March 2014
March 5, 2014
Dear Friends, 

In addition to sharing the latest news and events this month, it is a pleasure to announce the release of our new film,

 


The 10-minute film was produced by Wimberg Productions, and highlights the spectacular work of Tony Bynum Photography and original music by Stuart Weber. Learn more from this media release. 
 
Thanks to the assistance of a new local planning team, we are moving ahead with an exciting agenda for the Roundtable's 5th Annual Conference, which will be held in Waterton Park, Alberta, on September 10-12, 2014. In the coming months, we'll be sharing more information about the conference, including details on the program, speakers, registration, and where to stay. 

Project leaders of the 16 Adaptive Management Projects funded earlier this year are meeting monthly to share information about their work and to link the efforts together around various themes. The projects and themes will be highlighted at the September conference. Meantime, check the Roundtable website or contact Melly Reuling for updates on these important projects that are helping shape the future of our communities and landscapes. 

 

As always, please be in touch if you have news or events you'd like to share in the next newsletter. 

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
 
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 
 
Jim Stone
Blackfoot Challenge
 
Paul Travis
Glacier National Park Conservancy 
 
Melissa Weatherwax
Blackfeet Nation
 
Matthew McKinney
Roundtable Co-Director,
Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Policy
 
Gary Tabor
Roundtable Co-Director, 
Center for Large Landscape Conservation
Neighborhood News

The potential for dogs to track invasive species is earning attention in the Flathead Valley. Working Dogs for Conservation presents a case in this NBC Montana story, February 12

 

CSKT tribes continue efforts to rescue Flathead bull trout

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are working to rescue Flathead Lake's threatened bull trout population, but that means taking into account a plan to gradually reduce non-native lake trout in Flathead by 75 percent, CSKT biologist Barry Hanson said during a commission work session. And that contradicts a more hopeful state analysis of bull trout survival delivered to the commission last month. The Missoulian, February 13.

 

Park Proposes to Replace Swiftcurrent Bridge. Public comments are encouraged on a recently completed environmental assessment proposing to replace the historic Swiftcurrent Bridge near the Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park. Public comments are due by March 17. The assessment, The Swiftcurrent Bridge Replacement Environmental Assessment and Statement of Findings, can be viewed here. Also, the Park announces an Artwork Contest for Annual Park Pass for students in grades 6-12. Find details at this NPS webpage. 

 

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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 2013 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
 
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) launches leading initiative to Strengthen Aboriginal Peoples' Rights in Canadian Forests. The Forest Stewardship Council announces a landmark new initiative to help strengthen Aboriginal Peoples' rights in Canada by rigorously applying free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) to FSC's Forest Management Standards.Read more: Digital Journal, January 27.

North Fork Watershed bill clears committeeA bill that bans future energy leases on federal lands in the North Fork and Middle Fork of the Flathead took another step toward law. The North Fork Watershed Protection Act of 2013 passed the House Natural Resources Committee without opposition. Hungry Horse News, February 4.

Montana holds on to snowpack, adds precipitation. A warm, dry January was bracketed by significant storm systems that saved Montana's snowpack from dropping below average. That bodes well for spring river flows and keeping more water stored in Montana's reservoirs. Bozeman Daily Chronicle, February 11.

Keystone Pipeline Will Impact Climate Change, State Department Reports. How much can one oil pipeline affect global climate change? That's one of the fundamental questions probed by a new, final environmental impact assessment released by the U.S. State Department. Scientific American, January 31



Beyond the Region
Baucus leaves lasting legacy with departure from U.S. Senate. As U.S. Sen. Max Baucus departs Congress after 39 years, none would disagree that the senior senator from Montana has left an indelible mark on the state and the nation. See more in this tribute to Senator Baucus: The Missoulian, February 8.

Cross-Canada Pipeline Will Boost Emissions, Report Says.

Much of U.S. environmentalists' opposition to big pipeline projects has focused on Keystone XL. They say the pipeline would worsen climate change by leading to higher production in Alberta's oil sands, which are exploited using an emissions-intensive process.

But a new report says another planned pipeline - the Energy East project - would have an even more detrimental effect on climate change than Keystone XL. Wall Street Journal Canada Realtime, February 6.

 
The National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy is the first nation-wide, joint adaptation strategy by the three levels of government (federal, state, and tribal) that have primary authority and responsibility for the living natural resources of the United States. Learn more about the work of this initiative here

The driest period of drought in 500 years in California could boost produce prices for growers in British Columbia. 
Because droughts tend to be long-lasting, California's loss could be British Columbia's gain if growers and processors turn their efforts to filling the void left in the market for fresh fruits and vegetables. The Vancouver Sun, February 26.
Publications and Resources
New book on Crown of the Continent slated for spring releasePhotographer Steven Gnam has been documenting the wildlife and landscape of the Crown of the Continent and other parts of North America for 12 years. His images, accompanied by essays from writers Douglas H. Chadwick and Michael Jamison, will explore the importance of the Crown for wildlife as well as humans. Published by Braided River, check here for beautiful images and a rich description of this work.

