October 2013
Greetings!

Last month over 160 people made the trip to East Glacier to share stories of their work, connect with people working on similar issues, and engage in lively discussions. 

The Roundtable would like to thank the many participants, moderators, breakout session leaders and note-takers who made this event possible. A special thank you goes out to the many sponsors who supported the conference.

Slides from the breakout session reporting are posted online. The summary report is forthcoming. The conference evaluation is also available electronically (it will only take 5 minutes!).

Adaptive Management Initiative - 2013 Grants Program
Request for Proposals 

The Roundtable on the Crown of the Continent is pleased to announce the second round of grants through its Adaptive Management Initiative. Interested organizations should carefully review the information outlined in the Request for Proposals and submit to Melly Reuling at melly@climateconservation.org no later than 5:00 pm Wednesday, October 23, 2013. Learn about past projects.

Friends of the Crown
Friends of the Crown is an informal network of people and organizations that support the Statement of Values and Principles

Become a Friend of the Crown and join a network of organizations & individuals working to enhance the Crown of the Continent - 
"Common vision and values encapsulate the core identity of a culture. 

[We are] proud to support this effort to clarify critical land use and stewardship understanding in order to create a sustainable, resilient, and positive future for our collective communities in the Crown." 

- Friend of the Crown





Roundtable Leadership Team:
 
Clayton Matt
Culture Co-Chair, 
Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes 
 
Stephen Legault 
Conservation Co-Chair, 
Crown of the Continent Conservation Initiative
 
Mary Sexton
Community Co-Chair, 
Former Director, MT Department of Natural Resources and Conservation  
 
Dylan Boyle
Crown of the Continent Geotourism Council 
 
Anne Dahl
Swan Ecosystem Center
 
Ian Dyson 
Crown Managers Partnership,
Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development 
 
Shannon Frank 
Oldman Watershed Council 
 
Dorothy First Rider 
Kainai / Blood Tribe 
 
Dave Hillary 
Kootenay Conservation Program 
 
Alan Rollo
Sun River & Teton River Watershed Groups
 
Erin Sexton
Crown Managers Partnership, 
The University of Montana Flathead Lake Biological Station 
 
John T. Shannon 
U.S. Forest Service Regions 1 & 4 
 
Carole Stark
Water Matters

Paul Travis
Glacier National Park Conservancy 

Matthew McKinney
Roundtable Co-Director,
Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Policy
 
Gary Tabor
Roundtable Co-Director, 
Center for Large Landscape Conservation
Neighborhood News
During the Crown Cafe, conference participants had an opportunity to share the 60 second version of their current projects, goals, and opportunities. Below is a small sampling of the stories that were shared.
 
Flathead Lakers - River to Lake Initiative: has been working for over a decade to identify issues and work toward solutions on riparian areas. The River to Lake Initiative consists of over a dozen partnerships and is currently interested in making connections with large landscape scale projects. Learn more.
 
Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative: is excited to engage with people on large landscape issues and to celebrate their 20th anniversary next fall. Learn more.
 
Miistakis Institute: has recently finished a documentary, "Highway Wilding," on an initiative to promote safe wildlife passage across roads. Watch the documentary.
 
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes: are finalizing a Tribal Climate Change Plan and soon hope to receive approval from the Tribal Council. Learn more.
 
Glacier Two Medicine Alliance: works to conserve the Badger/Two Medicine area and recently held a fall gathering for the community. Learn more.
 
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This section features stories and updates from people and groups working around the Crown. If you didn't get a chance to speak at the conference or weren't able to attend, it's not to late to share - submit your story today!
 
Updates and stories will be included on a first come, first serve basis.
Regional News
Montana turns in a strong tourism season
Preliminary research from the Institute of Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana showed an almost 9% increase in the number of travelers visiting the state compared to 2012. Business Journal, September 24

Quiet fire season saves the state money
Last year's fire season lasted an unprecedented 120 days and burned millions of acres. This year's fire season got off to a similar start, but the fires were halted by steady rains. Billings Gazette, September 13
 
Protecting Montana's wildland heritage requires teamwork
In an op-ed, the Montana Wilderness Society and the Professional Wilderness Outfitters Association announce their partnership to "protect and promote backcountry opportunities."Independent Record, September 18

FWP lifts fishing closure on Blackfoot River, tributaries
As water levels dropped, Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials closed the Blackfoot River in early September to reduce stress to resident fish populations. The closure is part of a low-water response in the Blackfoot Drought Response Plan. Missoulian, September 17

Blackfeet order BIA to stop construction at prehistoric site
After workers uncovered a prehistoric bison site while working on the new dormitory at the Cut Bank Boarding School, the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council issued a resolution to halt construction. Tribal officials allege that the Bureau of Indian Affairs failed to conduct an environmental assessment of the site or to consult with the tribe. Great Falls Tribune, September 11

Trout - Addition by subtraction
According to scientists, removing up to 75% of the adult lake trout population is necessary for the survival of native fish populations. Missoula Independent, September 19
Beyond the Region
Water expert calls for national flood-prediction program
After the massive flooding in June, the insurance industry is calling for updated flood maps and the chairman of the United Nations Water for Life Decade Initiative is calling for a federal program that links "hydrological and meteorological modeling in near-real time." Calgary Herald, September 17 

British Columbia Water Sustainability Act
Earlier this month, British Columbia's Minister of the Environment, Mary Polak, expressed the government's commitment to preparing an updated Water Sustainability Act for the 2014 legislative session. Read the op-ed. The public can follow-along and comment on the proposed act here
Publications
Commercial Activities on National Forests
This interactive map by Headwaters Economics helps users understand "the commercial activities on National Forests such as the timber economy - gross receipts, timber harvest sales, and timber cuts - at a variety of scales. 

America's Great Outdoors - Crown of the Continent Demonstration Landscape
Interagency Strategic Plan 2013 - 2018
This report provides an overview of the "vision, goals, and strategies to enhance locally identified and locally led conservation inititatives to accomplish the protection, restoration, and enjoyment of this region." Read the report
Upcoming Events
The British Columbia government is offering webinars at no cost to "provide rural and urban communities access to expert advice on economic development topics."
October 10, webinar 1:30-3 pm

20 Years Together: Looking Back, Moving Forward

October 15 - 17, Missoula, MT

 

Planning in the West Webinars: Learning from Local Governments

Scenario Planning and Climate Change

TBD, webinar

 

 

For more upcoming events, visit these comprehensive calendars:

 

Alberta SouthWest Regional Alliance Event Calendar

 

Crown of the Continent Geotourism Council - Calendar of Events

 

Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative - webinars

 

Montana Watershed Coordination Council

 

Swan Ecosystem Center

The Roundtable on the Crown of the Continent provides a monthly newsletter to help connect people and organizations to news and events around the Crown. 
 
If you have an event or news item, an update from your group, or just a great picture to share, please send that information to Molly Stenovec by October 21 for inclusion in the November newsletter.