Attention: Kristy Zhinin Date

Montana Department of Environmental Quality For Department Use Only:

PPA/WQP/WPS Received By: ________________

Attention: Kristy Zhinin Date: _______________________

1520 East Sixth Avenue Application Number: __________

P.O. Box 200901 Budget Submitted: ____________

Helena, MT 59620-0901

Montana DEQ 319 Mini-Grant Application

Please limit your application to 5 pages total.
Notice : Applicants must submit both a hardcopy and electronic application to DEQ NPS Outreach and Education Coordinator, Kristy Zhinin. [e-mail] 406-444-7425. Please refer to mini-grant call for applications for more information. Make sure to address all 13 items in this application, in this format, to be eligible for the grant. If the item does not apply (example # 8- no site event) write N/A.

Contact Information:

Applicant name, organization & contact information (address, phone, email, fax)

Flathead Land Trust

P. O. Box 1913

Kalispell, MT 59903

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Executive Director: Marilyn Wood

e-mail: [e-mail]

Tax ID number for fiscal sponsor organization (Fiscal sponsors can be a school, community group, non-profit or other organization. Individuals cannot apply for this grant)
Flathead Land Trust is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.

Our employer identification number is 36-3479966.

Project Description:

1. Project title & location

River to Lake Initiative Web Site

The River to Lake Initiative focuses on conservation and restoration of critical lands along the main stem of the Flathead River from the confluence near Columbia Falls to the North Shore of Flathead Lake. Outreach and education about this initiative would be accomplished through the implementation of a web site.

2. What nonpoint source pollution or water quality issue does this project address?

The main stem of the Flathead River and North Shore of Flathead Lake have been identified as critical areas for maintaining water quality, wildlife habitat, farmland and general rural character in the Flathead Watershed. The protection and restoration of land in the river corridor will maintain and improve water quality.

3. What education and/or outreach activity is planned to address the above issue?

The web site would educate landowners, concerned citizens, the local community and our partners about the status of conservation projects, provide a forum for discussion of topics of interest and concern (for example, restoration methods and monitoring results), function as a clearing house for educational materials, and have a community calendar with relevant workshops and functions.

Web sites have become increasingly important as a tool in community outreach. There is a definite interest and need for land and water conservation in the Flathead Valley. A web site about the River to Lake Initiative would further the goals of the program.
4. How does the project fit into larger watershed efforts in the region?

The River to Lake Initiative is a community-based conservation initiative that seeks to empower the local community to work towards a sustainable future.

In 2003 Flathead Land Trust led a complex collaborative effort to protect significant farmlands with state and federal programs. The effort resulted in the protection of Weaver Slough, 921 acres of farmland and associated wetlands, using private donations and funding from Bonneville Power Administration, the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, North American Wetlands Conservation Act, and Ducks Unlimited. By 2005 with record subdivision approvals and increasing estate values, Flathead Land Trust and its partners undertook an evaluation process to identify the highest priority lands for conservation in order to be efficient and cost effective. Our Conservation Plan identified the agricultural lands and riparian and wetland habitats associated with the main stem of the Flathead River and sloughs, extending to the North Shore of Flathead Lake as the primary focus.

In 2006, Flathead Land Trust (FLT) developed a 5-year Conservation Plan, which identified our primary focal area: the River to Lake Initiative prioritizes a project area covering the main stem of Flathead River to the North Shore of Flathead Lake. This area has been identified as critical in terms of water quality, wildlife habitat, farmland and general rural character. It is a collaborative project between multiple partners including Flathead Lakers, Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Flathead Audubon, American Bird Conservancy and others. A precursor to the River to Lake Initiative is the Critical Lands Project developed by the Flathead Lakers in conjunction with FLT and multiple partners.

Accomplishments in the Flathead Watershed in 2008 and 2009 included the award of a $1 million North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant to complete phase two of the conservation initiative that aims to conserve vital wetlands in the Glaciated Valleys of Northwest Montana. FLT is the grant administrator. In May 2009 FLT was awarded $1.35 million from the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP). This money will be used to purchase conservation easements on over 1,000 acres of farmland and associated wetlands and riparian habitat in the Lower Flathead Valley.

In addition, in late 2008 FLT played a key role in the first ever conservation project on the North Shore of Flathead Lake, working with a private landowner and MT Dept. FWP. The 160-acre purchase received overwhelmingly positive public response and utilized funds from the Governor’s “Access Montana” program and a portion of the Doris Duke grant awarded to FLT. We have continued outreach to landowners on the North Shore. The River to Lake Initiative Action Plan (2009-2010), developed in Spring 2009, includes the following outreach efforts: launching a website and facilitating a community-based effort to conserve the North Shore of Flathead Lake.

