The State of The State of MontanaMontana’’s Wetlandss Wetlands

MT Chapter of AWRAMT Chapter of AWRAOctober 12, 2006October 12, 2006Polson MontanaPolson Montana

Lynda Saul, Montana DEQ Wetland Program Manager

Montana Wetlands

• Marsh• Slough• Wet Meadow• Prairie Pothole• Riparian Fringe• Lacustrine Fringe• Forested Wetlands• Scrub/Shrub• Fen

Montana Wetland StatisticsMontana Wetland Statistics

< 1% of land mass< 1% of land mass~ 840,300 acres currently~ 840,300 acres currentlyLost >27% since white settlementLost >27% since white settlement~ 306,700 acres lost~ 306,700 acres lostWhat about quality degradation? What about quality degradation? Riparian areas ~ 3% of land massRiparian areas ~ 3% of land mass

Wetlands in Montana

1-10 Acres29%

<1 Acre67%

10-100 Acres4%

100-1000 Acres0.4%

>1000 Acres0.02%

Wetland Size – Big Muddy Watershed43,563 acres of wetlands 8,595 individual wetlands

Wetlands Benefit Society

• Flood Control• Biological Diversity• Improve Water Quality• Filter Nutrients• Groundwater Recharge• Recreation Opportunities• Wildlife Habitat• Open Space• Economic Value

Wetlands Provide Critical Wildlife Habitat

• 60% of Montana species identified as greatest conservation need rely on wetland and riparian areas (about 4% of MT land mass) for essential habitat

Species of Greatest Conservation Need

60%Wetland & Riparian Areas in MT

4%

•

Wetland Status ReportWetland Status Report

1.1. Policy, Laws and RegulationsPolicy, Laws and Regulations2.2. Inventory, Monitoring & AssessmentInventory, Monitoring & Assessment3.3. Restoration and Protection Restoration and Protection 4.4. Outreach and EducationOutreach and Education5.5. Coordination and IntegrationCoordination and Integration

1. Policy, Laws & Regulation 1. Policy, Laws & Regulation StatusStatus

No specific State wetland protectionNo specific State wetland protection

19501950--7070’’s s -- Federal subsidies to fill & drain Federal subsidies to fill & drain wetlands for more productive land useswetlands for more productive land uses

1972 1972 -- Clean Water ActClean Water Act

1988 1988 -- National no net loss policyNational no net loss policyNation has lost > 50% of wetlandsNation has lost > 50% of wetlands

2004 2004 –– Pres Bush Earth Day net gain goalPres Bush Earth Day net gain goal

“Wetland Gain”2006 USFWS Status and Trends Report

Supreme Court Supreme Court –– muddies the CWAmuddies the CWA

SWANCC SWANCC –– 2001 isolated2001 isolatedRapanos and Carabell Rapanos and Carabell –– 2006 ?intermittent?2006 ?intermittent?

In Montana, when water is present,

Wetlands are protected by Montanawater quality act, but when dry….

1. Policy, Laws & Regulation 1. Policy, Laws & Regulation NeedsNeeds

StateStateStateState--wide Stream Setback Legislationwide Stream Setback LegislationWetland Protection LegislationWetland Protection Legislation

LocalLocalEncourage and Support Local SolutionsEncourage and Support Local Solutions

Federal Federal Wetland Protection LegislationWetland Protection LegislationMonitor & Enforce Existing RegulationsMonitor & Enforce Existing RegulationsTrack Quantity and QualityTrack Quantity and Quality

2. Inventory, Monitoring & 2. Inventory, Monitoring & Assessment Assessment StatusStatus

MT Wetland and Riparian Mapping CenterMT Wetland and Riparian Mapping Center2005 CIR orthophotography2005 CIR orthophotographyWetland Rapid Assessment Wetland Rapid Assessment ––

MT NHP 2000 sites 2 yrsMT NHP 2000 sites 2 yrsEvaluating quality and quantityEvaluating quality and quantityGeodatabase tracking Geodatabase tracking -- gain and lossgain and loss

MT and UT - Least Mapped States

Physical Loss

Historic loss mainly from cropland conversion.

Functional Loss

People like to live near water

Three Year Grant• Track All Losses & Gains

• Evaluate Quantity & Quality

• Start w/ Pilot areasBitterrootGallatinFlathead

2. Inventory, Monitoring & 2. Inventory, Monitoring & Assessment Assessment NeedsNeeds

Funding for Wetland MappingFunding for Wetland MappingInstitutionalize 5 yr cycle CIR acquisitionInstitutionalize 5 yr cycle CIR acquisitionAll gains and losses accountedAll gains and losses accountedIntegrate wetland assessment into Integrate wetland assessment into watershed assessmentswatershed assessments

3. Restoration and Protection 3. Restoration and Protection StatusStatus

Voluntary incentive-based partnership dedicated to conserving Montana’s wetlands, riparian areas and associated uplands.

