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Welcome to the quarterly River to Lake newsletter.
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Conservation & Restoration
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Bad Rock Canyon WMA celebration planned for next year
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The ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of the new Bad Rock Canyon Wildlife Management Area was postponed until 2023, due to event scheduling complications. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is working on the management plan for the property, including parking, trail access, and hunting opportunities. Last July, the agency made a recommendation to Fish & Wildlife Commission to approve a hunting season mainly for youth and disabled hunters, some general hunter access during the archery season, and periods of rest to limit wildlife displacement. Learn more about this project here.
Please stay tuned for an opening celebration in the future!
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Walking tour of Rain Gardens very popular
In July, the City of Kalispell, the Flathead Conservation District, and the Flathead Basin Commission hosted a Rain Garden walking tour to showcase 5 gardens implemented throughout the city. The tour, which was capped at 25 participants, filled up quickly. The Rain Garden Initiative is a grant program that helps homeowners pay for the installation.
Rain gardens not only include beautiful native plants but are especially designed to help capture and absorb rainwater and filter pollutants out of stormwater runoff. They are also a feeding and resting place for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. They are low-maintenance after establishment and don’t have to be mowed or fertilized. To showcase the benefits, participants walked 2.5 miles, met others interested in healthy urban environments, and heard stories from the residents that have installed their own rain gardens. Click here to learn more about the Rain Garden Initiative.
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Volunteers remove 5,100 pound of trash from Flathead Waters
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On August 13th, 210 volunteers removed 5,100 pounds of trash from 140 miles of riverbank and lakeshore throughout the Flathead Watershed. The 2022 Flathead Waters Cleanup was hosted by the Flathead Basin Commission, the Flathead Conservation District, the Flathead Lakers, the Flathead Rivers Alliance, and the Lake County Conservation District. At the end of the day, volunteers enjoyed live music, food, and prize givewaway at Sacred Waters Brewing Company.
Thank you to everyone who made his event a big success!
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River to Lake Initiative partners news
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Flathead Conservation District hires new Program Manager
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Jessie Walthers recently joined the Flathead Conservation District as the new Conservation Program Manager. She will oversee and manage the landowner assistance and education programs of the District. Jessie comes with a breath of experience and backgrounds, including degrees in Environmental Policy and Law and Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation, and years of teaching and coordinating stewardship and education programs. Jessie is excited for the opportunity to work to conserve our magnificent natural resources in the Flathead Valley. Jessie can be contacted at (406) 752-4220 or jessie@flatheadcd.org. Welcome Jessie!
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Kris Tempel recognized for contributions to conservation
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Flathead River to Lake Initiative partners recognized Kris Tempel for her outstanding contribution to conservation successes in the Flathead region. Earlier this year, Kris took a position with the US Forest Service where she will help manage the Forest Legacy and Community Forest and Open Space programs in Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Utah, and Nevada. While working with FWP, Kris worked with landowners, other state and federal agencies, conservation organizations, tribes, and a variety of resources professionals to permanently conserve and secure important working forests, fish and wildlife habitat, and public access through conservation easements and land acquisitions. Through these partnerships, she was able to complete fourteen conservation easement and fee acquisition projects which conserved 49,000 acres of working forests in northwest Montana.
"It takes a village to accomplish any conservation project, so it feels strange to be singled out for the part I played, but I must say I deeply appreciate it. Keep up the great work!" Kris said.
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From left to right: Shirley Folkwein-Upper Neighborhood Association, Mark Schiltz-MT Land Reliance, Kris Tempel-US Forest Service, Lynn Ducharme- Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, Gael Bissell-Flathead Audubon, Emily Henry-Flathead Basin Commission (FBC), Sean Johnson-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Samantha Tappenbeck-Flathead Conservation District (FCD), Karli Becher-NRCS, Casey Lewis-City of Kalispell Public Works, Paul Travis-Flathead Land Trust (FLT), Kate Wilson-FBC, Laura Katzman-Flathead Land Trust, Ginger Ringdon-FCD, Constanza von der Pahlen-Flathead Lakers.
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Events and Volunteer Opportunities
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Flathead River to Lake Initiative meeting
Wednesday, Sept. 28, 9 am to 12 pm
The Flathead R2L Initiative quarterly meeting will be on Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 9:00 am till noon at the Creston Fish Hatchery Pavilion in Kalispell. For more information, contact Constanza von der Pahlen at constanza@flatheadlakers.org or 406-883-1341.
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Volunteers needed to help restore Krause Creek
October 17-21
Flathead Conservation District is seeking volunteers to help restore Krause Creek, a seasonal stream originating in the Swan Mountains and terminating in Echo Lake, north of Bigfork. Volunteers will help implement low-tech process-based techniques, such as beaver dam analogs and post-assisted log structures, October 17-21. To volunteer one or more days that week, call 406-752-4220. Click here to learn more about the Krause Creek restoration project.
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News stories
- In Flathead Lake, Maintaining Healthy Nutrient Levels is a Balancing Act, July 15, 2022, by Tristan Scott, Flathead Beacon
- Tours showcase environmental benefits of rain gardens, August 16, 2022, by Luke Seymour, Daily Inter Lake
- Flathead Rivers Alliance Hosts Second Annual Cleanup Day, August 10, by Maggie Dresser, Flathead Beacon.
- Planning Board Votes Down Controversial Columbia Falls Development, August 12, by Mike Kordenbrock, Flathead Beacon
- Relationship with the land - why does it matter if conservation is locally led? July 7, 2022, by Louis Wertz, On Land, Western Landowners Alliance
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