Board Meeting
2022-06-15 10:00 - 12:30 (America/Denver)
The public is welcome to participate in our board meetings. Contact our Office Administrator Deb Dillree for more information: 793-3900 or deb@blackfootchallenge.org.

Russell Gates Weed Pull
2022-06-25 09:00 - 11:00
Join the Powell County Weed Board and the Blackfoot Challenge for our Annual Russell Gates Weed Pull!
Saturday June 25
9:00 am to 11:00 am
Refreshments Provided!
Located at MP 35 on Highway 200 at the Russell Gates Fishing Access Site

Board Meeting
2022-07-20 08:00 - 10:00, 2022-08-17 08:00 - 10:00
The Board conducts a shortened meeting in July and August. The public is always welcome to participate in our board meetings. Contact our Office Administrator Deb Dillree for more information: 793-3900 or deb@blackfootchallenge.org.

Creating a FireWise Home in the Blackfoot
2022-07-21 19:00 - 21:00
Join Blackfoot Challenge Forestry Coordinator Cindy Super, along with Julia Berkey of DNRC and Henry DeLuca of Fire Adapted MT, for a presentation on how to make your home and other buildings more fire resistant. This will be an engaging presentation full of practical steps you can take to reduce the risks of losing your home to wildfire.
For questions, please call the Blackfoot Challenge at 406-793-3900 or contact elaine@blackfootchallenge.org.

Blackfoot Community Block Party
2022-08-10 17:00 - 21:00
An annual celebration of conservation and community in the Blackfoot watershed. Live music, food trucks, beer garden, silent auction, and more. Location: Downtown Ovando.
Thanks to our sponsors: US Bank, Pyramid Mountain Lumber, Blackfoot Communications, & Blue Mountain Landscape & Sprinkler

Board Meeting
2022-09-21 10:00 - 12:30, 2023-02-15 10:00 - 12:30, 2023-03-15 10:00 - 12:30, 2023-04-19 10:00 - 12:30, 2023-05-17 10:00 - 12:30
The public is always welcome to participate in our board meetings. Contact our Office Administrator Deb Dillree for more information: 793-3900 or deb@blackfootchallenge.org.

"Landscape of Hope" Film Premiere
2023-02-09 17:30 - 19:30
Connecting People & Place in Montana: An evening of short films presented with the Blackfoot Challenge
Film 1: LANDSCAPE OF HOPE: The Blackfoot Challenge Origin Story
A short film by Jeremy Roberts, Conservation Media
Beginning 30 years ago, the Blackfoot Challenge pioneered the community-led approach to natural resource conservation and stewardship. Today, thanks to a focus on collaboration and trust-building among partners, the Blackfoot watershed is home to a vibrant river and all of the diverse wildlife that inhabited the area when Lewis and Clark ventured through. LANDSCAPE OF HOPE features the voices and stories of Blackfoot founders and community members. It reflects on a legacy of hard work to sustain working landscapes and wild places through common ground– while giving hope that people with diverse perspectives can make a difference together. (14 minutes)
This film will be followed by a Q&A with Jeremy Roberts as well as Seth Wilson, Blackfoot Challenge executive director, and Leigh Kelley, Blackfoot Challenge Board member. We look forward to up to 20 minutes for audience discussion.
Film 2: LIFE IN THE LAND: Connecting People & Place in Montana
A short film by Lara Tomov, Stories For Action
The Big Hole Watershed is an expanse of mostly intact grasslands, sage steppe, and forested mountains that host a diversity of wildlife, from sage grouse to pronghorn, and waterways that are key fish habitat. A large portion of the Big Hole River runs through working rangelands, and the fly fishing on this river attracts people from all over the world, making agriculture and recreation the driving forces of the local communities here. Find out how people representing a diversity of needs within a watershed are coming together to benefit all life here within the land, water, and communities, and how this is building resiliency throughout droughts and other pressures. (32 minutes)
This film will be followed by a Q&A with Lara Tomov as well as Pedro Marques, executive director of the Big Hole Watershed Committee. We look forward to up to 20 minutes for audience discussion.
Link here for tickets.

Pure Montana Tales: Rare Carnivore Monitoring
2023-02-23 19:00 - 20:00
Please join us for a Zoom presentation by Luke Lamar of Swan Valley Connections on a collaborative project to
monitor populations of rare forest carnivores like Canada lynx, wolverines, fishers, and more. SVC and
Blackfoot Challenge staff visit remote sites throughout the winter to collect evidence of these seldom
seen critters in our watershed. You’ll hear all about this important effort that involves many agency and
nonprofit partners, and see amazing trail camera footage of lots of cool species!
REGISTER HERE.

