Welcome to the Montana Riparian Best Management Practices (BMPs) site

MONTANA RIPARIAN BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES 

Installing water gaps controls the area in which cattle can access the stream and eventually allows streamside areas to recover from repeated trampling.	BMPs like rubber deflectors can divert runoff into vegetated buffers, keeping   sediment from directly entering into the stream.

In early 2010, Montana Association of Conservation Districts launched a new project aimed at compiling best management practices applicable to a wide variety of land uses near rivers and streams. 

Ten Conservation Districts across the state hosted community “listening sessions” to obtain local knowledge and advice about effective ways of managing and conserving riparian areas. In addition, two more tightly targeted meetings were held by the Montana Association of Conservation Districts in Yellowstone and Fergus counties. These sessions involved a smaller group of area residents representing the diversity of interests who find themselves instituting best management practices to protect riparian areas from potentially detrimental effects of their activities.  Participants at these two focus groups included representatives from the construction industry, real estate, Exxon Mobil and Conoco Phillips, conservationists, municipal and county governments and agriculture.  Summaries of the final listening session and focus groups will be posted (below) soon.  

A final "Report Back" session was held in Helena on Tuesday, October 12 from 3-5 p.m. in the auditorium of the Montana Department of Health and Human Services.  A number of interested individuals, organizations and agencies attended to learn about and weigh in on the outcomes and recommendations of the listening sessions.  

The project goal was to document and share the "best" practices being used in Montana with others who could benefit. This local experience has now been compiled and includes a number of successful case profiles of BMPs and BMP related activities in Montana.  To view a copy of this final report report, click on this link: Taking the Pulse of Riparian Protection in Montana.

Montana Riparian BMP Project Advisory Committee

Jeff Tiberi, MACDBMP 

Rob Etheridge, DNRC

Lynda Saul, DEQ

Ann Schwend, DNRC

Doris Fischer, DFWP

Jerry Grebenc, MT Dept. of Commerce

Pete Husby, NRCS

Robert Ray, DEQ

Buzz Mattelin, MACD

LISTENING SESSIONS INCLUDED: 

A record of each listening session can be obtained by clicking on the "Summary Report" link following each listing below.

Lewis and Clark Conservation District (Helena) listening session 01/26/2010:  Summary Report

Cascade County Conservation District (Great Falls) listening session:  Summary Report

Flathead Conservation District (Kalispell) listening session:  Summary Report

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010

Kalispell, MT

Co-sponsored by Flathead Conservation District and the Flathead River Commission (NOT the Flathead Basin Commission)

Dawson County Conservation District listening session:   Summary Report

Riparian Area Management & Cover Crop Cocktail Seminar

Friday, February 19, 2010 

Glendive, MT

Co-sponsored by MACD, Dawson County Weed District, MSU Extension, NRCS, and Dow AgroSciences

(This was a day-long weed certification program and the Riparian BMP Listening Session was part of it.)

ALSO SEE EPEC Listening Session 2010:  EPEC Listening Session 2010 Agenda.pdf 

Richland County Conservation District (Sidney) Listening Session---Summary Report

Thursday, March 4, 2010

3-5 p.m. 

USDA Service Center

Sidney, MT 

Custer County Conservation District (Miles City) Listening Session---Summary Report

Friday, March 5, 2010

1:30-3:30 p.m.

USDA Service Center

Miles City, MT

Missoula County Conservation District (Missoula) Listening Session--Summary Report

Monday, March 15, 2010

1-3 p.m.

Best Western Grant Creek Inn

520 Grant Creek Road (I-90 Exit 101)

Bitterroot Conservation District Listening Session_--Summary Report

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

7-9 p.m.

Corvallis/Woodside Grange Dutch Hill Road

Corvallis, MT

Mile High Conservation District (Butte) -- Summary Report

Thursday, May 13, 2010

1-4 p.m.

McQueen Center

Butte, MT

Beaverhead Conservation District (Dillon)--Summary Report

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

7-9 p.m.

USDA Service Center Conference Room

420 Barrett Street

Dillon, MT  

Yellowstone County Focus Group - Summary Report

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Billings, MT

11:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Fergus County Focus Group - Summary Report 

Friday, July 23, 2010

Yogo Inn

Lewistown, Montana

11:15 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Helena "Report Back" Session - Session Report

October 12, 2010

3-5 p.m.