2023-06-20T14:14:06-05:00 2022-12-31 822385704 Peterson CPA Group PC PO Box 5667 Missoula MT 59806 990 2022-01-01 810488863 The Blackfoot Challenge Inc BLAC 4067933900 PO Box 103 Ovando MT 59854 Seth Wilson Executive Director 4067933900 2023-06-20 1 Seth Wilson 999009999 0 Dan Peterson P00910393 4069261800 2023-06-20 0 AAL1 IAL1 2022 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z Seth Wilson PO Box 103 Ovando MT 59854 2365810 0 X www.blackfootchallenge.org X 1993 MT The mission of The Blackfoot Challenge is to coordinate efforts that will conserve and enhance the natural resources and rural way of life in the Blackfoot Watershed for present and future generations. 23 23 19 200 0 0 1603003 2257094 0 0 39110 54398 -413 42526 1641700 2354018 0 0 0 0 653043 748737 0 0 103351 680048 886384 1333091 1635121 308609 718897 4767885 5146751 107025 145818 4660860 5000933 X The mission of The Blackfoot Challenge is to coordinate efforts that will conserve and enhance the natural resourcesd and rural way of life in the Blackfoot Watershed for present and future generations. 0 0 1274814 Formed in 1993, the mission of the Blackfoot Challenge is "to coordinate efforts that conserve and enhance the natural resources and rural way of life in the Blackfoot watershed for present and future generations." Our success is rooted in our approach. Through a community-based and collaborative process, we bring people together to identify shared values around community needs, we facilitate respectful conversations and information sharing, and we build partnerships based in trust. The results are homegrown conservation solutions that stand the test of time.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O 1274814 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 36 0 1 19 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 23 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 X Lynn Job 4067933900 PO Box 103 Ovando MT 59854 Jim Stone Board Chair 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Randy Gazda Vice Chair 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Jennifer Williamson Treasurer 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Denny Iverson Secretary 1.00 X X 0 0 0 David Mannix Board Member 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Randy Arnold Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Patti Barlett Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Chris Bryant Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Stoney Burke Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Bill Cyr Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Amy Groen Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Karl Hausmann Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Jason Jewett Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Todd Johnson Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Patrick Kane Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Leigh Kelley Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Frank Maus Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Jack Mulcare Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Mike O'Herron Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Magee Payne Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Harry Poett Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Robert Ray Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Ryan Thompson Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Seth Wilson Executive Director 40.00 X 96349 0 0 96349 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1148219 1108875 2257094 54398 54398 54318 11792 42526 42526 2354018 0 0 96924 X 96349 73666 15884 6799 515609 394226 85003 36380 94068 71923 15508 6637 42711 32656 7041 3014 1152 1152 14024 14024 11728 11728 592165 449186 100126 42853 994 760 164 70 18548 14181 3058 1309 10011 7654 2357 18642 15743 2030 869 37243 28476 6140 2627 8415 6434 1387 594 9355 7153 2202 Project costs 114224 114224 0 0 Other program costs 17535 8226 8481 828 Small equipment 15338 11727 2529 1082 Supplies 10229 8543 1686 0 6781 3132 3360 289 1635121 1274814 256956 103351 57316 108339 503542 1190756 200640 200392 1891284 1891284 1891284 512876 427002 1602227 1328978 4767885 5146751 107025 145818 107025 145818 X 4282291 4677014 378569 323919 4660860 5000933 4767885 5146751 718897 -390616 11792 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 1064995 1201808 1612114 1603003 2257094 7739014 1064995 1201808 1612114 1603003 2257094 7739014 338864 7400150 34048 39490 34077 39110 54398 201123 29669 610 20 30299 7970436 0.92840 0.93090 X Schedule A, Part II, Line 10, Explanation of Other Income: Other income - 2018 Amount: $ 29,669. 2019 Amount: $ 610. 2020 Amount: $ 20. 2021 Amount: $ 0. 2022 Amount: $ 0. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 1602227 0 -264088 0 0 9161 1328978 1423150 0 188864 0 0 9787 1602227 1216255 0 214882 0 0 7987 1423150 1055302 0 197078 0 28684 7441 1216255 1130486 0 -34889 0 32905 7390 1055302 1.00000 0 0 1891284 1891284 1891284 Endowment 1328978 1328978 X 1963466 -390616 11792 -378824 2342290 11728 11728 2354018 1623393 0 1623393 11728 11728 1635121 Part V, Line 4: The Stewardship Endowment Fund is designated by the Board for the purpose of providing funds for the perpetual care of the Challenge as designed by the Board. The Blackfoot Community Conservation Area (BCCA) Endowment Fund is designated by the Board for the purpose of providing funds for the benefit of the Blackfoot Community Conservation Area. Part X, Line 2: Blackfoot is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, the increase in net assets is generally not subject to taxation. Blackfoot