CCNRD states goals for the year ahead

The Crook County Natural Resource District (CCNRD) is encouraging the public to read two documents that outline both the past and future: an annual report and a plan of action for the year ahead. These documents have been published as a guide to the work that was accomplished over the last twelve months, and the accomplishments CCNRD will be aiming for in 2022.

Road Ahead

In 2022, CCNRD will continue its work to improve water quality by focusing on impaired stretches of the Belle Fourche River and Donkey Creek, according to its plan of action. Grant funding through the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Wyoming Department of Agriculture will be used to address impairments such as E. coli, fecal coliform and chloride.

CCNRD is also expecting the results of a project led by a UW graduate student this spring to examine the persistence of E. coli in streambed sediments. The district hopes to expand project-level monitoring to demonstrate the effectiveness of best management practices to reduce bacteria concentrations.

To continue its work to improve forest health, CCNRD is now helping to create defensible spaces around structures, implement fuel breaks in targeted locations and reduce hazardous fuels in fire-prone areas. Funding through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program will be used to assist private landowners with timber stand improvement and brush management.

CCNRD is also working with the BLM and Wyoming State Forestry on grants focused on the Pine Ridge Road area.

The district intends to continue offering educational opportunities to landowner on soil health and other regenerative agricultural practices. CCNRD will continue to partner with the Plank Stewardship Initiative to provide cost share assistance for cover crop plantings; since July, 2021, a total of 13 landowners have been assisted and 925 acres of cover crop have been planted.

To further its ongoing goal of increasing local awareness of waste management issues and encourage sustainable local systems, CCNRD will continue its electronic recycling program. The district is exploring potential additions to the program, such as the ability to take appliances, steel, light bulbs, batteries, automobile fluids and items containing freon.

For the outdoor recreation and wildlife portion of its priority list, CCNRD will assist Keyhole State Park in obtaining additional signage for advisories on harmful algal or cyanobacteria blooms and coordinate with other stakeholders to improve educational and wayfinding signage on public recreation trails. CCNRD will also look to assist with habitat enhancement projects, specifically for mule deer and sage grouse.

Achievements

“CCNRD has had another great year,” says a letter from the Board of Supervisors. “Crook County invested $55,000 towards the CCNRD and our return on investment is impressive. The CCNRD utilized $319,138.78 in grant funding for water quality, forest health management, soil health and trails improvement in the county last year.”

Among the achievements of the last year, CCNRD has seen its mountain pine beetle mitigation program mature into a forest health improvement program, with 248 acres of pre-commercial thinning completed. Additionally, 31.8 acres of fuel breaks and 143 acres of fuel treatments were implemented under program coordinator Sarah Anderson.

The electronic recycling events organized by Office Manager Bridget Helms and Supervisor Lily Altaffer netted 8300 lbs of material, which brings the overall total over the past half decade to 45,000 lbs.

Funding was secured for a conservation field technician position to tackle the increasing fieldwork of the district’s range and water improvement initiatives. Jake Blackstone was welcomed to the team.

Water monitoring continued at six sites to assess water quality impairments in the Belle Fourche River watershed.

A partnership with the US Forest Service, Sundance Chain Gang, Bearlodge Nordic Ski Foundation and Project Learning Tree utilized funds from the Laura Jane Musser Fund to create five interpretive signs educating recreationalists about local natural resources. Local artist Bruce Speidel created artwork for the signs, which are located along the Carson Draw trail and focus on wildlife, wildflowers, trees, wildfire and mitigation and landscapes.

The full version of both reports can be obtained by contacting the CCNRD office. Comments are welcomed, says Helms.