Last Chance Audubon Society
Promoting understanding, respect, and enjoyment of birds and the natural world
through education, habitat protection and environment advocacy.

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ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY

The chapter responds to conservation issues through letter writing and monitoring of local, state, and national policies that effect wildlife and their habitat. The chapter has been actively involved in the development of policies for management of the Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds duck pond and the Charles Van Hook Wetlands, located just east of the duck pond. If there are issues that concern you and feel that your chapter should get involved, please contact Brian Shovers at sholace@bresnan.net.

Past and Current Issues of Concern

November 9, 2004

Joint Federal, State Board and Citizens Advisory Board
Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust
P.O. Box 1993 Helena, MT. 59624

Dear Board Members:

One year ago Last Chance Audubon Society, a volunteer conservation organization of over 270 members, identified conservation of a large tract of agriculture lands and wetlands on the southwest shore of Lake Helena as the chapter’s primary focus for the next couple of years. Since February 2004, Last Chance Audubon and Montana Audubon have sponsored two planning sessions on the Winterburn property (Running W Cattle Co. Ranch), inviting interested parties from Helena community to discuss strategies for conserving riparian and wetlands in the Helena valley. Fifteen people from a variety of interested state, federal, county representatives and conservation groups attended these meetings. In May 2004 Last Chance Audubon dedicated $3,000 to preparation of a management plan for the Winterburn property.

Last Chance Audubon has an interest in the Winterburn property for its educational values. One of the primary missions of the chapter is educating the public about birds, wildlife, and the ecological systems that these creatures depend upon. The proposed conservation easement would protect a total of 2,500 acres of wetlands and agricultural land. Montana Audubon already has a commitment of over $800,000 in funds from the NRCS Farm and Ranchland Protection Program, but we need to raise matching funds on a one to one basis.

The goal of raising approximately $1.85 million to secure a conservation easement on the Winterburn Ranch is important to Last Chance Audubon and our long term conservation mission. We are writing this letter in support of the request for $400,000 being made by Montana Audubon and Prickly Pear Land Trust, and hope that the Board will appreciate the importance of this property to the citizens of Helena and the state at large.

Sincerely,

Brian Shovers, Conservation Chair

Because of irreconcilable differences with the landowner negotiations ended in 2008.

 

May 5, 2008

DSWG
P.O. Box 543
Helena, MT. 59624

Dear Working Group:

I am writing to you on behalf of Last Chance Audubon, a voluntary organization of over 300 members dedicated to the mission of protecting and restoring bird habitat in the Helena area. We applaud the work being down by the Working Group towards developing a comprehensive plan to protect water quality and to regulate growth in the Helena valley and environs. Water quality and stream setbacks are vital to both human and wildlife populations. We are fully supportive of the proposal to limit “mixing zones” for septic drain fields to the boundaries of the developed property and to require septic systems that protect the wells of current residents. Setbacks from Class II streams of 200 feet and a vegetative buffer of 75 feet both help to protect these riparian corridors so vital to birds. We also approve of restrictions to accommodate wildfire hazards; protecting not only the individual property owners, their neighbors, and firefighters. As an organization we recognize the need to provide housing for residents of Lewis & Clark County, but we applaud efforts to control the nature of the development to protect the financial interests of neighboring residents and the wildlife that we share the land with.

Sincerely,

Brian Shovers
Secretary,LCAS
210 S. California
Helena, MT. 59601

 

Wetlands Update
by Brian Shovers

During the month of January 2009 I contacted Lewis & Clark Co. planner Michael McHugh regarding our concerns about the private wetlands located just south of the Charles Van Hook Wetlands. McHugh suggested several other individuals to contact at the city/county government if we’re interested in monitoring any filling of wetlands and subsequent development. I will continue to monitor the issue. At the same time, I was attended a session at the Montana Wetlands Council regarding restoration of wetlands using native plants, presented by Tara Luna of the Montana Heritage Program. Her talk convinced me that we need to do a good deal of groundwork prior to submitting a grant for restoration work on the Van Hook Wetlands. I also have come to realize how little attention we have paid to the Van Hook Wetlands since our involvement in its preservation in 1996. If you have any interest in working on a wetlands restoration project this coming year, please contact Brian Shovers at sholace@bresnan.net or at 443-6640.