 

National Geographic to revise and reprint Crown of the Continent Geotourism MapGuide. National Geographic Maps and the Crown of the Continent Geotourism Council are undertaking the first revision in six years of the Crown of the Continent Geotourism MapGuide.They will print 200,000 revised copies of the map in May 2014, which will be made available to visitors at no cost by the Crown of the Continent Geotourism Council and its partners in Alberta, British Columbia and Montana. CrownoftheContinent.net will continue to serve as the web-based interactive version of the printed Destination Map. 

See the US Fish and Wildlife Service training catalog for conservation professionals. The Service's National Conservation Training Center offers several courses throughout the year on topics such as climate change vulnerability assessment, invasive species management, and policy development.

 

USDA's Climate Hubs: Providing Targeted Solutions to Modern ChallengesExtreme weather conditions are impacting farmers, ranchers and forest owners, to the detriment of their bottom lines, food supply, and the future security of farm economies. USDA has created a strategy to assist producers and land managers with seven regionally-located Climate Hubs to act as repositories of data and offer the practical, science-based tools needed to adapt and succeed in the face of a changing climate. USDA Secy Visack Blog, February 5 .

Announcements
The Crown Managers Partnership (CMP) will hold its 14th annual forum in Missoula, Montana on March 17-19, 2014. The forum is titled Climate Change Adaptation in the Crown of the Continent EcosystemFor more information, visit the CMP website.

 

Pre-proposals are due on March 14 for the Wildlife Conservation Society's Climate Adaptation Fund supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. These guidelines tell you more. 

 

Aquatic Invasive Species Grant DeadlineThe Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is offering grants to local government entities for the control of aquatic invasive species. The deadline for applications is March 14.

The Great Norther Landscape Cooperative announces its March 11 Webinar: "Assessing land use practices in sagebrush grassland ecosystems: multiple migratory bird responses." Learn more about the webinar series and register here.
 
The 85th annual conference of the Northwest Scientific Association is slated for March 26-29, 2014 at the University of Montana in Missoula. A joint meeting with the UM College of Forestry & Conservation Plum Creek Lecture Series, Montana Wetland Council, U.S. Forest Service, and the Northwest Lichenologists, the theme is: The Future of Forests and Forest Management: Change, Uncertainty and Adaptation. Invited keynote speakers include Dr. Steve Running and Dr. Richard Waring. Click here to learn more.
 
Request for Proposals: The Bureau of Indian Affairs expects to have $600,000 available for tribes to address climate change in 2014. The competitive grants include support for development of tribal climate adaptation plans, vulnerability assessments and data analysis. Here is more information.
 
The spring meeting of the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem Education Consortium (COCEEC) is on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at the Swan Ecosystem Center in Congdon, Montana. Also, the 2014 Minigrant Applications are still being accepted through March 7 by submitting an online application

 

Alberta to host World Economic Forum on climate change in April. Alberta will play host this spring to a World Economic Forum on energy and climate change. The event, to be held April 24-25 in Lake Louise, will bring in more than 100 global leaders from the worlds of business, academia, and government. Canadian Press, January 21,  2014.

 

The USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station is pleased to announce a new webinar seriesInvasive Plants - Issues, Challenges, and Discoveries. This free interactive series, which includes seven webinars, will provide attendees with cutting-edge information about invasive plants and their management.   

 

Save the date for the 2nd North America Congress for Conservation Biology to take place July 13-16, 2014 in Missoula, Montana.To learn more about key dates for this event, visit the conference website.

 

The 2nd annual First Stewards Symposium is slated for July 21-23 in Washington, DC. Panels of tribal leaders and tribal and Western scientists will examine how native people and their cultures have adapted to climate change for thousands of years, and what their future--and that of the nation--may hold as the impacts of climate change continue. See the website for details.

 

 

Find more about Under Western Skies 3 to be held September 9-13, 2014 at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta. The theme is environments, technologies and communities. See the conference website.

 

UM lecture series to explore water. Titled "Western Rivers: Connecting Landscapes and Livelihoods", the 16th annual community lecture series at the University of Montana will bring together professors across several disciplines, including humanities, law, and science to discuss historical, legal, and conservation issues around the topic of water. The Missoulian, January 12, 2014.

 

Save the date for The Columbia River Basin: Learning from Our Past to Shape Our Future to be conducted in Spokane, Washington on October 21-23, 2014. Check here for updates.

 

 For more upcoming events, visit these comprehensive calendars:

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 [email protected] by March 24 for inclusion in the April 2014 newsletter.