2006 Conservation Innovation Grants Awards

Fiscal Year 2006 State Component Awards

Montana NRCS received twenty (20) eligible proposals requesting more than $1,074,000 in CIG funds. Requests greatly exceeded the $500,000 that NRCS in Montana had set aside. Montana NRCS chose to increase the level of available funds to fund additional projects in priority order. Therefore, of the twenty proposals received, twelve have been selected for funding in the amount of $645,295. The total project costs (CIG funds + grantee funds) exceed $1,631,000. Information about the Conservation Innovation Grants awardees for the fiscal year 2006 state component can be found below. The information includes grant recipient, NRCS funding amount, project title, and a project summary. The list is NOT in priority order.

Ruby Valley Conservation District
$75,000
Arctic Grayling Habitat Restoration in the Upper Ruby
This project aims to expand the range of the fluvial arctic grayling by improving survival rates on the Ruby River. The project will evaluate, verify, and establish the best restoration methods to mitigate environmental challenges and create prime habitat for all life stages of the arctic grayling. In order to accomplish this, the grant partners will regrade and revegetate unstable banks in the project area, construct nine habitat pools of varying types, and create a functioning spawning channel. The effectiveness of each of these practices will be closely measured and monitored. The proven techniques developed from this grant activity will provide the basis for further successful restoration efforts throughout the upper Ruby River basin and the ability to transfer the knowledge to similar fluvial systems.

EPIC Partners and Double A Acres
$74,950
Nutrient Zone Determinations Using on-the-go Protein Monitors and on-the-go NDVI Meters
This project will use on-the-go protein and NDVI monitors to improve nutrient management zone determinations within fields. Then, it will test correlations between a harvest nitrogen removal map (by combining yield and protein data) and growing season imagery (both ground based and airborne) to determine when in the growing season nitrogen deficient areas can be identified and nutrient applications adjusted. At present, soil testing is an important management tool, but the sampling density is minimal due to labor and sampling costs. However, protein and yield sampling is on the order of 400 times more dense than current recommended soil sampling. Therefore, using yield and protein data will indicate better soil sampling locations, which in turn will help to better define nutrient management zones and lead to more efficient nitrogen use.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
$24,000
Application of Turbo-Fladry to Protect Cattle from Wolves in Montana
The objective of this project is to further develop and test deterrent tools to reduce livestock depredation by wolves, while simultaneously encouraging wolf conservation. Various non-lethal methods have been developed to prevent wolves from killing livestock, but an evaluation of their long-term effectiveness and applicability in field conditions has not been completed. Given the expanding wolf distribution in Montana and the northern Rockies, additional field testing is needed. The method to be field tested here is turbo-fladry, electrified rope barriers with suspended flagging. In this project, ten cattle ranches with documented wolf predations will be identified in Montana. Five of those ranches will receive turbo-fladry to protect calving pastures during critical calving times. All ten ranches will be monitored for cattle depredation and wolf activity. Final data will be analyzed and the results will be shared with the agricultural community, NRCS, and other entities involved with either livestock production or wildlife conservation.

Arctic Grayling Recovery Program
$37,500
Big Hole Willow Bank
This project will address both wildlife habitat and water quality through the development of a collection, or "bank," of willows. Specifically, this project will support innovative riparian restoration and revegetation projects for fluvial arctic grayling in the Big Hole watershed. The willow collection will be developed using plants native to the Big Hole, therefore adapted to the short, harsh growing conditions unique to the valley. Willows will be harvested from native stock and grown under controlled conditions at the state nursery. Once the containerized clippings have established root mass, they will be returned to the Big Hole watershed for use in riparian restoration and revegetation projects. The secondary benefits of this project include accelerated improvements in riparian conditions on the Big Hole River and several tributaries, accelerated improvements in habitat for fluvial arctic grayling, eventual reductions in stream temperatures, reduced sedimentation, and overall improvements in habitat for other fish and wildlife.

Mountain Meadows Products, Inc.
$75,000
Montana Biofuel Pellet Economic Evaluation Pilot
The objective of this project is to demonstrate the practicality and the economic feasibility of utilizing farm residue or native perennial grasses as a pelleted biofuel for commercial and residential heating applications. Mountain Meadows Products, Inc. will sample biomass sources in Montana to formulate an optimum biofuel pellet. This will include identifying the optimum grass cultivar for biofuel pellet production in central Montana.  Then, they will develop a low cost model for the commercial production of the formulated pellet. Once produced, the pellet will be field tested in residential pellet stoves and commercial applications. Research findings will be communicated to Montana producers and energy consumers to allow them to participate in this new innovative market opportunity.

