2023-11-13T14:13:29-05:00 2022-12-31 851194366 JACOB W STYER CPA PLLC PO BOX 1091 SANDPOINT ID 83864 990EZ 2022-01-01 412136925 LOWER CLARK FORK WATERSHED GROUP LOWE 2083043852 PO BOX 1356 TROUT CREEK MT 59874 SEAN MORAN DIRECTOR 2083043852 2023-11-15 true SEAN MORAN 999009999 false JACOB W STYER CPAPFS P01811549 8289898095 2023-11-13 2022 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z MOD. ACCRUAL X WWW.LOWERCLARKFORKWATERSHEDGROUP.ORG X X 102856 X 102856 102856 68800 35780 26511 131091 -28235 75237 47002 X 79993 41091 7911 6391 87904 47482 12667 480 75237 47002 X THE MISSION OF THE LOWER CLARK FORK WATERSHED GROUP (LCFWG) IS TO FACILITATE COLLABORATION AMONG WATERSHED STAKEHOLDERS AND TO COORDINATE EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN, ENHANCE, AND RESTORE THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF TRIBUTARIES TO THE LOWER CLARK FORK RIVER. OUR WORK FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON IN-STREAM AND ON-THE-GROUND RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND ENHANCE HABITAT FOR BULL TROUT AND WESTSLOPE CUTTHROAT TROUT. IN 2022, THE LCFWG MAINTAINED COMMUNICATION AMONG PROJECT PARTNERS TO COORDINATE CONTINUED EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR WATERSHEDS. MAJOR 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS ACROSS THE WATERSHED ARE DESCRIBED BELOW: -PRIVATE LAND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM: THE LCFWG CONTINUED THE PRIVATE LAND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM, AIMED AT LANDOWNER OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT INTENDED TO INCREASE ON-THE-GROUND PROJECTS ON PRIVATE LANDS. IN 2022, WORKED WITH THE NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE TO DEVELOP REVEGETATION PROJECTS ON PRIVATE LANDS IN THE BULL RIVER AND BEAVER CREEK DRAINAGES. NEW REVEGETATION PROJECTS WERE IMPLEMENTED IN THE BULL RIVER ON THREE PRIVATE PROPERTIES AND CONTINUED EFFORTS WERE PLANNED FOR 2023 IN THE BULL RIVER AND BEAVER CREEK DRAINAGES. ADDITIONALLY, THE LCFWG SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROPOSAL TO SUPPORT A RANCHING FAMILY ON SQAYLTH-KWUM CREEK HIRE A QUALIFIED ENGINEERING FIRM TO DESIGN AN UPGRADE FOR AN AGING IRRIGATION DIVERSION. -BEAVER CREEK: MADE INITIAL SITE VISIT TO PRIVATE LANDOWNER'S PROPERTY WITH THE NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE, WHICH LED TO PLANS FOR A PLANTING PROJECT SCHEDULED FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 2023. -BULL RIVER: CONTINUED ONGOING EFFORTS TO RE-VEGETATE AREAS ALONG THE BULL RIVER, WHICH OVER TIME WILL HELP STABILIZE STREAM BANKS, IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, AND CREATE DIVERSE HABITAT FOR NATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2022 INCLUDED NEW PLANTINGS OF APPROXIMATELY 425 TREES AND SHRUBS ON FOUR PROPERTIES ALONG THE EAST FORK AND MAINSTEM BULL RIVER, REMOVING OLD BROWSE PROTECTION MATERIALS AT PAST PROJECTS, AND MAINTAINING ENGAGEMENT WITH LANDOWNERS AND PROTECTING PAST PLANTING EFFORTS FROM BROWSE. ON ARBOR DAY 2023, THE LCFWG HOSTED THEIR FIRST ARBOR DAY PLANTING EVENT, WITH THE HOPES THAT THIS WILL BECOME AN ANNUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN REVEGETATION PROJECTS. ADDITIONAL PLANTINGS WILL