Ruby Watershed
Council
Minutes-January 18,
2012 Meeting
Members present:
Rebecca Ramsey, Coord. Janet Marsh
Les Gilman Matt Jaeger, FWP
Kevin
Weinner, USFS Ann
Schwend, DNRC
Doris Fischer, FWP Rick
Sandru, RVCD
Camela Carstarphen, MBMG Dan Durham, NRCS
Trisha Cracroft, NRCS Donna
McDonald
Katie Benzel, BLM Jennifer Konopacki
Duke Gilman Shirley
Galovic, RVCD
The Ruby Watershed Council regular meeting was held on January
18, 2012. The meeting was called to
order by Rebecca Ramsey, Coordinator, at 6:00PM in the Moraine
Center, Philanthropy
Building, Sheridan, Montana.
Rebecca reviewed a book she is reading called “Pathways for
Getting to Better Water Quality: The Citizen Effect”, Lois Wright Morton and
Susan S. Brown, Editors. Initially it
discusses changing behavior for the betterment of water quality. She will report to the Council when she
completes it.
Rebecca reviewed the By Laws and asked for member/officer
commitments to the Council. According to
By Laws the Board of Directors serve two year terms with elections in odd
numbered years. At present the Council
does not have a full slate on the Board of Directors. Donna nominated Les as Chairman, second by
Janet, motion carried. Les was elected
Chairman. Les nominated Donna as Vice
Chairman, second by Janet, motion carried.
Donna was elected Vice Chairman.
Ann nominated Gary Giem as the Executive Committee member on the Board
of Directors, second by Donna, motion carried.
Gary was
elected to be Executive Committee representative on the Board of
Directors. Secretary position on
occasions when Shirley Galovic cannot be present due to time restraints was
discussed. Matt suggested volunteering
to rotate minute taking with the laptop and everyone agreed.
2012 RWC Meeting Schedule
Monthly evening meetings on the 3rd Wed. were
acceptable to the majority of Council members with a starting time of 5:30p for pot luck dinner,
6p for meeting and a note to re-evaluate the schedule in May. The Council decided not to have a meeting in
Feb. due to Rebecca’s schedule but instead have the next meeting March 21st
at 5:30pm. Rebecca will be attending a
training in Billings.
Coordinator’s Report –
Rebecca reported that she is continuing as the chairperson of
the Missouri Headwaters Watershed Partnership for 2012.
The RWC’s projects for 2012 include the Alder Gulch
Improvements Phase I that will go under contract for construction with DNRC in
February or March. She will be meeting
with DNRC tomorrow, Jan. 19, to discuss the contract. (Note - due to weather conditions this meeting did not take place 1/25/2012 update to notes)
An RDGP grant application is being prepared for an Upper
Missouri Headwaters Channel Migration Mapping project that will involve hiring
a professional geomorphologist for a channel migration mapping project for the
main streams in the Upper Missouri Watershed area of southwest Montana. If the planning grant is obtained, meetings
will be scheduled to develop the scope
of the project, including priority streams to begin mapping, including the
Missouri Headwaters Watershed Partnership watershed groups, Conservation
Districts and Counties. The RVCD would
get a 3% administration fee from the planning grant.
The Miller Ruby Restoration project has received funding for
their 319 application with contracting this summer. This project will also include an Americorps
volunteer to set up the monitoring of water quality with the Alder school
children. The Future Fisheries grant for
this project was also approved for full funding. Ann wanted the Council to know that Rebecca
deserves kudos for her excellent presentation to the panel and being so well
prepared. Yeah Rebecca!
Each Member/Subcommittee read their 2012 priorities. Copies attached.
Soil
& Range Conservation – Dan Durham
Water –
Ann Schwend
Fish
& Wildlife – Matt Jaeger
Land Stewardship – Doris Fischer
(Madison CD is on board with Stewardship Award, exactly the same as RVCD’s)
Education & Outreach – Jennifer
Konopacki (continue promoting plastic recycling and look into recycling plastic
hay wrap and twine)
2012 Work Plan and 2011 in Review – Rebecca reported that
the development of the five year plan took the majority of time in 2011. We had our 6th Annual Welcome to
the Neighborhood Party with “adult” education stations. Our lessons learned included “no” on the
T-shirts in 2012, “yes” on the bandanas, fewer stations and longer presentations. Kids River Resource Day was held at the Giem
Angus Ranch – more people are becoming engaged with the Council and enjoying
their experiences, such as the USF&WS and the Ennis Fish Hatchery. Our 2012 Work Plan should have a special
column for “completion date”.
Budget Committee – It was decided that the Executive
Committee would serve as the Budget Committee with Ann Schwend the
representative from RVCD. The primary
purpose is funding the Watershed Coordinator with projects and sustainable funding
the goal. Rebecca will set up a meeting
in the near future. Just as an FYI, the
Ruby Valley Conservation District can receive donations which are tax
deductible to the donor.
Next Watershed Council Meeting: Wednesday, March 21, 5:30pm @ Moraine Center,
Sheridan, MT (Potluck Dinner at 5:30 - Meeting begins promptly at 6:00pm)
Announcements, Upcoming Events:
Non-Profit Board
Member Fundraising Training –
Wednesday, January 25, 5:30pmto 7pm in Ennis at MV Bank,
$55/organization, includes dinner
Water Words that Work
training – Wednesday, Feb. 15 in Billings
Madison & Ruby Valley Conservation Districts
Annual Banquet –
Saturday, April 21, 2012 @ the Elks Lodge in Virginia
City. Band: “Dirty Shame”
7th Annual
Welcome to the Neighborhood Party –
Friday, June 29, 2012 at the Madison
County Fairgrounds Pavilion
Kid’s River Resource
Day – Thursday, September 20, 2012
Public Comment Period – Donna McDonald thanked the Council
for being the springboard to Big Hearts Under The Big Sky. It has been a great success and she
appreciates the Council’s contribution.
Meeting adjourned at 8:05pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Shirley Galovic, Administrator
Ruby Valley Conservation District