Livestock Guardian Dogs Presentation
2023-04-27 18:00 - 20:00
The Blackfoot Challenge is pleased to host Blackleaf Guardians and People and Carnivores for a special presentation on Livestock Guardian Dogs: their uses, breeds, and behavior, along with resources to help ranchers use guardian dogs for livestock protection against large carnivores like grizzly bears and wolves.
Thursday, April 27
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Helmville Community Hall
AGENDA
6:00-6:10 pm Introductions
6:10-7:00 pm Livestock Guardian Dogs: Uses, Breeds & Behaviors
7:00-7:30 pm Resources for using Livestock Guardian Dogs,bincluding tracking collars
7:30-8:00 pm Q & A
For more information, contact:
Blackfoot Challenge Wildlife Coordinator Eric Graham
eric@blackfootchallenge.org
406-240-3132

Powell County Weed District Landowner Meeting
2023-04-28 13:00 - 15:00
Powell County Weed District
2023 Annual Landowner Meeting
Friday April 28
* Ovando School Gymn *
* 1:00-3:00 pm *
MEETING AGENDA
 12:30-12:55 pm Sign In & Welcome
 1:00-1:55 pm Dr. Lisa Rew
“Annual Grass Ecology and Management”
Description: The talk will cover the ecology and distribution of invasive annual grasses in Montana, and the efficacy
of different management practices for controlling their abundance and spread.
Dr. Lisa Rew is a Professor of Weed and Invasive Plant Ecology and Management in the Department of Land
Resources and Environmental Sciences at Montana State University (MSU) in Bozeman, Montana. She and her
group work in natural, semi-natural and agricultural systems trying to understand more about the ecology of
invasive species under different conditions and how to manage them while improving desired vegetation at a local
scale. To achieve this her interests include, survey and monitoring methods, species distribution modeling, plant
community diversity, population dynamics, and long-distance
dispersal and spread.
 2:00-2:55 pm Dr. Jane Mangold
“Revegetating Weed-Infested Range and Pasture Lands”
Description: When range and pasture lands are severely infested with invasive and noxious weeds,
simply controlling the weeds may not result in desired outcomes. In such cases, seeding other species,
commonly referred to as “revegetation,” is necessary to establish desired vegetation that can compete
with weeds and help you meet your management objectives. This presentation will cover key concepts
from the new MSU Extension publication “Revegetation Guidelines: Considering Invasive and Noxious
Weeds” to help you plan and execute revegetation, including special consideration of how to integrate
herbicides and seeding. vegetation that can compete with weeds and help you meet your management
objectives. execute revegetation, including special consideration of how to integrate herbicides and
seeding. Jane Mangold is a Professor and the Extension Invasive Plant specialist at Montana State
University-Bozeman. She has been researching and extending science-based information on integrated
management of invasive and noxious weeds for about 25 years. One of her research interests is
revegetation, especially in the context of rangeland and pasture infested by invasive annual grasses like
cheatgrass and ventenata.

BCCA Field Tour
2023-06-15 14:00 - 17:00
Thursday, June 15th — 2:00pm until 5:00pm
Meet at the Boot Tree at 2:00 pm to car pool .
Barbecue will be served after the tour at 5:00—so be sure to RSVP!
The Blackfoot Community Conservation Area includes 41,000 acres of State, Federal, and private land north of Ovando. The 5,600-acre “Core” area is
locally-owned and community-managed. Join the Council members on a tour through the BCCA Core making several stops at recently completed projects and future projects.
Bring your old boots for a tossing contest!
Pease contact deb@blackfootchallenge.org or 406.793.3900 to RSVP.

Russell Gates FAS Volunteer Weed Pull
2023-06-17 09:00 - 11:00
Join us for our annual weed pull event. Refreshments will be provided for volunteers.
Contact Vegetation Program Coordinator Karen Laitala for more info!
karen@blackfootchallenge.org

Blackfoot River Clean Up
2023-07-29 08:00 - 16:00
Meet at Johnsrud Park (MM 11 on Hwy 200).
Rafters and divers begin at 8:00 am; waders and walkers begin at 9:00 am.
A light lunch will be provided for volunteers from 11:30 am – 4:00 pm.
Hosted by the Blackfoot Home & Community Club.
Call 406-244-6156 for more information.