BE COMPLETED IN 2023 AND BEYOND, AS THE LCFWG WORKED TO SECURE FUNDING FOR APPROXIMATELY 500 ADDITIONAL PLANTINGS ANNUALLY FROM 2023-2026. THESE MAJOR PLANTING EFFORTS WILL BE PAIRED WITH SIGNIFICANT MAINTENANCE EFFORTS, VOLUNTEER, AND LANDOWNER ENGAGEMENT. -THOMPSON RIVER: WORKED WITH PARTNER TROUT UNLIMITED AND OTHERS TO CONTINUE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT IN PRELIMINARY PLANNING AND FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT IN THE THOMPSON RIVER. WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE LOLO NATIONAL FOREST AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, THE PARTNERS AIM TO DEVELOP PROJECTS IN THE DRAINAGE TO REDUCE IMPACTS OF ROADS AND OTHER HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON BULL TROUT, WESTSLOPE CUTTHROAT TROUT AND THE ROBUST RECREATIONAL FISHERY IN THE DRAINAGE. ACTIVITIES IN 2022, PRIMARILY LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS AND PRELIMINARY ACTION/NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT IN 2023. -VERMILION RIVER: THE LCFWG CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUATION OF THE SIMS MEANDER STREAM AND FLOODPLAIN RESTORATION PROJECT ON THE VERMILION RIVER, WHICH IN 2021 RESTORED FLOODPLAIN FUNCTION AND CREATED IN-STREAM AND RIPARIAN HABITAT ALONG 2,400 FT OF THE VERMILION RIVER. THE "SIMS MEANDER" STRETCH OF THE RIVER WAS RECONTOURED TO RECONNECT THE RIVER TO THE FLOODPLAIN, AND LARGE LOGS AND ROOT WADS WERE INSTALLED ALONG THE BANKS OF THE RIVER AND IN THE FLOODPLAIN TO ANCHOR THE BANKS AND HELP TRAP SEDIMENT DURING FLOOD EVENTS. THESE MEASURES WERE DESIGNED TO HELP RESTORE NATIVE VEGETATION IN THE FLOODPLAIN AND SLOW WATER DURING RUNOFF EVENTS. THAT IN TURN WILL IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND IMPROVE HABITAT FOR NATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE. THE LCFWG'S ROLE IN THIS PROJECT WAS TO COORDINATE FUNDING, CONTRACTING, IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING AND OUTREACH EFFORTS RELATED TO THE PROJECT. OUTREACH, MONITORING, AND REPORTING WERE THE FOCUS OF EFFORTS IN 2022. ADDITIONALLY, THE LCFWG BEGAN WORKING WITH PARTNERS AT THE KOOTENAI NATIONAL FOREST AND UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY TO PLAN AND FUNDRAISE FOR THE FURTHER IMPLEMENTATION OF RESTORATION ON THE VERMILION RIVER. PARTNERS LAID THE GROUNDWORK TO ACCELERATE THE PACE OF RESTORATION AND PAIR EFFORTS WITH A ROBUST GROUNDWATER-SURFACEWATER MONITORING PROGRAM THAT WOULD ASSESS THE OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS OF RESTORATION EFFORTS ANTICIPATED TO BE IMPLEMENTED OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. IN 2023, THE LCFWG WILL CONTINUE WORKING WITH LANDOWNERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPLEMENT FURTHER REVEGETATION EFFORTS IN THE BULL RIVER, DEVELOP OTHER PROJECTS ON PRIVATE LANDS SUCH AS A PLANTING EFFORT IN BEAVER CREEK PLANNED FOR FALL OF 2023, AS WELL AS MAINTAIN COORDINATION ACROSS THE WATERSHED WITH ALL PARTNERS REGARDING PAST, ONGOING AND POTENTIAL PROJECTS. 