is required to file a Return of Organization Exempt form Income Tax Return (Form 990) annually. No provision for income tax has been recorded in the financial statements because management believes there was no unrelated business income. Part XI, Line 2d - Other Adjustments: Fundraising expenses 11,792. Annual fundraiser 54318 54318 11792 54318 54318 11792 11792 42526 Form 990, Part III Line 4a - Program Service Accomplishments The organization is increasingly focused on diversifying income streams to carry out our mission. In 2021, 18% of income came from Private Foundations; 4% from Corporations; 19% from Individuals; and 4% from Events, Tours, and Specialty License Plates and 13% from investment. The remaining 42% of income is derived from State and Federal Agreements, much of which is used as cost-share in landowner-initiated conservation projects. BLACKFOOT COMMUNITY CONSERVATION AREA * Completed 65 acres of forest treatments to improve forest health and resilience. * Conducted planning and inventory of an additional 380 acres. * Controlled invasive weeds on road systems, forest treatments, and native prairies through integrated approaches across 200 acres. Completed Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Program (WHIP) with support from Powell County Weed Coordinator. * Hosted multiple volunteer days with university and hunter groups to remove conifers from aspen stands, collect old wire, pull weeds, and improve the kiosk area. * Hosted multiple presentations on/about the BCCA to visiting groups including local schools, university and international groups. * Participated in educational programs (utilizing the BCCA) with area school groups, reaching more than 150 students. * Provided year-round public access on 5,600 acres, including hiking trails, 6-week motorized use season, and hunting via the Block Management Program. * Expanded walking trails by 2 miles. * Partnered with the US Forest Service and Montana DNRC on road improvements required to open a seasonal, cross-boundary motorized loop in 2023. * Renewed the NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program for an additional 5 years, including four additional resource enhancements. * Assisted with the community forest case study and interviews - facilitated by a graduate student from Oregon State University. CONSERVATION STRATEGIES * sted an in-person annual gathering for more than 30 public and private conservation practitioners to share information and leverage one another's land conservation efforts. The meeting led to the creation of a work group that will coordinate on rapid response needs related to development threats and land conservation priorities. EDUCATION * Provided training on winter safety, gear and survival, and basic avalanche safety to students at Lincoln, Helmville, Ovando, Potomac, and Seeley-Swan schools. * Provided Bear Aware education to classes at Bonner, Potomac, Sunset, Helmville, Ovando, and Lincoln schools. *Hosted all-day Bear Aware event for Lincoln School with stations on bear biology, securing attractants, recreating in bear country, and more. * Offered bird education lessons to students at Bonner and Helmville schools. * Hosted education table at International Wildlife Film Festival event. * Hosted 90 students and teachers from Seeley-Swan High School for a day of watershed education activities on the Blackfoot Community Conservation Area. * Tabled at community Loon and Fish Festival in Seeley Lake. * Provided aquatic ecology activities and monitored stream flows with students from Potomac, Sunset, Ovando and Helmville schools. * On September 15, 125 middle school students from five of our watershed schools attended our annual Youth Field Day on the Blackfoot Community Conservation Area near Ovando. Blackfoot Challenge staff along with partners from the US Forest Service Fire Sciences Lab and Swan Valley Connections provided hands-on activities about forestry and ecology that met science standards and made learning fun. * Ten watershed residents in our citizen science program monitored populations of long-billed curlews and common loons. * More than 80 people attended a Pure Montana Tales program Zoom presentation on Regenerative Ranching by members of the Mannix Brothers Ranch. Hosted an outdoor event on FireWise homes. * Finalized, printed, and distributed approximately 250 copies of the Blackfoot Watershed Stewardship Guide. FORESTRY * Facilitated 438 acres of prescribed burning on private lands and supported public partner burns across more than 1,900 acres. * Completed 144 acres of forest thinning to improve forest health and reduce fire risk. * Conducted six outreach / education tours or events throughout the Blackfoot to showcase prescribed fire effects and efforts. * Staff attended the annual Fire Learning Network workshop in Virginia. * Staff attended a prescribed fire training exchange hosted by the Klamath Tribe and Mid-Klamath Watershed Council. LAND STEWARDSHIP * Partnered with NRCS on development of the North Ovando Fuel Reduction TIP (Targeted Implementation Plan) to provide funding for fuel reduction treatments to mitigate catastrophic wildfires and create resilient forest stands on over 1,000 acres of private forest north of Ovando. Provided outreach to multiple landowners within the TIP boundary to increase awareness and participation in the program. * Assisted Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and landowners with the planning and development of grazing management plan for Nevada Creek stream restoration project (phase 5) including more than 1 mile of riparian fencing and planning off-stream stock water system for 