Montana State University Extension Water Quality
$46,011
Armored-Stanchion Livestock Water Access - Design Development, Installation, and Evaluation for Water Quality Improvements and Livestock Performance.
During this project, two new armored-stanchion livestock water accesses will be designed, installed, and evaluated. MSU Extension Water Quality will work with two producers and the NRCS in Gallatin County to design the new water access technology. The armored-stanchion water access point will allow livestock only a limited distance into surface water and prevent animals from turning while in the water to prevent manure deposition in the channel. For evaluation purposes, riparian fencing and a traditional water gap will be installed along with the armored-stanchion water access at each location. Temporary electric fencing will be used to facilitate equal watering pressure on each of the water access methods to be evaluated. MSU Extension Water Quality will then process water samples to evaluate water quality.

Montana State University Extension Water Quality
$53,711
Pharmaceutical Screening of Surface and Ground Water in Gallatin Valley, MT
MSU Extension Water Quality will be field testing sampling protocols for ground and surface water sampling of pharmaceutical contaminants during this project. The first data set documenting pharmaceuticals entering surface and ground waters in the Gallatin Valley will be developed as well as guidelines for minimizing pharmaceutical contamination of water resources.

Montana State University Land Resources and Environmental Sciences Department
$74,919
Protecting Eastern Montana Rangelands from Invasive Weeds
The objective of this project is to improve early detection of new weeds and optimize weed management through prevention in eastern Montana. Rangeland protection through cooperative, early intervention efforts will work to reduce the risk of environmental harm, preserve natural habitats and native species, protect producers profits and wildlife-based expenditures, and safeguard rural community endurance. The project will facilitate the local-level protection of non-infested rangeland ecosystems from weed spread through the development and maintenance of long-term Weed Prevention Areas. These cooperative conservation units protect prioritized rangelands from invasion through collective rancher implementation of proactive weed management efforts. These site-specific and rancher-designed efforts include ecosystem management, exclusion, detection, eradication, and GPS mapping.

Little Beaver Conservation District
$30,000
No-till and Crop Diversity Implementation in Fallon County, MT
The Little Beaver Conservation District will purchase a no-till drill that they will rent to farmers in Fallon County. They will also provide educational tools and workshops to educate producers about soil quality, crop diversity, and no-till systems. The implementation of no-till farming in Fallon County, along with the knowledge base needed to sustain the system, will result in improved soil quality and productivity; improved nutrient cycling, water cycling, and infiltration of farmland soils; and reduced petroleum, fertilizer, and pesticide inputs.

Montana Tech of the University of Montana and Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
$74,654
Screening for Pharmaceuticals and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Montana Ground Water
The project will provide an initial survey for the presence of pharmaceutical and endocrine disrupting chemicals in near-surface aquifers commonly used for domestic and stock water in Montana. Evaluation of the survey will indicate the extent to which agricultural practices and suburban septic systems may be contaminating tested aquifers.

Rocking Z Ranch
$9,750
Convert Petroleum Diesel Fuel Powered Irrigation Pump to One that Burns Vegetable Oil
The objective of the project is to utilize renewable resources in the form of recycled straight vegetable oil instead of petroleum diesel fuel, resulting in fewer air emissions, reduced storage risk, and lower operating expenses. The Rocking Z Ranch will convert a diesel-powered irrigation pump to use vegetable oil and install the appropriate storage facility. The system will be tested. If it is demonstrated to be user friendly, economically advantageous, and safe, the conversion process will be published for use by others.

National Center for Appropriate Technology
$74,919
Oilseeds for Fuel, Feed, and the Future: Montana Farm Basics
This project will research existing technical information and identify information gaps to support the sustainable development and adoption of efficient on-farm energy and feed production from oilseeds in Montana. It will also demonstrate and quantify on-farm reduction of petroleum oil use and the reduction in environmental impacts from the agricultural sector who use bio-based fuels, products, and production techniques. Additionally, NCAT will identify and address opportunities and barriers that may enhance or impede development and adoption of environmentally sound, sustainable fuel and feed production.

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