STATE SOIL CONSERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING 



The State Soil Conservation Committee met in 

 Lewistown on November 11. 



Conservancy Districts were discussed and 

 how it would be possible to raise the necessary 

 funds for the latter. It was voiced that if there is 

 local demand for Conservancy Districts there will 

 be need of a Conservancy District Law. There was 

 some discussion as to whether a Conservancy Dis- 

 trict should be tax exempt., It was indicated 

 more study is needed on this subject. 



Chairman Sanborn appointed John Schroeder, and 

 Bill D'Ewart to join him to meet with Governor Bab- 

 cock in regard to arranging for the introduction 

 of legislation to provide for a planning party for 

 Watershed Development. Frank Thompson aiid 

 Wes D'Ewart were to be invited to help on this. 

 Routine reports were made by each member. Don 

 Luebbe, sitting in for Torlief Aasheim, reported 

 that the state Technical Action Panel of USDA and 

 state agencies, which is related to Rural Area 

 Development, would be holdii^ a series of five 

 meetings throughout the state in December. He also 

 reported on Weed Control. This is developed 

 largely through an education program. 



Herschell Kurd reported on Watershed develop- 

 ment. No new applications. Carl Hunter reported 

 the Sidney Water Users wanted action on their pro- 

 ject. The Valley Creek Watershed in Stillwater 

 County is being held in abeyance pending develop- 

 ment of recreational features. The Montana Fish 

 and Game Commission is willing to contribute 

 $25, 000. 00 to this project. The local people need 

 to raise the balance. 



The committee reviewed State Association reso- 

 lutions prior to attending the MASWCD Convention. 



Salesman: "Is your mother home today, Sonny?" 



Boy (sitting on steps) : "Yes, Sir." 



Salesman (after knocking several times) : "I thought 



you said your mother was home?" 



Boy: "She -is, but we don't live here." 



DISTRICT DOINGS 



Districts supervisors have been asked by Ralph 

 Briggs, MASWCD Program & Research Chariman 

 to evaluate conservation research needs in their 

 district. Response to this questionnaire has been 

 good. A state summary of these needs will help 

 to determine the research items the association 

 should give priority to. 



Chouteau County SWCD - Dr. Leon Johnson, 

 President of Montana State College will speak at 

 the January 19 annual meeting. 



Green Mountain SWCD - The next meeting of the 

 board, December 3, will be devoted entirely to 

 planning the work for the coming year. It is at 

 this meeting that decisions will be made as to 

 what programs will receive emphasis. Time and 

 funds will be budgeted, goals will be set up. The 

 policy of operation will be reviewed, and priorities 

 of work will be scheduled. 



Gallatin Valley SWCD - Jim Osborne mentioned 

 that there could be more cooperation between the 

 Contractors Association and the Districts. He 

 suggested that the supervisors could invite con- 

 tractors into the meetings at the meeting prior 

 to spring work. 



Sweetgrass County SWCD - Sweetgrass SWCD 

 supervisors lists many outstanding accomplish- 

 ments and activities in their report for 1964. A 

 major educational project was to assist in the 

 sponsorship of a Trail ride. This ride was similar 

 to those held in Park County for several years. 

 Two Forest Rangers, the SCS Technician, the 

 County Agent, and the Game Warden assisted on 

 the sponsorship as well as on the work. Twenty- 

 five other riders were on the tour making a total 

 of 30 riders using 38 horses. 



The group furnished their own saddle horses and 

 pack horses and transportation to Box Canyon 

 Ranger Station on the Boulder River. Group left 

 there and rode to Slough Creek Ranger Station 

 then into the Silver Tip Ranch, over the divide to 

 Buffalo Creek Ranger Station then out to Box 

 Canyon. This was a four day ride. Camping, 

 fishing, and good grub was enjoyed- Every evening 

 a conservation education meeting was held. Mem- 

 bers of the ride included a cross section of 

 business men of Big Timber and a few ranchers. 

 All members pitched in and helped on the cooking, 

 packing and other camp duties. Cooperation by 

 all was wonderful and meals and small incidentals 

 was covered by a $10. 00 bill for the whole trip. 



Below is a picture of the group near Slough Creek 

 Ranger Station, North of the Silver Tip Ranch. 



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