2023. * Implemented the first year of Cottonwood Creek riparian grazing management plan with success. Assisted additional landowners with grazing management plans/advice. * Assisted BBCTU and USFWS with planning and implementing a stock water system for a landowner in lieu of an inefficient 2-mile irrigation ditch and associated fish screen. * Initiated agreement with The Nature Conservancy to plan and coordinate the application of biochar on private agricultural lands in 2023. * Together with NRCS, continued to plan and coordinate conifer encroachment removal projects on private lands in the Helmville area to conserve grassland/sage habitat and rangeland. Leveraged additional resources to support the overall TIP. * Assisted BBCTU with maintenance and landowner communications for 8 fish screens to mitigate fish entrainment in irrigation ditches. TRUMPETER SWANS * Seven pairs of trumpeter swans hatched 30 and successfully fledged 23 cygnets. At least 30 additional non-nesting swans summered in the watershed. We have now reached our official goal of at least seven successful nests for at least two consecutive years, and the population is considered "restored." Additionally, swans are expanding into the neighboring Swan Valley with two successful nests there in 2022. * One adult swan was fitted with GPS radio collar, allowing us to track summer habitat use, fall migration, and wintering site locations. VEGETATION * Continued to work with landowners to plan and implement integrative noxious weed management practices. * Offered integrated noxious weed management recommendations to landowners including native and exotic plant identification, herbicide application products and rates, biological control with insects, and appropriate reseeding practices. * Hosted two weed pulls at the Russell Gates Fishing Access Site for the 24th consecutive year. * Coordinated noxious weed treatments on the BCCA. * Provided native and invasive plant identification workshops during multiple Blackfoot Challenge youth education field days. WATER * Convened a stakeholder group and began a process to build shared understanding, vision, and capacity to address river recreation pressures in the watershed. * The irrigation scheduling program completed its 13th year, providing weekly irrigation information, tips, drought strategies, and soil health concerns to over 100 irrigators throughout the watershed. * Our soil moisture monitoring program added 3 additional locations this year bringing the total to 17 locations where irrigators can track daily soil moisture information and manage their irrigation accordingly. * Coordinated and supported partner efforts on two hydrologic studies in the watershed - one on the Blackfoot River and one in the Nevada Creek drainage. Results will provide important information which will help guide strategic and targeted implementation of water conservation efforts. * Worked with multiple partners and landowners to explore potential stream and riparian area restoration projects to benefit fisheries, improve drought resiliency, and increase wetland habitats. * Working with the Blackfoot Drought Response Committee, implemented drought response in late summer and monitored flows in several key tributaries all summer. Voluntary conservation slowed the river's decline after a cold and wet spring gave way to a hot and dry summer. Form 990, Part III Line 4a - Program Service Accomplishments WILDLIFE * In 2022, reached the 10,000+ mark for livestock carcasses removed from ranches and delivered to the composting site since the program began in 2003 to reduce conflicts with grizzly bears and wolves. * Built 6 high-priority permanent electric fences to reduce conflicts with grizzly bears around ranch compounds and calving yards. Also built 16 temporary electric fences to keep grizzly bears out of chickens/feed, bulk livestock feed, barns, shops, grain silos, apples and garbage. * Deployed 21 electric drive-over mats tied into electric fences in the watershed to reduce conflicts with grizzly bears. * Hired 2 seasonal range riders to help ranchers monitor livestock, wolves and grizzly bears on their summer grazing leases. Nearly 3,000 head of livestock were monitored for 13 producers across 59,600 acres. * Employed Elk Hunt Coordinator to respond to information requests from hunters including elk hunting opportunities and scheduled hunts on participating ranches during the elk hunt shoulder seasons. * Conducted winter surveys in the Southwest Crown of the Continent for lynx, wolverine, wolves, mountain lions, marten and bobcat. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b Board of directors are generally emailed a copy of the Form 990 prior to submission to review and ask questions. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c Any potential conflicts of interests are disclosed to the board and recorded in the minutes. The interested director abstains from voting on the matter. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15a Regarding compensation, the board seeks out comparable compensation information where it is available for comparable jobs and contacts national organizations for positions such as program coordinators. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 18 The 990 and related documents are made available to the public upon request. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 Governing documents and financial statements are made available to the public upon request. Form 990, Part IX, line 11g Contractors: Program service expenses 449,186. Management and general expenses 100,126. Fundraising expenses 42,853. Total expenses 592,165.