|
GREEN MOUNTAIN
CONSERVATION DISTRICT
2952 HWY 200
P.O. BOX 1329
TROUT CREEK, MT
59874
PHONE: (406) 827-4833
email:
GMCD@blackfoot.net
OFFICE
HOURS: 9A - 12N
Tues/Wed/Thur
(Please call first to assure someone will be there)
NEXT BOARD
MEETING:
August 20, 2008
7:00P
- District Business
8:00P - 310 Business
310
APPLICATIONS DUE:
August 13, 2008
(No
Later than 10:00A)
Current Weather Conditions
GMCD encompasses 708,524 acres (1,107 sq. miles) of
Western Sanders County,
Montana from Thompson
Falls River to Cabinet Gorge Dam.
2000 Montana
Watershed Stewardship Award Recipient
GMCD OFFICE BUILDING
|
The
Green
Mountain Conservation District (GMCD) was organized on
November 4, 1941 and is one of 58 conservation districts in Montana.
A non-paid elected and appointed board of supervisors
governs district activities. GMCD operations are partially
funded by a 1.5 mill tax on county property, with the balance
paid through grants from State and Federal resources.
State
Conservation Districts began forming at the request of
President Roosevelt in 1937 after Congress unanimously
declared soil and water conservation a national policy
priority. The 1930's financial disaster of the Great
Depression, followed by the ecological disaster of the Dust
Bowl, then the sustained drought in the Great Plains brought
about this action.
The main
function of GMCD is to promote conservation of natural resources. The primary
activity of the board is to administer Montana’s
 Natural
Streambed and Land Preservation Act, also known as the
"310 Law." It is a state law which requires
that any person planning to work on or near a perennial
stream or river on private or public land must first obtain
a 310 Permit from the local conservation district. As of
July, 2008, there are two new forms for applicants:
Instructions and
Joint Application Form. The purpose of
the 310 Law is to insure that projects will be carried out
in ways that are not damaging to the stream or to adjoining
landowners by following Construction and Design
Guidelines.
GMCD rents a
Tye No-Till Drill ("Pasture Pleaser")
 to
help Sanders County residents re-seed pastures. This tool
delivers extremely accurate seed metering and precise
placement in a 7 foot wide path with optimum soil-to-seed
contact for maximum yields. Charges to use this valuable
tool are $6.00 per acre seeded plus a $25.00 maintenance
fee.
Click here to view the GMCD No-Till Drill Agreement.
GMCD also has a "Gopher Getter" as well. Call
the office for availability.
The annual
Sanders County Water Festival, co-sponsored by GMCD, ESCD
and Avista, was celebrated for the
fourth consecutive year last October at the Thompson Falls State Park.  Approximately 135 students
from all of the fifth-grade classes in Sanders County, and several home-schooled fifth-grade students who had heard about this
outdoor classroom event, attended. See more on the 2007 event in
Water festival
. The past successes have given our Sanders
County Water Festival Committee many reasons to validate our shared interest in
bringing a better understanding to the students in our county of how to
appreciate, understand and preserve the abundant natural resources in our
area. Another role of GMCD is to sponsor grant-funded projects,
within Lower Clark Fork River Drainage (see map),
 to assist in forming and operating the
Lower Clark Fork Watershed Council.
Cooperative planning, development, and implementation of watershed
restoration projects takes place.
In turn, stream
banks/habitats, riparian/wetland health, and non-point pollution
conditions are improved. There are 7 watershed councils within
Lower Clark Fork Watershed Council:
Bull River,
Elk Creek,
Rock Creek,
Pilgrim Creek,
Trout Creek,
Whitepine Creek, and
Prospect Creek. |