(Updated 7/5/00)

Presentation of the 2000 Montana Watershed Stewardship Awards will highlight this meeting.

Time: 9:00 AM until 3:30 PM
Place: Regular Meeting - Director's Conference Room, Metcalfe (DEQ) Building near the corner of Sixth and Roberts.

Presentation of the Montana Watershed Stewardship Awards by the governor will be held outside at the Capitol. In case of inclement weather the awards will be held in the Metcalfe Building. Note: There will be a luncheon following the awards presentation. If you plan to attend please see the instructions in the agenda below.

9:00 Introductions and Announcements

9:15 Workgroup Reports - The following workgroups will present updates:

• Montana Wetlands Council - Lynda Saul
• Linking Group - Mike McLane
• Grazing Practices Workgroup - Warren Kellogg
• Water Quality Monitoring - Bob Bukantis (Workgroup Reports will continue in the afternoon)
  
  10:00 Break
  
  10:30 Montana Watershed Stewardship Presentations - This year's three award-winning watershed groups--Careless Creek Watershed Group, Green Mountain Conservation District, and the Sage Creek Watershed Alliance--describe the work that led to their recognition.
  
  11:30 Break - Travel to the Capitol
  
  11:45 Presentation of the Stewardship Awards by the Governor at the Capitol.
• Introduction - Mary Ellen Wolfe, MWCC Chair
• Governor's Remarks and Awards presentations to the Careless Creek Watershed, Green Mountain Conservation District, and Sage Creek Watershed Alliance

Formal awards presentation will be on the north steps of the Capitol Building. (In case of inclement weather, an alternative indoor site will be named.)

12:15 Watershed Stewardship Luncheon on Capitol Lawn. If you plan on attending the luncheon, please RSVP. Contact Tom Pick at tpick@state.mt.us or call 444-4765 by Friday, July 21st. The cost is $6 and you can pay at the door. (Return to Metcalf Building for the afternoon session.)

1:00 Montana Riparian/Wetland Association Proposal Discussion of a proposal presented at the April meeting to incorporate the MRWA into the Coordination Council. The issue paper for this item follows the agenda.

1:45 Ground Water Work Group Discussion Discussion of the Ground Water Work Group and the question of its continuing existence.

2:30 Coal Bed Methane Issue Update for Southeast Montana - John Kilpatrick

3:00 Workgroup Reports (continued) Water Activities Work Group Report -Stuart

3:15 Next Meeting and Agenda Ideas

3:30 Adjourn

For more info: call Mary Ellen Wolfe, 994-1910, or David Martin at 444-5234.

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History:

The Montana Riparian/Wetland Association (MRWA) was formed in 1986 to coordinate and support activities of participating agencies and organizations in furthering riparian and wetland management. The MRWA includes federal, state, tribal, non-governmental, and private organizations signatory to a formal Memorandum of Understanding. The association has served as a vehicle for maintaining contact among these groups and for directing and supporting both research and educational efforts. The MRWA completed the Classification and Management of Montana's Riparian and Wetland Sites in 1995. The Riparian Education Committee has developed numerous education materials for use throughout the state and has gained recognition in many states for the quality and applicability of materials. The MOU for the MRWA requires that agencies and organizations pay dues. The Riparian and Wetland Research Program (RWRP) is a program within the University of Montana's School of Forestry. The RWRP began as the research arm of the MRWA, but has broadened its client base to include organizations that are not members of the MRWA and has expanded its research efforts into surrounding states and Canadian provinces.

Issue:

• The MRWA is now a very small component of the RWRP. The RWRP Program does not have the time to commit to the MRWA program to make it an effective, productive program.
• It appears that the MRWA and the Montana Watershed Coordination Council (MWCC) have parallel paths and many of the same agencies and organizations are members of both organizations.
• The agencies and organizations that are currently members of the MRWA have not had the funding to support the implementation of the designated tasks of the MRWA since 1995.

Proposal:

Incorporate the Montana Riparian/Wetland Association into the Montana Watershed Coordination Council and remove the MRWA from the RWRP Program. Incorporate the MRWA into the MWCC through one of the following methods:

• Include in the Wetlands Council
• Develop a Riparian Council
• Develop a Riparian Work Group

Incorporate the Riparian Education Committee into the Information and Education Work Group. This would decrease the overlap and duplication of efforts within the state. The MWCC does not ask for yearly funding from the participating agencies and organizations.