Blackfoot Challenge Inc

THE MISSION OF THE BLACKFOOT CHALLENGE IS TO COORDINATE EFFORTS THAT WILL CONSERVE AND ENHANCE THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND RURAL WAY OF LIFE IN THE BLACKFOOT WATERSHED FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

FORMED IN 1993, THE MISSION OF THE BLACKFOOT CHALLENGE IS TO COORDINATE EFFORTS THAT CONSERVE AND ENHANCE THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND RURAL WAY OF LIFE IN THE BLACKFOOT WATERSHED FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.OUR SUCCESS IS ROOTED IN OUR APPROACH. THROUGH A COMMUNITY-BASED AND COLLABORATIVE PROCESS, WE BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY SHARED VALUES AROUND COMMUNITY NEEDS, WE FACILITATE RESPECTFUL CONVERSATIONS AND INFORMATION SHARING, AND WE BUILD PARTNERSHIPS BASED IN TRUST. THE RESULTS ARE HOMEGROWN CONSERVATION SOLUTIONS THAT STAND THE TEST OF TIME.THE ORGANIZATION IS INCREASINGLY FOCUSED ON DIVERSIFYING INCOME STREAMS TO CARRY OUT OUR MISSION. IN 2021, 18% OF INCOME CAME FROM PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS; 4% FROM CORPORATIONS; 19% FROM INDIVIDUALS; AND 17% FROM EVENTS, TOURS, SPECIALTY LICENSE PLATES AND INVESTMENTS. THE REMAINING 42% OF INCOME IS DERIVED FROM STATE AND FEDERAL AGREEMENTS, MUCH OF WHICH IS USED AS COST-SHARE IN LANDOWNER-INITIATED CONSERVATION PROJECTS. BLACKFOOT COMMUNITY CONSERVATION AREA COMPLETED TWO PRESCRIBED BURNS ACROSS 200 ACRES TOGETHER WITH TWO ADJACENT LANDOWNERS. COMPLETED 40 ACRES OF FOREST RESTORATION TO IMPROVE FOREST HEALTH AND RESILIENCE. CONTINUED TO CONTROL INVASIVE WEEDS ALONG ROADS AND IN NATIVE PRAIRIES. HOSTED MULTIPLE VOLUNTEER DAYS TO REMOVE CONIFERS FROM ASPEN STANDS, COLLECT OLD WIRE, AND PULL WEEDS. PROVIDED YEAR-ROUND PUBLIC ACCESS, INCLUDING 1.5-MILE NATURE TRAIL, MOTORIZED USE SEASON, AND HUNTING VIA BLOCK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. CONSERVATION STRATEGIES HOSTED ANNUAL GATHERING FOR 20 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CONSERVATION PRACTITIONERS TO SHARE INFORMATION AND LEVERAGE EFFORTS. PARTICIPATED IN A SPRINT AGILITY LAB WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY AND PARTNERS, ESTABLISHING A LOCAL PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL TO DEVELOP STEWARDSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ON 40,000 ACRES WEST OF SEELEY LAKE. EDUCATION ENGAGED MORE THAN 70 STUDENTS FROM FIVE WATERSHED SCHOOLS IN MONITORING STREAM FLOWS, WATER TEMPERATURES AND AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES IN IMPORTANT STREAMS. HOSTED ALL-DAY BEAR AWARE EVENTS FOR SEELEY, OVANDO AND HELMVILLE SCHOOLS WITH STATIONS ON BEAR BIOLOGY, SECURING ATTRACTANTS, RECREATING IN BEAR COUNTRY, AND MORE. HOSTED MORE THAN 70 WATERSHED STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FOR YOUTH FIELD DAY AT GARNET GHOST TOWN, WITH PRESENTATIONS ON MINING, HISTORY, AND FORESTRY. ENGAGED EIGHT WATERSHED RESIDENTS IN CITIZEN SCIENCE, MONITORING LONG-BILLED CURLEWS AND COMMON LOONS. HOSTED MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE FOR A ZOOM PRESENTATION ON ANIMAL WARNING SYSTEMS AND 25 PEOPLE FOR A BIRD WALK AROUND LAKE UPSATA. FORESTRY FACILITATED 508 ACRES OF PRESCRIBED BURNING ON PRIVATE LANDS AND SUPPORTED PUBLIC PARTNER BURNS ACROSS MORE THAN 3,000 ACRES. COMPLETED 457 ACRES OF FOREST THINNING TO IMPROVE FOREST HEALTH AND REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK. CREATED PRESCRIBED BURN PLAN TEMPLATES FOR COMMON FOREST FUEL TYPES IN THE BLACKFOOT. ACCEPTED AS A "FIRE LEARNING NETWORK" PARTNER, RECEIVING FUNDING, TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, AND ACCESS TO A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF FIRE PRACTITIONERS. LAND STEWARDSHIP HOSTED 3RD ANNUAL SOIL HEALTH FIELD TOUR ON TWO RANCHES, DISCUSSING SOIL BIOLOGY, SOIL MOISTURE MONITORING, AND THE USE OF ANIMAL COMPOST TO ENHANCE SOIL HEALTH. TOGETHER WITH NRCS, CONTINUED CONIFER ENCROACHMENT PROJECTS ON PRIVATE LANDS NEAR HELMVILLE TO IMPROVE GRASSLANDS AND BIRD HABITAT. PARTNERED WITH THE BIG BLACKFOOT CHAPTER OF TROUT UNLIMITED AND US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE ON RIPARIAN ENHANCEMENT AND GRAZING MANAGEMENT PROJECTS ALONG COTTONWOOD AND NEVADA CREEKS. TRUMPETER SWANS EIGHT PAIRS OF TRUMPETER SWANS NESTED AND SUCCESSFULLY FLEDGED 17 CYGNETS. AN ADDITIONAL 27 NON-NESTING SWANS SUMMERED IN THE WATERSHED. RELEASED FOUR YEARLING TRUMPETER SWANS IN MAY AT OUR FINAL TRUMPETER SWAN RELEASE DAY. MORE THAN 110 STUDENTS AND THEIR TEACHERS ATTENDED THE FINAL TRUMPETER SWAN RELEASE, PARTICIPATING IN SIX LEARNING STATIONS ON BIRD BIOLOGY AND WETLAND ECOLOGY. ONE ADULT SWAN WAS FITTED WITH GPS RADIO COLLAR, ALLOWING US TO TRACK SUMMER HABITAT USE, FALL MIGRATION, AND WINTERING SITE LOCATIONS. NS. VEGETATION WORKED WITH LANDOWNERS TO IMPLEMENT INTEGRATIVE NOXIOUS WEED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. OFFERED TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS TO LANDOWNERS INCLUDING NATIVE AND EXOTIC PLANT IDENTIFICATION, HERBICIDE APPLICATION PRODUCTS, BIOLOGICAL CONTROL WITH INSECTS, AND RESEEDING PRACTICES. HOSTED TWO WEED PULLS AT THE RUSSELL GATES FISHING ACCESS SITE FOR THE 23RD YEAR. PARTNERED WITH THE BCCA ON NOXIOUS WEED TREATMENTS AND YOUTH EDUCATION FIELD DAYS. WATER LAUNCHED A NEW WATER COMMITTEE TO HELP DEVELOP A COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO BIG PICTURE WATER ISSUES, INCLUDING INCREASING IMPACTS FROM RECREATION. MONITORED SOIL MOISTURE CONDITIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE FIELDS ON SIX PROPERTIES, USING DATA TO HELP INFORM WATER AND SOIL CONSERVATION PRACTICES. IMPLEMENTED THE SECOND PHASE OF A LOW-IMPACT RESTORATION PROJECT (BEAVER DAM ANALOGS) ON CHIMNEY CREEK. WORKED WITH MULTIPLE LANDOWNERS ON BEAVER CONFLICT MITIGATION PROJECTS AND INSTALLED TWO POND LEVELERS ON ONE PROPERTY TO MITIGATE FLOODING. IMPLEMENTED DROUGHT RESPONSE PROGRAM WITH LANDOWNERS, HELPING SLOW THE RIVERS DECLINE DURING A CHALLENGING DROUGHT YEAR.WILDLIFE REMOVED 885 LIVESTOCK CARCASSES FROM 115 RANCHES IN THE BLACKFOOT WATERSHED AND POWELL AND GRANITE COUNTIES. INSTALLED TWO NEW ELECTRIC FENCES ON RANCHES AND REBUILT FENCES ON TWO ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES EXPERIENCING BEAR CONFLICTS. CONDUCTED FIELD TESTING OF A DRIVE-OVER ELECTRIC MAT SYSTEM TO KEEP BEARS OUT OF CALVING AREAS AND HOMESITES, WITH ZERO BEARS SUCCESSFULLY CROSSING THE MATS. HIRED THREE SEASONAL RANGE RIDERS TO MONITOR APPROXIMATELY 4,589 HEAD OF LIVESTOCK ACROSS 78,900 ACRES IN THE BLACKFOOT WATERSHED. EMPLOYED ELK HUNT COORDINATOR TO RESPOND TO HUNTER INQUIRIES AND SCHEDULE HUNTS ON PARTICIPATING RANCHES DURING SHOULDER SEASONS. CONDUCTED WINTER RARE FOREST CARNIVORE MONITORING TOGETHER WITH THE SOUTHWESTERN CROWN COLLABORATIVE.