of 1,500 elk for 393.
APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER 17, 2014 MINUTES:
Alan Johnstone made the motion to approve the November 17, 2014 meeting
minutes. Daryl Stutterheim seconded and the motion passed.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment.
ADJOURN:
The meeting adjourned at 8:57 P.M.
Next Meeting: TBD
[5]
5242 Hwy. 89 South Livingston, MT 59047
(406) 222-2899x111 or Jessica.Anderson@mt.nacdnet.net