Swan Valley Connections (SEC)

Stewardship and restoration:swan Valley Connections (svc), working with the Montana department of natural resources and conservation, assisted 238 private landowners in the Swan Valley during 2022 to provide forest health and stewardship assessments. Private landowners also receive technical assistance to reduce wildfire risk through forest fuels thinning, manage tree beetle infestations, and monitor tree disease outbreaks. With funding from several government agencies, forest stewardship cost share grants were awarded to ten landowners and treated 146 acres in 2022. Since beginning the program in 2004, 296 landowner grants have been awarded, facilitating the treatment of 3,051 acres of forest land at risk from wildfire, tree and forest health decline, or tree insect and disease outbreaks. In 2022, 9,730 beetle pheromone packets were distributed to 166 landowners in the Swan Valley protecting 70 acres of trees and providing a buffer zone to reduce the spread of a beetle infestation to hundreds of additional acres. Mitigating the encroachment of noxious and non-native plant species remains an important part of maintaining ecosystem integrity for the Swan Valley. Svc offered numerous landowners with advice on how to effectively treat weed infestations on their property.the Swan Valley has over 4,000 wetlands, the most abundant wetland habitat in Montana and is home to several rare and endangered species. In partnership with the u.s. Fish and wildlife service (usfws), svc is enhancing existing wetland habitat and restoring degraded wetlands throughout the Swan Valley. Projects in the Swan Valley are targeted towards the recovery of focal species bull trout, trumpeter swans, and grizzly bears. In 2022, svc and usfws partnered to restore 609 acres of ditched and drained wetlands on the Swan river national wildlife refuge, the largest wetland restoration project in Montana's history. In addition, svc and the u.s. forest service partnered to restore 30 acres of ditched and drained wetlands on national forest land. In total, 639 acres of wetlands were restored in 2022. Since the inception of the program in 2010, svc has restored 15 wetlands on 790 acres.targeted projects in the Swan Valley of previously ditched and drained wetlands have helped restore nesting and foraging habitat for trumpeter swans. In 2019, svc and partners documented the first successful nesting pair of trumpeter swans in the upper Swan Valley in over 100 years! In 2022, recovery efforts continued with a promising future, as two successful nesting pairs of trumpeter swans were documented in the upper Swan Valley, producing five cygnets that survived until the fall migration.in total, 307 landowners were served, and 3,346 acres of private property were evaluated or improved though svc programs during 2022.

Education:swan Valley Connections' (svc) education programs aim to strengthen the relationship between people and landscapes through placed-based experiences. Svc teaches ecological literacy to people of all ages and backgrounds, cultivating compassion and enthusiasm for the natural world in children, challenging young adults to understand the complexities of land and resource management, and providing residents with opportunities to engage with the place where they live, work, and play.during 2022, svc continued to support the mission mountain youth crew (mmyc), which is a conservation youth corps of high school students from the confederated salish and kootenai tribal reservation. The mmyc assisted in a variety of stewardship projects, including invasive weed control and trail and cultural site maintenance.our experiential college field programs hosted 25 students in 2022. Svc promotes a place-based, case-study approach to conservation and studies process and collaboration to make these lessons applicable in other geographic locations. We hosted programs from gonzaga university and university of Montana and taught our own 9 credit program, "wildlife in the west". Students in our programs study ecology, natural resource management, and community-based conservation. Our college programs are interdisciplinary in nature and offer a balance of learning through field work, academic readings, presentations by staff and speakers, problem solving activities, and personal reflection. We believe that a deep understanding of ecological processes combined with empathy for human communities leads to innovative and thoughtful stewardship of public and private landscapes. Our virtual natural resource speaker series brought 12 different presenters to a global audience, sharing information about fungi, wildlife, plant and insect biology, hydrology, wildfire, and geology. Attendance to these online webinars ranges from 20 to over 100 attendees. We held several wildlife tracking classes and workshops serving 108 participants and our Montana master naturalist program had 16 participants. Svc is committed to maintaining partnerships that promote education to a broader audience. In 2021, svc partnered with the Montana natural history center, the blackfoot challenge, clearwater resource council, the university of Montana, the united states forest service, Montana fish, wildlife and parks, Montana deq, trout unlimited, backcountry hunters and anglers, the united state geologic survey, and others to promote state-wide and out of state education programs to a diverse audience. These partnerships build trust, enhance collaboration, and extend the reach of any individual organization.

