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Lake County Conservation Forest Proposal

Promoting wise use of natural resources in Lake County since 1945. Proposal for a conservation forest managed by DNRC to address wildfire danger and generate revenue for conservation efforts.

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Lake County Conservation Forest Proposal

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  1. Welcome! • Lake County Conservation District • Promoting Wise Use of Natural Resources • Serving the conservation needs of Lake County’s residents since 1945 • Unpaid Board of Supervisors meets monthly to discuss and address important conservation topics

  2. Montana Conservation District’s Mission • “It is hereby declared to be the policy of the legislature to provide for the conservation of soil and soil resources of this state, for the control and prevention of soil erosion, for the prevention of floodwater and sediment damages, and for furthering the conservation, development, utilization, and disposal of water and thereby to preserve natural resources, control floods, prevent impairment of dams and reservoirs, preserve wildlife, protect the tax base, protect public lands, and protect and promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the people of this state. ” (76-15-102) • This conservation forest would create funds to fulfill that mandate.

  3. Step 1 “Discovery” • Federal forest management changes • Climate change • Fuels build-up • What can we do to be proactive about wildfire danger? www.mdpi.com www.fs.usda.gov (Swan Lake)

  4. Swan Resource Management Study Lake County Conservation District

  5. Proposed Conservation Forest • 60,000 acre management unit • Made up of the non-wilderness, non-protected Federal lands in Lake County • Currently managed by the Forest Service • Managed under State of Montana laws, rules and regulations • Managed by DNRC, in trust for LCCD

  6. Step 2 Outreach • 4 open house style meetings • Over 30 presentations to groups • Explained concept of Conservation Forest • Asked participants to tell us if we should start a study

  7. Survey Results • Avoluntary and annonomous survey was given to gage support for the continuation of the swan resource management study.

  8. Public Comments Favorable: • Reduce fuel buildup in forest • Manage our resources locally through a collaboration with the forest service • Actively manage forest to maintain and improve forest health Unfavorable: • No data has been shown that there will be income from this project • LCCD does not have the funds to fight fires • Negative political and social effects of privatizing these lands

  9. Step 3 The Role of Management • Consulted Dr. Peter Kolb, Forest Ecologist • Study the dynamics that affect our Montana forests • Understand the role forest management can play as our climate changes

  10. Step 4 Economic Analysis Analysis of potential cash flows scenarios: • Conducted by Mason, Bruce and Girard, Inc. and BDL Forestry • 9 Potential Cash Flow Scenarios • ALL SCENARIOS HAVE POSITIVE NET REVENUES!! • Most conservative: $200/Mbf 40,000 acre. Net revenue: $497,950 • Best case scenario: $300/Mbf 60,000 acre. Net revenue: $1,646,950

  11. Conservation Forest Management • DNRC trust lands division • Laws rules and regulations of the state of Montana • State land board, payed fully with timber receipts • Timber receipts would also pay the state of Montana fire for protection • Net revenue would all go back into conservation work in Lake County, starting with the Swan

  12. Goal of Swan Forest Management • Profit left over from timber production would go directly to on the ground conservation efforts in the swan region. • This is about conservation, about money, and about more conservation.

  13. Step 5 Legal Review • State Level - Liberally construed, the State Conservation District Law allows for the proposed action but should be clarified further with the state of Montana. • Federal Level - It would take an act of congress to specifically set permission for a Conservation District to manage national forest lands.

  14. Next Step - Political Support • All politics is local

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