Abstract
The Flathead River to Lake (R2L) Initiative is a collaborative effort that brings people together to conserve and restore the Flathead River and Flathead Lake's natural heritage – excellent water quality, outstanding scenic and recreational values, highly productive farmlands, and abundant fish and wildlife--through education, conservation and restoration projects. The R2L Initiative focuses on the main stem of the Flathead River from Bad Rock Canyon to the North Shore of Flathead Lake in Northwest Montana due to significant development threats and high resource values in this area. Our goal is to protect and enhance critical wetlands, riparian areas, floodplains, the shallow aquifer, and adjacent prime farm lands. Over the last decade, partners conserved over 5,000 acres and restored over 4 miles of riparian areas, through donated and purchased conservation easements and riparian restoration projects. Partners secured over $21 million in grant funding to protect and restore wetlands, waterfowl habitat, native fish habitat, and water quality.
Partners mapped critical lands to identify and prioritize areas for conservation, including wetlands and riparian forests, the shallow aquifer, steep slopes near water, development and road density, channel migration, important habitat, and prime farm land. In 2012, partners evaluated conservation accomplishments to determine the percentage of each type of critical area protected and to identify priority areas for future projects based on remaining unprotected critical lands, land parcel size, and resource values. Recently, partners expanded their capacity to deliver habitat restoration projects by initiating the Flathead River Steward program with the assistance of the Big Sky Watershed Corps program. This allows partners to engage young professionals to help partners better coordinate restoration planning and implementation, landowner outreach and follow-up, and project monitoring. The R2L Initiative demonstrates how a diverse group can work together toward common goals and achieve important conservation and restoration results that provide long-term benefits for landowners, communities, and the economy.
Start Date
24-4-2015 11:00 AM
End Date
24-4-2015 11:30 AM
Document Type
Presentation
Flathead River to Lake Initiative
The Flathead River to Lake (R2L) Initiative is a collaborative effort that brings people together to conserve and restore the Flathead River and Flathead Lake's natural heritage – excellent water quality, outstanding scenic and recreational values, highly productive farmlands, and abundant fish and wildlife--through education, conservation and restoration projects. The R2L Initiative focuses on the main stem of the Flathead River from Bad Rock Canyon to the North Shore of Flathead Lake in Northwest Montana due to significant development threats and high resource values in this area. Our goal is to protect and enhance critical wetlands, riparian areas, floodplains, the shallow aquifer, and adjacent prime farm lands. Over the last decade, partners conserved over 5,000 acres and restored over 4 miles of riparian areas, through donated and purchased conservation easements and riparian restoration projects. Partners secured over $21 million in grant funding to protect and restore wetlands, waterfowl habitat, native fish habitat, and water quality.
Partners mapped critical lands to identify and prioritize areas for conservation, including wetlands and riparian forests, the shallow aquifer, steep slopes near water, development and road density, channel migration, important habitat, and prime farm land. In 2012, partners evaluated conservation accomplishments to determine the percentage of each type of critical area protected and to identify priority areas for future projects based on remaining unprotected critical lands, land parcel size, and resource values. Recently, partners expanded their capacity to deliver habitat restoration projects by initiating the Flathead River Steward program with the assistance of the Big Sky Watershed Corps program. This allows partners to engage young professionals to help partners better coordinate restoration planning and implementation, landowner outreach and follow-up, and project monitoring. The R2L Initiative demonstrates how a diverse group can work together toward common goals and achieve important conservation and restoration results that provide long-term benefits for landowners, communities, and the economy.