Wildlife & aquatics:swan Valley Connections (svc) works to conserve the intact ecosystems within and surrounding the Swan Valley and to strengthen the connection between people and the natural world through collaboration and experiential learning. Located in the heart of one of the last remaining wild and intact landscapes in north america hosting its full complement of native fish and wildlife species in their natural habitat, svc's vision is that the Swan watershed will remain an intact ecosystem, supporting a resilient community that values its natural resources, and serving as a model for enduring stewardship. Svc is a collaborative partner in Swan Valley bear resources (svbr), whose mission is to offer community resources to promote coexistence between people and bears. A collaborative effort of svc and the u.s. forest service (usfs), svbr partners with Montana fish wildlife & parks (fwp), u.s. Fish & wildlife service (usfws), Montana department of natural resources and conservation (dnrc), volunteers, and community members in pursuit of its mission. Svbr staff help reduce bear conflicts by offering private property consultations, advice for landowners to minimize bear attractants, a bear-resistant container loaner program, assistance with temporary and permanent electric fencing projects to contain bear attractants, educational events, and outreach. Since its inception, svbr has distributed 405 bear resistant trash containers to local businesses and residents. In 2022, svbr distributed 59 bear-resistant trash cans and built eight permanent electric fences to contain bear attractants and has now built a total of 42 permanent electric fences in the region to contain bear attractants.svbr sponsors several outreach efforts and events to promote public awareness of its mission to reduce human/bear conflicts in the Swan Valley. Svbr publishes the Swan Valley bear news, an annual community newsletter that highlights current events relating to bears and has a current distribution of approximately 2,000 individuals. Svbr hosts several different types of community events designed to engage community members and provide forums to discuss and disseminate information about living with bears. Every year svbr partners with various agencies, organizations, and businesses to provide educational events aimed at promoting human-bear coexistence. In april, in lieu of our in-person annual spring bear wake-up social due to lingering covid-19 concerns, svbr hosted an educational virtual presentation by fwp research biologist lori roberts on grizzly bear biology, habitat connectivity, awareness, and conflict management. The presentation also reminded residents of svbr's services and encouraging efforts to contain their bear attractants as bears emerged from hibernation. The presentation was recorded and is posted on svc's website and was shared on our social media platforms. 56 people tuned in for the live presentation and 148 people watched the recorded presentation. The presentation can be viewed at: httpswwwswanvalleyconnectionsorgp... hosted a bear awareness event at the bigfork vfw that featured a presentation by fwp stewardship outreach specialist danielle oyler that included information about bear identification, living and recreating safely in bear country, and ways to mitigate human-bear conflicts. Following the presentation, participants were able to practice using inert cans of pepper spray on a charging remote-controlled bear. About 75 people attended the event.svbr also hosted its popular summer event, the bear fair, at the Swan river community hall in the greater ferndale/bigfork area. The event brought together regional bear experts, organizations, and businesses to share information about bear ecology, behavior, research, conservation, conflict management, and different resources available to secure bear attractants. Presentations were given by fwp bear and lion conflict specialist erik wenum and fwp research biologist lori roberts, who gave informative talks on the most up-to-date grizzly bear research, biology, policy, and conflict management. In addition, representatives from svbr, vital ground foundation, be bear aware, defenders of wildlife, bear aware bigfork, and gallagher fencing were also present, offering informative displays, educational materials, kid's activities, and demonstrations about bear pepper spray use and effectiveness, bear-resistant trash cans, electric fencing, habitat linkage zones, conservation easements, and how to live in bear country. Approximately 125 people attended the event throughout the day. Free food, beer, and other non-alcoholic beverages were provided. Flathead lake brewing company and rosa's pizza donated beer and pizza for the event. Svc created an educational and instructional video about svbr services and a 'how-to guide' for other organizations or communities interested in creating/hosting a bear fair. The video can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/753070508svc hosted a landowner stewardship fair at the condon community hall. Svbr and be bear aware tabled the event, providing education awareness, brochures and other informational materials, and bear pepper spray demonstrations to approximately 75 participants. The event included a presentation by fwp game warden justin slobuszewski and focused on the importance of residents not feeding bears and other wildlife.svc is the point of contact locally to report bear incidents, problems, and conflicts and works to help resolve issues or relay information to appropriate