First 5 years Legacy partnership ~ 800,000 acres on the ground conservation, including 27,000 acres of wetlands.

www.wetlandslegacy.org

Legacy PartnersLegacy PartnersAmerican Rivers American Rivers Bitter Root Land Trust Bitter Root Land Trust Ducks Unlimited, Inc. Ducks Unlimited, Inc. Five Valleys Land Trust Five Valleys Land Trust Flathead Land Trust Flathead Land Trust Gallatin Local Water Quality District Gallatin Local Water Quality District Gallatin Valley Land Trust Gallatin Valley Land Trust Montana Audubon Council Montana Audubon Council Montana Department of Montana Department of Environmental Quality Environmental Quality Montana Department of Natural Montana Department of Natural Resources and ConservationResources and ConservationMontana Department of Montana Department of Transportation Transportation Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Foundation Foundation Montana Land Reliance Montana Land Reliance Montana Natural Heritage Program

Montana Natural History Center Montana Natural History Center Montana Water Course Montana Water Course Pheasants Forever Pheasants Forever PPL Montana PPL Montana The Conservation Fund The Conservation Fund The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy River Network River Network Rocky Mountain Elk FoundationRocky Mountain Elk FoundationTrout Unlimited Trout Unlimited Trust for Public Land Trust for Public Land U.S. Bureau of Land Management U.S. Bureau of Land Management U.S. Bureau of ReclamationU.S. Bureau of ReclamationU.S.D.A. Farm Service AgencyU.S.D.A. Farm Service AgencyU.S.D.A. Natural Resources U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest Service

Montana Natural Heritage Program

Example ProgramsExample Programs

NAWCA grantsNAWCA grantsSince 1998 about 100,000 acres protectedSince 1998 about 100,000 acres protectedBeaverhead, HiBeaverhead, Hi--line, Front, Blackfoot, NW line, Front, Blackfoot, NW ValleysValleys

NRCS NRCS Enrolled 23,512 acres Wetland Reserve Enrolled 23,512 acres Wetland Reserve Program.Program.WHIP, EQIP, Floodplain Easements.WHIP, EQIP, Floodplain Easements.

Blackfoot ChallengeBlackfoot Challenge2,600 acres wetlands, 38 miles streams2,600 acres wetlands, 38 miles streams

3. Restoration and Protection 3. Restoration and Protection NeedsNeeds

Revise policy limitations of Farm Bill Revise policy limitations of Farm Bill programs for landowners programs for landowners -- ex. WRP, CREP ex. WRP, CREP Implement In Lieu Fee Mitigation Program Implement In Lieu Fee Mitigation Program for Stream impactsfor Stream impactsMore staff and funding for onMore staff and funding for on--thethe--ground ground work & id strategic prioritieswork & id strategic prioritiesInclude wetlands in all restoration workInclude wetlands in all restoration work

4. Outreach and Education 4. Outreach and Education StatusStatus

Public Service AnnouncementsPublic Service AnnouncementsStudent and Educator ProgramsStudent and Educator ProgramsTargeted to Landowners, Planners, Pond Targeted to Landowners, Planners, Pond Builders, Realtors...Builders, Realtors...WorkshopsWorkshops

4. Outreach and Education 4. Outreach and Education NeedsNeeds

Wetland Workshops for ProfessionalsWetland Workshops for ProfessionalsProfessional standards for Wetland Professional standards for Wetland consultantsconsultantsMapping information & technical Mapping information & technical assistance for local government and assistance for local government and watershed groups watershed groups

5. Coordination and Integration 5. Coordination and Integration StatusStatus

Montana Wetland CouncilMontana Wetland CouncilMontana Watershed Coordination CouncilMontana Watershed Coordination CouncilFloodplain managersFloodplain managersWildlife and bird conservationWildlife and bird conservationRegulatory Regulatory -- CWA, water lawCWA, water lawLand use ?Land use ?

Governor’s Task Force For Riparian Protection

"Development along rivers and streams that "Development along rivers and streams that destroys protective riparian areas is destroys protective riparian areas is possibly the single most urgent ecosystem possibly the single most urgent ecosystem threat facing Montana today."threat facing Montana today."

Governor Brian Schweitzer.Governor Brian Schweitzer. Letter to DEQ, Letter to DEQ, DNRC, DFWP Directors. March 8, 2006. DNRC, DFWP Directors. March 8, 2006.

Room to Roam BrochureRoom to Roam BrochureOutreach PlanOutreach Plan

5. Coordination and Integration 5. Coordination and Integration NeedsNeeds

Evaluate and revise 1997 Wetland Evaluate and revise 1997 Wetland Conservation Strategy Conservation Strategy –– all participateall participateCoordinate needs with Science CommunityCoordinate needs with Science CommunityPartner more within and between Federal, Partner more within and between Federal, State, Tribal, Local effortsState, Tribal, Local effortsBetter integrate wetlands into watershed Better integrate wetlands into watershed protection protection

Final WordsFinal Words

Water is the life blood of Montana.Water is the life blood of Montana.

Wetland and riparian areas continue to be Wetland and riparian areas continue to be physically lost and functionally degraded physically lost and functionally degraded every single day in Montana.every single day in Montana.

Montana needs your ideas and action to Montana needs your ideas and action to integrate the protection and restoration of integrate the protection and restoration of wetlands into the work you do. wetlands into the work you do.

“I am in love with Montana, for other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love and it is difficult to analyze love when you are in it.”

John SteinbeckTravels with Charlie