111612 111612 SEAN MORAN DIRECTOR 0.50 0 RUTH WATKINS DIRECTOR 0.50 0 JON HANSON DIRECTOR 0.50 0 REGAN PLUMB DIRECTOR 0.50 0 false false false false false false false false false MT SARAH BUSMIRE PO BOX 1329 TROUT CREEK MT 59874 4062034725 false false false false false false false false false false false NONE NONE true X 201495 175605 147437 195321 102856 822714 201495 175605 147437 195321 102856 822714 822714 822714 1.00000 1.00000 X FORM 990-EZ, PART I, LINE 16 EXPENSES ADVERTISING/PROMOTION 2,881 OFFICE EXPENSES 833 TRAVEL 8,311 CONFERENCES/TRAINING 55 INSURANCE 2,723 BUSINESS EXPENSES 516 EQUIPMENT < 2,500 2,656 SUBSCRIPTIONS 745 SUPPLIES 7,791 TOTAL 26,511 FORM 990-EZ, PART II, LINE 24 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE 4,689 5,724 INVENTORY - NOT FOR SALE 3,222 667 TOTAL 7,911 6,391 FORM 990-EZ, PART II, LINE 26 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES 6,834 0 PAYROLL LIABILTIES 5,833 480 FORM 990-EZ, PART III THE MISSION OF THE LOWER CLARK FORK WATERSHED GROUP (LCFWG) IS TO FACILITATE COLLABORATION AMONG WATERSHED STAKEHOLDERS AND TO COORDINATE EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN, ENHANCE, AND RESTORE THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF TRIBUTARIES TO THE LOWER CLARK FORK RIVER. OUR WORK FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON IN-STREAM AND ON-THE-GROUND RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND ENHANCE HABITAT FOR BULL TROUT AND WESTSLOPE CUTTHROAT TROUT. FORM 990-EZ, PART III, LINE 28 IN 2022, THE LCFWG MAINTAINED COMMUNICATION AMONG PROJECT PARTNERS TO COORDINATE CONTINUED EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR WATERSHEDS. MAJOR 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS ACROSS THE WATERSHED ARE DESCRIBED BELOW: -PRIVATE LAND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM: THE LCFWG CONTINUED THE PRIVATE LAND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM, AIMED AT LANDOWNER OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT INTENDED TO INCREASE ON-THE-GROUND PROJECTS ON PRIVATE LANDS. IN 2022, WORKED WITH THE NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE TO DEVELOP REVEGETATION PROJECTS ON PRIVATE LANDS IN THE BULL RIVER AND BEAVER CREEK DRAINAGES. NEW REVEGETATION PROJECTS WERE IMPLEMENTED IN THE BULL RIVER ON THREE PRIVATE PROPERTIES AND CONTINUED EFFORTS WERE PLANNED FOR 2023 IN THE BULL RIVER AND BEAVER CREEK DRAINAGES. ADDITIONALLY, THE LCFWG SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROPOSAL TO SUPPORT A RANCHING FAMILY ON SQAYLTH-KWUM CREEK HIRE A QUALIFIED ENGINEERING FIRM TO DESIGN AN UPGRADE FOR AN AGING IRRIGATION DIVERSION. -BEAVER CREEK: MADE INITIAL SITE VISIT TO PRIVATE LANDOWNER'S PROPERTY WITH THE NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE, WHICH LED TO PLANS FOR A PLANTING PROJECT SCHEDULED FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 2023. -BULL RIVER: CONTINUED ONGOING EFFORTS TO RE-VEGETATE AREAS ALONG THE BULL RIVER, WHICH OVER TIME WILL HELP STABILIZE STREAM BANKS, IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, AND CREATE DIVERSE HABITAT FOR NATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2022 INCLUDED NEW PLANTINGS OF APPROXIMATELY 425 TREES AND SHRUBS ON FOUR PROPERTIES ALONG THE EAST FORK AND MAINSTEM BULL RIVER, REMOVING OLD BROWSE PROTECTION MATERIALS AT PAST PROJECTS, AND MAINTAINING ENGAGEMENT WITH LANDOWNERS AND PROTECTING PAST PLANTING EFFORTS FROM BROWSE. ON ARBOR DAY 