management experts. Visitors at the condon work center can purchase bear pepper spray and obtain a variety of printed information and educational materials about living and recreating safely in bear country. The visitor center provides information about living with all species of wildlife, including a 'living with wildlife' informational packet for new landowners in the Valley and other interested parties. The southwestern crown of the continent (sw crown) is a primarily forested landscape in the rocky mountains of western Montana. The sw crown was chosen as one of the first ten project areas nationally awarded funding under the federal collaborative forest landscape restoration (cflr) program. The cflr program requires multi-party monitoring to assess the positive or negative ecological, social, and economic effects of restoration projects implemented under the program. Svc, in partnership with the u.s. forest service, rocky mountain research station, bureau of land management, and the nature conservancy in Montana worked to systematically survey parts the sw crown for forest carnivores, particularly focusing on lynx, fisher, and wolverine in 2022 as part of a long-term monitoring effort that began in 2012. Maintaining or restoring a healthy landscape that supports these three species is a primary focus of national forest management in the sw crown and, as listed or sensitive species, the cflr program. As such, forest managers consider the impacts to these species before implementing any major forest management, including building or removing roads, fuels reduction, and forest restoration projects. The primary objective of monitoring forest carnivores in the sw crown of the continent is to facilitate and coordinate the adaptive management of wolverines, canada lynx, and fisher by agency managers across the landscape. This monitoring project was designed to provide a baseline of the current distribution of the focal species in the sw crown and to allow for tracking changes in that distribution over time. The sw crown carnivore project utilizes non-invasive survey methods to maximize the ability to detect multiple species across a large landscape in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Svc conducted snow track surveys and used dna collection methods (hair snares and bait stations) developed by researchers with the usfs rocky mountain research station.svc coordinates and hosts an annual Swan Valley native fish committee meeting, which is a collaborative group of partners from Montana fwp, u.s. geological survey, Montana dnrc, u.s. forest service, the university of Montana, flathead biological station, u.s. Fish and wildlife service, mpg ranch, and private citizens. The native fish subcommittee works to inform the conservation strategies which will best protect and restore westslope cutthroat trout in the Swan river basin.

Public information/visitor center:swan Valley Connections (svc) has partnered with the u.s. forest service to provide year-round visitor and community services monday friday between 9am 4:30pm. Svc staffs a visitor center located in the usfs condon work center that is the primary point of contact for visitors to the Swan Valley. We saw 1,320 visitors who came to the visitor center to get information regarding trails/hiking, camping, fishing, and water recreation, lodging and wildlife in the Valley. We recorded 437 minutes of information given to 46 visitors specifically regarding recreating in bear country. Svc is the home of the great northern fire crew, and the main source of information for the public. Svc has created wildlife and habitat exhibits, developed a resource library focused on local natural resources, wildlife and history, and a small retail shop selling bear spray, maps, wood permits and books related to enjoying and understanding the natural beauty of the Swan Valley. Visitors can also enjoy an interpretive trail adjacent to the visitor center.svc's visitor center is an informational hub for visitors and residents alike and a critical resource for professionals working in the Swan Valley. Svc hosts the Swan lands coordinating network and its various focal subcommittees, a forum for all resource conservation practitioners and professionals in the Valley. Svc facilitates workshops and educational opportunities year-round for residents and professionals, including a quarterly publication "the confluence" with a print distribution of over 1,300 as well as digital distribution of over 3,000 via email and on our website. In addition, the Swan Valley Connections website provides a wealth of public information and outreach material. In 2022, the website received 26,000 unique viewers and served as a jumping off point to our social pages, facebook and instagram, which have 17,000 and 2,500 followers respectively, bringing together a confluence of conservation and education material. Svc partners with government agency stakeholders and acts as the liaison for communication between these agencies (85% of the Valley is under federal and state ownership) and the private landowners/residents of the Valley. Svc hosts monthly informational meetings for citizens to be aware of agency activity and allows citizens to provide input and feedback to the federal and state agencies on projects happening in the Valley. This critical communication link builds relationships that allow for productive outcomes that benefit all. Recreational trails:from may through november, Swan Valley Connections (svc), in partnership with the u.s. forest service (usfs), contracts