gPATE LEr,ISL\TlTHE INCREASES SSCC Q^'^ET 

 Tete Jac1--son, Legislative Chairmarij >tAS.-fCD 



The budget of the State Soil Conservation Comm- 

 ittee for the 1967 biennium was approved in the 

 amount of $3b»0'^'^.00. 



Originally the appropriations committee had 

 recommended .t^25,9hO.OO, Action by supervisors 

 in calling on their legislators brought results 

 and the increase. This will allow the SSCC 

 more travel funds to meet oftener than the five 

 or six times they have been meeting, and provide 

 for more clerical help. Committee members find 

 themselves swamped at each of their meetings 

 with the variety of Conservation problems need- 

 ing attention. Resource Conservation and devel- 

 opment problems and opportunities needing atten- 

 tion are tremendous. The VJatershed and RC&D 

 programs in addition to District operations are 

 activities demanding more time and efforts of the 

 Committee, 



The Executive Secretary salary was increased 

 some, but is still far from comparable to that 

 of other state agencies, and is the lowest of 

 his coimterparts in the nation. 



Watershed Planning funds were provided in the 



Also, legislation was enacted that should !■•• 

 lieve irrigation facilities of taxes and pt^t ttd^ 

 burden on the land to be Irrigated, which 1b« 

 after all, the part of the project that earns « 

 return on the investment. 



Districts can thank the Legislature and the 

 Governor for treating us quite well. The SSCO 

 and the Legislative Committee of the MAflWCL 

 appreciate the efforts of the many superviaors 

 in explaining their needs to the legislatora. 



HERBCTOR'S 



riNG 



President Bill Kesler has called the Montana 

 Association of Soil and Vfeter Conservation BLs- 

 tricts mldsummet" "Hrector's meeting for June 30 

 at the logo Inn in Lewistown, 



The purpose of this meeting is to review poli- 

 cies and programs of the Association for action, 



D, A, Williams, Soil Conservation Sei^ice 

 Administrator, will meet with the ttrectors at 

 a "Question and Answer" period at the noon limch- 

 eon. 



Bob McClelland, NACD Western Program Advisor, 

 will also be on hand and will devote some time 

 amount of $30,000,00 for the biennium. $U0, 000.0 3the previous evening arranging for the Northern 



had been requested. However, this is the first 

 time funds have ever been provided and will speed 

 up watershed planning by providing extra help to 

 the Soil Conservation Service Watershed planning 

 party. The State Soil Conservation Committee 

 has a big backlog of applications approved for 

 planning under the P, L, 566 program. 



Conservation Education funds for a coordinator 

 in the Department of Public Instruction were not 

 approved. District supervisors will have to con^ 

 tinue to spend extra time in follow-up with 

 teachers, school administrators/ and agency peo- 

 ple to assure conservation is being taught in the 

 schools. 



District Funds to be supplied by County Comm^ 

 issioners. Legislation was passed making all 

 real property, except that in incorporated cities 

 and town, subject to taxation for district pur- 

 poses. This will make the procedure easier for 

 county commissioners and assessors. As previous 

 \ mill not to exceed $1,000,00 per year is the 

 limit. It 16 strongly recommended that supervi- 

 sors take advantage of these funds and use them 

 wisely for Conservation Education materials, 

 clerical help, supervisor expenses, etc., that 

 we so badly need to carry out a program. 



Other legislation of concern to districts was 

 the combining of the State Engineer's function 

 with the State "ater Ccnservstion Board, and en- 

 larging the board to seven me'ibers. Legislation 

 was also passed enabling the T'atpr Conservation 

 Board to 'recognize recreation anc" flood preven- 

 tion in their planning of projects, vhich also 

 will qualifj' the "ontana 'later Conservation Board 

 to participate in P, L. 566 projects. 



Great Plains Area Supervisor's Meeting, which 

 Montana will host September 13, II4., and 15 in 

 Lewistoin, 



RECREATION INVENTORY 



Forms supplied by the NACD Wildlife and Recrea- 

 tion Committee have been distributed to all 

 SWCD's in Montana to inventory all private recre- 

 ation businesses and enterprises. The Technical 

 Ation Panel of RAD have been called on to assist 

 Districts in this inventory. 



Questions asked that don't seem to be tully ex- 

 plained are whether or not to list cabins, fish 

 ponds, fishing streams, etc., that individuals 

 own and use for recreation but not as a business. 

 It is suggested that the numbers of these be 

 listed and the approximate location, etc. ULs- 

 tricts are encouraged to note anything they may 

 question as being reportable. 



As stated in the cover letter, the immediate 

 value of this inventory will be for the use of 

 the Governor's Recreation Planning Committee to 

 put together a Recreation Plan for Montana and 

 thus qualify for Land and Water Conservation 

 funds v:hich are becoming available. Also, Dis- 

 tricts and agency people have good use for this 

 inventory, especially as recreation enterprises 

 are in demand. 



Only a light bulb can go out every night 

 and still be bright the next day. 



