Blackfoot Challenge

Stories from the Field: A Live Virtual Event
2021-04-14 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver)
An evening of short stories told by Blackfoot Challenge staff about the conservation and stewardship underway in the Blackfoot watershed.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE RECORDING

Thank you to our event partners!

Board Meeting
2021-03-17 10:00 - 12:00, 2021-02-17 10:00 - 12:00, 2020-12-16 10:00 - 12:30, 2020-10-21 10:00 - 12:30
This month’s Board of Directors’ meeting will take place via Zoom.
The public is welcome to participate in our board meetings. Contact our Operations Manager Sydney Weydemeyer for more information and the participation link: sydney@blackfootchallenge.org.

BCCA Council
2021-03-04 10:00 - 12:00
Will take place via Zoom. Public is welcome. Contact Deb Dillree for details: deb@blackfootchallenge.org.

Conservation Strategies Committee
2021-02-25 13:00 - 14:30
The annual gathering of the Conservation Strategies Committee, composed of private landowners, public agencies, land trusts and others working on conservation in the Blackfoot watershed.
Contact Conservation Strategies Coordinator Sara Schmidt for Zoom participation info: sara@blackfootchallenge.org.

Pure Montana Tales presents: Early Forest Warning Systems
2021-02-18 19:00 - 20:00
Early Warning Systems in the Forest
Animal Communication Networks with Erick Greene
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE RECORDING

Erick will share fascinating discoveries he and his students at UM have made about how animals communicate about danger. They have found that birds and other animals have remarkably specific alarm calls: for example, “snake on the ground,” “flying hawk,” “perched hawk”, and so forth. It also turns out that animals understand the alarm calls of other species, so many animals in the woods are cooperating to produce a “distant early warning system.” Anyone who has tried to walk quietly or hunt in the woods has likely been the subject of this communication network! Erick will explain how alarm calls work, and demonstrate the amazing infoscape that exists in our woods.
Dr. Erick Greene is a wildlife biologist and professor, and the Director of University of Montana’s Bird Ecology Lab. He has conducted research on wildlife around the world, including in the Blackfoot watershed!
Please contact Education Coordinator Elaine Caton at elaine@blackfootchallenge.org with questions.

NOTE: Don’t have Zoom and don’t want to download it? You don’t have to!
You can join this presentation through your web browser:

Click on the meeting invite URL that you receive via email after registering.
A new tab will open on your preferred web browser.
If you don’t have the Zoom desktop app installed, the page will urge you to download the app. It may ask you to allow the download to begin. Close that, you don’t need to.
When you click the “Launch Meeting” button, highlighted text should appear that says “Join from your browser.” Click that text.
Sign in with your name and answer the security captcha to join the meeting.

+ GOOGLE CALENDAR+ ICAL EXPORT

Forestry Committee
2021-02-17 13:00 - 15:00
Spring meeting of the Forestry Committee. Meeting will occur via Zoom. Contact Forestry Coordinator Cindy Super for details: cindy@blackfootchallenge.org.

Annual Board Meeting
2021-01-20 10:00 - 12:00

Board Meeting
2020-11-18 10:00 - 12:00, 2020-09-16 10:00 - 12:00
Location TBD.
Contact Operations Manager Sydney Weydemeyer for more information: sydney@blackfootchallenge.org.

Blackfoot Community Conservation Area Council Meeting
2020-11-05 19:00 - 20:30
Will likely take place via Zoom. Public is welcome. Contact Deb Dillree for details: deb@blackfootchallenge.org.

Board Meeting
2020-08-19 08:30 - 10:30, 2020-07-15 08:30 - 10:30
Will take place via Zoom. Administrative Session only. Contact Operations Manager Sydney Weydemeyer for more information: sydney@blackfootchallenge.org.

Annual BCCA Field Tour
2020-06-25 14:00 - 18:00
Annual Blackfoot Community Conservation Area Field Tour

The public is welcome! The BCCA Council is following Phase 2 reopening guidelines by practicing social distancing and requiring all tour attendees to drive their own vehicles. Dinner will be provided at the Blackfoot Challenge’s Ovando office after the tour.
Tour discussion topics will include: forestry and grazing management, prescribed fire, fuel reduction, public recreation, wildlife and education.
The BCCA encompasses 41,000 acres of Federal, State and private land north of Ovando. The 5,600-acre core area is owned by the Blackfoot Challenge and managed for a variety of uses by a 15-member community council. Learn more about the BCCA here.
To RSVP, please contact deb@blackfootchallenge.org.

Birds & Wildflowers Walk
2020-06-25 08:30 - 11:00
Learn all about local wildflowers and birds with our Education and Swan Restoration Coordinator Elaine Caton! Special guests Erick and Anne Greene will also help lead the tour. This walk will take place in the Ovando area in the morning. Contact Elaine for final details: elaine@blackfootchallenge.org.

Annual Russell Gates Fishing Access Site Weed Pull
2020-06-20 09:00 - 11:00
Covid won’t stop a weed pull! Join us on Saturday, June 20th to pull leafy spurge along the banks of the Blackfoot River — at a responsible 6 foot distance from one another. You bring your passion for pulling weeds and a pair of gloves, and we’ll supply bags, refreshments, and good cheer!
The Russell Gates Fishing Access Sites is located 35 miles East of Bonner on Montana Highway 200 at milepost 35.
Questions? Contact our Vegetation Coordinator Karen Laitala at karen@blackfootchallenge.org or 560-2919.

Education Committee & Teachers Steering Council
2020-06-17 12:00 - 14:00
Location: Ovando. Meeting will be held outdoors and participants are asked to observe 6′ social distancing guidelines.
For more information, please contact Education Coordinator Elaine Caton at elaine@blackfootchallenge.org.

Board Meeting
2020-06-17 10:00 - 12:00, 2020-05-20 10:00 - 12:00
Meeting location and/or call-in information TBD.

Harmful Algal Blooms Virtual Presentation
2020-04-16 17:30 - 18:30
Harmful Algal Blooms on Nevada Creek Reservoir
Presentation topics will include:

Defining harmful algal blooms, the factors that cause them, and resources the State Harmful Algal Bloom Program can offer.
Overview of the TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load, a measure of water quality) recommendations and how they relate to Harmful Algal Booms.
Overview of the restoration work underway in the Nevada Creek drainage.
Plenty of time for questions and discussion.

Contact Blackfoot Challenge Water Steward Jennifer Schoonen for the Zoom presentation link: jennifer@blackfootchallenge.org.
Hosted By: Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Blackfoot Challenge, Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services

Board Meeting
2020-04-15 10:00 - 12:00
In light of stay-at-home directives, the Blackfoot Challenge will hold this month’s Board of Directors meeting via Zoom. Contact our Office Administrator, deb@blackfootchallenge.org, for an agenda and meeting participation link.

Board Meeting
2020-03-18 10:00 - 11:00
In light of Coronavirus, this month’s Board of Directors meeting will be an abbreviated phone call.
Please contact Office Administrator Deb Dillree for agenda and participation information: deb@blackfootchallenge.org.