with three recreation trail stewards to provide extensive trail and campsite maintenance and restoration, recreational user monitoring, wilderness character monitoring, and visitor education on approximately 95 miles of trail in the mission mountains wilderness and Swan front of northwest Montana. The trails stewards clean up garbage and maintain over 300 campsites as well as 10 restoration sites. Each spring trails are opened and then maintained throughout the visitor season in partnership with the u.s. forest service. In 2022, trail stewards supervised 30 volunteers, providing 969 hours of service. The recreational trails program is funded by grants from the usfs, Montana fish, wildlife & parks, and by private donations.conservation:swan Valley Connections (svc) coordinates the Swan lands coordinating network (slcn) consisting of members from all the various stakeholders in the Swan Valley, including the u.s. forest service, u.s. Fish and wildlife service, Montana department of natural resources and conservation, Montana fish, wildlife and parks, various non-governmental agencies, Swan Valley civic organizations, and private citizens. The mission of the slcn is to coordinate stakeholder activity in the Valley and leverage organizational resources to more productively accomplish common goals and objectives. The slcn provides a forum for dialogue among vested stakeholders in pursuit of strengthening relationships and facilitating cooperative stewardship of the natural resources in the Swan Valley for the common good. The Swan Valley native fish subcommittee is a collaborative group of representatives from Swan Valley Connections, Montana fwp, us geological survey, Montana dnrc, us forest service, the university of Montana, flathead biological station, u.s. Fish and wildlife service, mpg ranch, and private citizens. It works to identify the conservation strategies which will best protect and restore westslope cutthroat trout in the Swan basin. Svc has worked to monitor known conservation populations and collect samples for genetic study to address knowledge gaps about the distribution, abundance, and genetic status of cutthroat trout in the Swan. Svc also connects local landowners with a missoula county-funded cost share noxious weed treatment grant program.svc is a member of the southwestern crown collaborative (swcc), which brings together residents, interested citizens, business enterprises, and conservation organizations to consider creative solutions in the management of national forests in the blackfoot, clearwater, and Swan river valleys. It is an open, independent, volunteer organization that encourages broad participation by all interested parties. The swcc promotes sustainable forest management, the restoration of watersheds, science-based evaluation of management activities, and opportunities for nearby rural communities to benefit from these lands and waters. Swcc's mission is to work towards a healthy and sustainable landscape in this region taking into account everything from local ecosystems to local economies.elk creek conservation area:swan Valley Connections (svc) and the confederated salish and kootenai tribes (cskt) each own half of the elk creek conservation area, a 640-acre parcel of critical bull trout spawning habitat along elk creek. Together, svc and cskt co-manage the conservation area and meet at least once annually to discuss stewardship priorities for the year. A management committee and management plan guide any stewardship actions on the property. Svc supervises volunteers and provides funding for restoring riparian habitat along the creek as well as maintenance of access roads, weed control, tree planting and forest health management. The elk creek conservation area is a demonstration area for best management practices, public tours, and educational opportunities for students, residents, and natural resource professionals.svc uses this conservation area as an outdoor classroom for students who learn through involvement in stream monitoring, wildlife habitat management, and forest assessment. In 2013, svc partnered with the us fish and wildlife service, the confederated salish and kootenai tribes, and the missoula county conservation district to obtain various grants to replant 43 acres along elk creek and the Swan river within the conservation area. The project work was implemented in 2015, planting over 5,800 spruce and 500 alder seedlings. Annual monitoring of seedling survival continued in 2022.in 2022, svc and usfws partnered with the cskt, missoula county, and the elk flats road coop to upgrade undersized culverts in the floodplain along elk creek on the elk creek conservation area. The previous undersized culverts were unable to handle the high flows during spring runoff events and had resulted in large quantities of sediment from elk flats road washing into elk creek, negatively impacting bull trout spawning and rearing habitat as well as water quality.in addition, in 2022 svc hosted a weed management workshop and a riparian shrubs and trees restoration workshop that was attended by volunteers who helped hand-pull invasive weeds and build fences that will exclude ungulates and allow for native plants and trees to regenerate in the elk creek and Swan river floodplains.svc also released biocontrol knapweed flower and root weevils in 2021 on the conservation area, which will reproduce over time and help reduce the infestation of the invasive plant. In addition, herbicides were used to treat weeds throughout various roads on the property.