THE BLACKFOOT CHALLENGE INC
Programs
Program 1 [2020]
Formed in 1993, the mission of the Blackfoot Challenge is to coordinate efforts that conserve and enhance the natural resources and rural way of life in the Blackfoot watershed for present and future generations. Our success is rooted in our approach. Through a community-based and collaborative process, we bring people together to identify shared values around community needs, we facilitate respectful conversations and information sharing, and we build partnerships based in trust. The results are homegrown conservation solutions that stand the test of time. The organization is increasingly focused on diversifying income streams to carry out our mission. In 2019, 14% of income came from Private Foundations; 8% from Corporations; 13% from Individuals; and 4% from Events, Tours, and Specialty License Plates. The remaining 60% of income is derived from State and Federal Agreements, much of which is used as cost-share in landowner-initiated conservation projects. BLACKFOOT COMMUNITY CONSERVATION AREA Developed an off-stream solar-powered stock water system. Completed 140 acres of forest restoration. Continued rest/rotation cattle grazing system with two adjacent landowners. Treated more than 100 acres of noxious weeds using herbicide and biological control. Hosted volunteer day to remove old barbed-wire fence in cooperation with One Montanas Master Hunters Program. Provided year-round public recreation on entire 5,600-acre area, including 1.5-mile nature trail, 6-week motorized use season, and hunter access via the Block Management Program. CONSERVATION STRATEGIES Hosted annual gathering of 25 public and private conservation practitioners in the Blackfoot to share information and leverage one anothers efforts.EDUCATION Created lessons about trumpeter swans for elementary school students for remote or in-person learning, including videos from the field. Reached 100 students from five watershed schools with rotating Naturalist Speaker Series, sharing presentations on mountain lions and cavity-nesting birds. Completed final report on six years of stream monitoring by citizen scientists and students from five schools for the Southwestern Crown Collaborative. Coordinated 10 citizen science volunteers who collected data on three rare bird species: long-billed curlews, common loons, and great gray owls. As part of Pure Montana Tales, hosted a family-friendly field trip on birds and native plants.FORESTRY Provided on-site forest health and fuel reduction education to nearly 30 landowners. Coordinated 261 acres of hazardous fuel reduction around homes to improve forest health and community resilience to wildfire. Supported local forestry jobs and provided wood products to local sawmills. Accomplished two prescribed burns on a total of 16 acres of private property. Continued collaborative, cross-boundary prescribed burn planning across thousands of acres for implementation in 2021 and beyond.LAND STEWARDSHIP Completed grazing management plans on several properties totaling approximately 1,000 acres to improve riparian area health and wildlife habitat. Hosted Soil Health Work Group Tour for more than 30 participants, visiting several properties to learn about soil health concepts and innovative management tools being used by landowners. Collaborated with NRCS on the second year of a conifer encroachment removal project near Helmville, with a goal to restore more than 2,500 acres of native prairie before 2023. SWANS Five pairs of trumpeter swans nested and successfully fledged 20 cygnets. Hosted 20 people for a trumpeter swan release in June. Fitted two non-nesting adult swans with GPS radio collars, allowing us to track their summer habitat use, fall migration, and wintering site locations. VEGETATION Offered treatment recommendations to landowners including native and exotic plant identification, herbicide products, biological control, and reseeding practices. Created a Noxious Weeds and their Native Plant Look-A-Likes video for remote education during the Covid-19 pandemic. Hosted two weed pulls at the Russell Gates Fishing Access Site for the 22nd year in a row. Continued implementation of three-year Wildlife Habitat Improvement Grant on the BCCA with targeted spot treatment herbicide applications and biological control insect releases. Worked with a local contractor using drone technology to apply an herbicide trial on cheatgrass.WATER Hired a drought technician who helped dozens of landowners update their individual water conservation plans to prepare for changes to the Blackfoot Drought Response Program. Conducted pre-project planning on one new stream restoration project and on phase 2 of a beaver dam analog project planned for 2021. Created weekly irrigation water management and soil health reports, guiding 100 landowners on improving soil health and operating with limited water. Conducted irrigation pump efficiency evaluations on two ranches to provide landowner guidance on improving energy and water use efficiency. Installed soil moisture monitors on three area ranches covering 11 irrigated fields to help producers improve irrigation water efficiency, especially in drought years. WILDLIFE Installed two temporary turbo-fladry fences around ranch calving areas to deter wolves. Constructed six electric fences around calving yards, beehives, chicken coops, and homesites, as well as the carcass composting facility, to prevent grizzly bear conflicts. Picked up carcasses year-round throughout the Blackfoot watershed, Powell County and Granite County to minimize attracting bears and wolves onto ranches. Three seasonal Range Riders monitored carnivore activity and increased herd supervision on ranches and grazing leases across the watershed. Provided homeowners with conflict reduction information and tools related to attractants such as fruit trees, garbage, livestock feed, outside freezers and pet food. Elk Hunt Coordinator responded to information requests from hunters and scheduled hunts on participating ranches during the elk hunt shoulder seasons. Conducted winter forest carnivore monitoring with the Southwestern Crown Collaborative. Collared one male grizzly bear for research and collected grizzly bear hair samples for DNA.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$1.1MBlackfoot Challenge Conservation Efforts
Formed in 1993, the mission of the Blackfoot Challenge is "to coordinate efforts that conserve and enhance the natural resources and rural way of life in the Blackfoot watershed for present and future generations." Our success is rooted in our approach. Through a community-based and collaborative process, we bring people together to identify shared values around community needs, we facilitate respectful conversations and information sharing, and we build partnerships based in trust. The results are homegrown conservation solutions that stand the test of time.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OGeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$1.3M
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