2023, THE LCFWG HOSTED THEIR FIRST ARBOR DAY PLANTING EVENT, WITH THE HOPES THAT THIS WILL BECOME AN ANNUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN REVEGETATION PROJECTS. ADDITIONAL PLANTINGS WILL BE COMPLETED IN 2023 AND BEYOND, AS THE LCFWG WORKED TO SECURE FUNDING FOR APPROXIMATELY 500 ADDITIONAL PLANTINGS ANNUALLY FROM 2023-2026. THESE MAJOR PLANTING EFFORTS WILL BE PAIRED WITH SIGNIFICANT MAINTENANCE EFFORTS, VOLUNTEER, AND LANDOWNER ENGAGEMENT. -THOMPSON RIVER: WORKED WITH PARTNER TROUT UNLIMITED AND OTHERS TO CONTINUE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT IN PRELIMINARY PLANNING AND FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT IN THE THOMPSON RIVER. WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE LOLO NATIONAL FOREST AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, THE PARTNERS AIM TO DEVELOP PROJECTS IN THE DRAINAGE TO REDUCE IMPACTS OF ROADS AND OTHER HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON BULL TROUT, WESTSLOPE CUTTHROAT TROUT AND THE ROBUST RECREATIONAL FISHERY IN THE DRAINAGE. ACTIVITIES IN 2022, PRIMARILY LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS AND PRELIMINARY ACTION/NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT IN 2023. -VERMILION RIVER: THE LCFWG CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUATION OF THE SIMS MEANDER STREAM AND FLOODPLAIN RESTORATION PROJECT ON THE VERMILION RIVER, WHICH IN 2021 RESTORED FLOODPLAIN FUNCTION AND CREATED IN-STREAM AND RIPARIAN HABITAT ALONG 2,400 FT OF THE VERMILION RIVER. THE "SIMS MEANDER" STRETCH OF THE RIVER WAS RECONTOURED TO RECONNECT THE RIVER TO THE FLOODPLAIN, AND LARGE LOGS AND ROOT WADS WERE INSTALLED ALONG THE BANKS OF THE RIVER AND IN THE FLOODPLAIN TO ANCHOR THE BANKS AND HELP TRAP SEDIMENT DURING FLOOD EVENTS. THESE MEASURES WERE DESIGNED TO HELP RESTORE NATIVE VEGETATION IN THE FLOODPLAIN AND SLOW WATER DURING RUNOFF EVENTS. THAT IN TURN WILL IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND IMPROVE HABITAT FOR NATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE. THE LCFWG'S ROLE IN THIS PROJECT WAS TO COORDINATE FUNDING, CONTRACTING, IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING AND OUTREACH EFFORTS RELATED TO THE PROJECT. OUTREACH, MONITORING, AND REPORTING WERE THE FOCUS OF EFFORTS IN 2022. ADDITIONALLY, THE LCFWG BEGAN WORKING WITH PARTNERS AT THE KOOTENAI NATIONAL FOREST AND UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY TO PLAN AND FUNDRAISE FOR THE FURTHER IMPLEMENTATION OF RESTORATION ON THE VERMILION RIVER. PARTNERS LAID THE GROUNDWORK TO ACCELERATE THE PACE OF RESTORATION AND PAIR EFFORTS WITH A ROBUST GROUNDWATER-SURFACEWATER MONITORING PROGRAM THAT WOULD ASSESS THE OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS OF RESTORATION EFFORTS ANTICIPATED TO BE IMPLEMENTED OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. IN 2023, THE LCFWG WILL CONTINUE WORKING WITH LANDOWNERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPLEMENT FURTHER REVEGETATION EFFORTS IN THE BULL RIVER, DEVELOP OTHER PROJECTS ON PRIVATE LANDS SUCH AS A PLANTING EFFORT IN BEAVER CREEK PLANNED FOR FALL OF 2023, AS WELL AS MAINTAIN COORDINATION ACROSS THE WATERSHED WITH ALL PARTNERS REGARDING PAST, ONGOING AND POTENTIAL PROJECTS.