Three times per year the Montana Wetland Council develops and publishes a newsletter. Currently the Montana Natural Heritage Program has taken over the responsibility for developing and sending out newsletters. It you would like to be informed of upcoming meetings, trainings, open positions, and grant funding opportunities  join the Montana Wetland Council listserv.

The Montana Wetland Council relies upon its members to help provide information for newsletters. If you know of news worth topics that are of interest to you and potentially other council members please email them to Stephen Carpenedo.

Recent Montana Wetland Council Newsletter

Spring 2024 Newsletter

May is American Wetlands Month! In honor of this we want to highlight some of the work Montana Wetland Council partners have been doing. 

Priceless Resources: A Strategic Framework for Wetland and Riparian Area Conservation and Restoration in Montana 2020 - 2030

To kick off our celebration we are releasing our "much anticipated" updated 2020 - 2030 Montana Wetland Council Strategic Framework. Thank you to the 23 key informant interviewees, 154 survey respondents, 35 planning meeting attendees, and everyone who wrote, edited, and advised on our most recent update.

This document defines the Montana Wetland Council’s focus for the next ten years. The Strategic Planning team and working groups worked hard to limit the scope to areas where MWC partners could be most effective and take leadership. In order to realize our ambitious aims, MWC’s partners are encouraged to actively participate and implement the potential actions outlined in this Strategic Framework.

This is a living document and comments, additions, or corrections are welcome. Please send to Stephen Carpenedo.

Water Rights for Wetlands and Stream Restoration

Patrick Byorth, Montana Water Director for Trout Unlimited, recently presented on the development of a decision framework for understanding when wetland and stream restoration projects may need a water right. You can down load a copy of Water Rights for Wetlands and Stream Restoration and view his presentation. Comments or questions can be directed either to Patrick Byorth or Stephen Carpenedo. 

The State of Montana's Wetlands

Thank you to those able to attend the Spring 2024 Montana Wetland Council Meeting "The State of Montana's Wetlands" that was held in Helena on March 13, 2024. The National Association of Wetland Managers and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provided participants a national and federal perspective on Waters of the United States post-Sackett. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, City of Whitefish, and City of Bozeman spoke about what they can and are doing to fill in the gaps left by the most recent Supreme Court Ruling and Waters of the United States rulemaking. In the afternoon, Trout Unlimited presented on Water Rights for Wetlands and Stream Restoration.

A big thank you to these presenters who did a wonderful job and helped spark a lengthy and engaging discussion. The quality of the presentations and the engagement of the participants highlighted the need to provide more in-person Montana Wetland Council meetings.

If you were unable to attend or would like to listen again, the video links in the Agenda below will take you to the recorded presentations on the Montana Wetland Council's YouTube page. Make sure you like and subscribe! Links are also provided to download the presentation PDFs .

If you attended the March 13th meeting please provide meeting feedback by scanning or clicking the QR code. 

Agenda

The State of Montana's Wetlands - March 13, 2024

8:30 – 8:45         Meet and Greet / Coffee

8:45 – 9:00         Welcome and Meeting Introduction (PDF) (Video)

9:00 – 9:30         Protecting Wetlands and Other Aquatic Resources (Donna Downing, Senior Legal Policy Advisor, National Association of Wetland Managers) (PDF) (Video)

9:30 – 10:00       USACE Regulatory Program in Montana (Sage L. Joyce, Chief, Montana Regulatory Offices, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) (PDF) (Video)

10:00 – 10: 30   The State’s Perspective (Eric Sivers, Policy Analyst, Montana DEQ) (PDF) (Video)

10:30 – 10:45    Break

10:45 – 11:15    The Evolution of Wetland Conservation on the Flathead Reservation (Blair Libby, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) (PDF) (Video)

11:15 – 11:45    The State of Montana’s Wetlands …A Local Perspective… (John Muhlfeld, Mayor City of Whitefish) (PDF) (Video)

11:45 – 12:45    Lunch

12:45 – 1:15       Bozeman MT Wetlands Protection & Mitigation (Shawn Khotz, Director of Utilities, City of Bozeman) (PDF) (Video)

1:15 – 1:45         Montana Wetland Council Updates (Steve Carpenedo, Montana DEQ) (PDF) (Video)

1:45 – 2:15         Water Rights Implications for Stream and Wetland Restoration (Pat Byorth, TU) (PDF) (Video)

2:15 – 3:30         Partner updates (Video)

Careers

Looking for a career in wetlands? Confluence Consulting in Bozeman is looking for two Wetlands Scientists. You can view these opportunities here.

Careers is a section that will be included in future newsletters as the need and opportunities arise. Montana Wetland Council will not be actively monitoring for new opportunities, MWC partners can send current openings and they will be included in a newsletter if one is scheduled.   

Past Montana Wetland Council Newsletters

2021 Montana Wetland and Watershed Stewardship Awards Announcement

Summer 2020 Newsletter

Summer 2019 Newsletter

Fall 2018 Newsletter  

Spring 2018 Newsletter

Spring 2017 Newsletter

Fall 2016 Newsletter

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