5. Who are the collaborating partners and how will they contribute to the project?

The River to Lake Initiative is a partnership between private landowners, land trusts, conservation organizations, corporations, counties, tribes, and public agencies to conserve, enhance, and maintain our Flathead River and Lake natural heritage: excellent water quality, outstanding scenic and recreation values, and abundant fish and wildlife. The website will be a collaborative project between multiple partners including Flathead Lakers, Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and American Bird Conservancy and others. Partners will contribute on all phases of the development of the website, including determining structure, and supplying text, photographs, and maps.

Project Considerations:

6. Who are the instructors/project leaders & what are their qualifications?

Marilyn Wood, Executive Director, has been with Flathead Land Trust for over 3 years, first as the Conservation Director and now as Executive Director. Previously, she spent 13 years as the NW Montana Program Manager for the Nature Conservancy. She started her career as a wildlife biologist working with grizzlies in Yellowstone Park and later worked as a special projects biologist for Montana Department Fish, Wildlife and Parks. She is extremely experienced in Flathead County conservation.

Echo Nelson, Intern, Oregon State University. Echo is working on a Professional Science Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences concentrating on ecology. She has taken courses in stream ecology, restoration ecology, geographic information systems, communication, animal ecology, statistical analysis, marketing and management, as well as accounting and finance. Echo has sufficient knowledge lending to the creation of a website. Her internship with FLT will focus on outreach and education for the River to Lake Initiative. Echo will be working specifically with the local communities who live along the North Shore of Flathead Lake.
7. If equipment is being purchased, where will it be housed & how will it be maintained?

N/A
8. If funding is needed for a specific site event: where is it, how will transportation be provided & what contingencies have been made for rain days or alternative locations?

N/A
9. What skills and abilities are to be developed from the project & what knowledge is to be gained from the project activities?

Our main objectives are:

• 
  Building Community Support—a web site is a tool to educate private landowners about incentives and options for conservation
  
• 
  Conserving the Flathead’s Special Places—furthering the goals of the River to Lake Initiative
  
• 
  Increasing Organization Effectiveness—streamline the dissemination of information; the web site will enable communication between the landowners, local community groups, concerned citizens, government agencies, land trusts, and other organizations
  

This web site would be unique in that it will serve to coordinate and communicate with a broad spectrum of people about a unique conservation program. Some of our partner agencies (MT Dept. of Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and Natural Resources Conservation Service) work to provide services to landowners; however the River to Lake Initiative is unique in that we utilize the expertise of agencies and organizations to further the conservation goals in a specific area of critical need. The web site will be a clearing house for information and a forum for discussion and education.
10. How will pre & post-project participant knowledge, skills, or behaviors be evaluated?

We will monitor the number of people that visit the web site. We can determine how effective the web site outreach is in a number of ways, including participation in on-line discussions, attendance of web seminars, use of on-line resources, an increase in landowners enrolling or applying for existing NRCS programs (which include riparian and wetland restoration, wildlife habitat improvement programs, etc.), and an increase in landowners who contact FLT about conservation.

11. What are the expected measurable outcomes and long-term impacts of the project?

The outcome of the project will be an increase in conservation and restoration projects along the River to Lake corridor. The large conservation easement successes of the River to Lake Initiative have already catalyzed additional conservation projects.

Creating an easement neighborhood along the main stem of the Flathead River and North Shore of the Flathead River will strengthen FLT’s ability to steward the land due to the community solidarity and commitment to conservation. The protection of the North Shore, which provides a rare combination of beautiful scenery, wetland habitat, abundant waterfowl, and recreation opportunities on the shores of spectacular Flathead Lake, will be a legacy for future generations to enjoy.

Budget

12. What is the cost of the project & where will the 40% local non-federal in-kind or cash match come from? List by line-item all of the anticipated expenses and match sources, using the following format as a guide:

			319 Mini-Grant	Other Grant*	Other Grant*	Other Grant*	In Kind	TOTAL
TASK 1: Outreach and education (will include working with a committee on developing text and concepts for the web site)				1500			500	2000
TASK 2: Contract professional firm to design website			1500					1500
TASK 3: Launch and administer website					2000		500	2000
TOTALS			1500	1500	2000		500	5500
Other Grant Funding
*	1	Heart of the Rockies Initiative		1500
*	2	To Be Determined		2000
*	3	N/A		0
		TOTAL		3500

Project Continuation

13. What Opportunities Exist for Project Continuation or Expansion?

The web design and launch are one-time expenses. There will be annual fees for maintaining and updating the web site. We will support this project after the grant performance period through operating expenses (in kind contribution includes permanent staff time and associated overhead costs), fundraising (identifying and applying for additional grants), and collaborative efforts with our partners to maintain the website.