Blackfoot Challenge 30th Anniversary Block Party!!
2023-08-11 17:00 - 21:00
Join us to celebrate the communities and partners of the Blackfoot watershed — AND a very momentous 30th Anniversary for the Blackfoot Challenge.
We’ll have live music from the Thirsty Buzzards. Food trucks will include: Mountain Berry Bowls, Rockstarr BBQ, the Copper Cliff Cafe, and the Wild Weenie — plus the Stray Bullet beer garden & Trixi’s Bar. Plus games, local artisans and vendors, and more!
LOCATION: Ovando Town Square
DATE & TIME: Friday, August 11 — from 5 pm – 9 pm
Thanks to our sponsors: Big Bear Sign Co., Blackfoot Communications, Blue Mountain Landscape & Sprinkler, US Bank, Laura Fedro Interiors, Missoula Electric Co-op, Rolling Stone Ranch, The Lodges at Seeley Lake, Pyramid Mountain Lumber, Robert Ray & Fran Penner-Ray

Russell Gates FAS Weed Pull Event #2
2023-08-19 09:00 - 11:00
Join us for our second weed pull event at the Russell Gates Fishing Access Site.
Refreshments will be provided for volunteers.
Contact Vegetation Program Coordinator Karen Laitala for more info!
karen@blackfootchallenge.org

Board Meeting
2023-09-20 10:00 - 13:00
The September meeting will take place in person, with a Zoom option.
Contact Office Administrator Deb Dillree for more information.
deb@blackfootchallenge.org

Board Meeting
2023-10-18 10:00 - 12:00
The October meeting will take place via Zoom.
Contact Office Administrator Deb Dillree for more information.
deb@blackfootchallenge.org

Board Meeting
2023-11-15 10:00 - 12:00
The November meeting will take place via Zoom.
Contact Office Administrator Deb Dillree for more information.
deb@blackfootchallenge.org

Missoula Holiday Open House
2023-12-06 16:00 - 19:00
Join us for some holiday cheer and to meet our staff and Board at the Kettlehouse Taproom in Bonner.
We look forward to celebrating all of you who make the Blackfoot an amazing place to live, work and play!

Board Meeting
2023-12-13 10:00 - 12:00
The December meeting will take place in the Ovando Fire Hall — with a shortened meeting to break for our Annual Member Holiday Gathering starting at 12:30 pm at Trixi’s.
Contact Office Administrator Deb Dillree for more information.
deb@blackfootchallenge.org

Holiday Member Gathering
2023-12-13 12:30 - 15:30
Join us for some holiday cheer and a warm chili feed with all the trimmings at Trixi’s.
We look forward to celebrating all of you who make the Blackfoot an amazing place to live, work and play!

Board Meeting
2024-02-21 10:00 - 12:00
The February meeting will take place on Zoom.
Contact Office Administrator Deb Dillree for more information and a meeting link.
deb@blackfootchallenge.org

BCCA Community Ski Day
2024-02-24 14:00 - 17:30
The Blackfoot Challenge is hosting an afternoon of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, wildlife tracking and a hot dog roast!
It’s winter in the Blackfoot and we think that’s a great time to get together and enjoy the Blackfoot Community Conservation Area (BCCA). Please join us to explore your community forest in the heart of the Blackfoot.
Fun for all ages & ability levels — a range of easy level trails up to more challenging ones.
What We Supply: Trail guidance / suggestions; a warming fire; hot drinks, hot dogs and fixings; and a wildlife tracking session.
What You Bring: Cross-country skis or snowshoes if you have them; camp chairs for around the fire; warm layers. (If you need to borrow equipment, let us know and we’ll see what we can round up.)
MEET AT THE BOOT TREE PARKING AREA AT 2 P.M.
To RSVP, contact: elaine@blackfootchallenge.org or brad@blackfootchallenge.org OR call 406-793-3900

Drought Committee Meeting
2024-03-14 13:00 - 15:00
The Drought Committee will meet via Zoom to review predicted water supply conditions and updates to the Blackfoot Drought Response Plan
Contact Water Steward Clancy Jandreau for more information.
clancy@blackfootchallenge.org

Board Meeting
2024-03-20 10:00 - 12:00
The March meeting location is TBD (either on Zoom or in person at UM’s Lubrecht Forest).
Contact Office Administrator Deb Dillree for more information.
deb@blackfootchallenge.org
