CCNRD

Crook County Natural Resource District (CCNRD)

September 5th Regular Board Meeting Minutes

CALL MEETING TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 12:02 pm by Chairman Wayne Garman at the Sundance USDA Service Center.

ATTENDANCE

Board: Wayne Garman, Lily Altaffer, Kim Fundaun, Casey Devish, Wanda Burget

Employees: Sarah Anderson, Bridget Helms, Jessica Halverson, Carmen Horne-McIntyre (Call)

Guests: Keela Deaton, NRCS

MONTHLY UPDATES

A. NRCS Update Keela reported they are fully obligated and reaching end of their Fiscal Year.

B. Water Quality Program Updates by Carmen & Jessica

Water sampling started on August 15th at the traditional sites. Flow was higher than it was this time last year. At the last sampling event August 29 and 30 two new sites at Wind Creek and Mule Creek were sampled for nutrients. Results from the 15th sampling date are back and bacteria concentrations are in range with what we expect to see; Carmen was surprised they aren’t higher given the higher flow. Duplicates were within range and Energy Labs had no findings; the first sampling event of the season went well. Our next sampling date is September 19/20. New BMP applications are not ready to review yet. The Cost Share Price list was discussed, as it could be a factor in the lack of project applications. The cost share through NRCS is much higher, and some would rather wait to see if they receive that funding rather than apply for their project through the District.

The Shadeball project funding should be arriving in the next month and work on it will begin. Jessica Crowder was contacted for a conservation easement workshop. The outreach event with CCCD will be delayed until spring. UAC grant work has been cleared to begin- no funds have been received yet. Jessie will reach out to extension after next week.

Updated Landowner agreements for sampling sites were signed by the board.

NACD TA grant application was submitted.

C. Forestry Program Update Sarah reported on the many meetings she has been attending regarding forestry: Cooperating Agencies meeting for the USFS Forest Plan Revisions; Wyoming Cooperating Agencies Meeting; NFAB; Meetings with Kate Barlow; Black Hills Resilient Forest Partnership Meeting; NRCS STAC Forestry Subcommittee Meeting; USFS/Wyoming Stock Growers Association/Wyoming Wool Growers Meeting; and a meeting with the Wyoming Game and Fish, Weston County Natural Resource District, and NRCS. Two wildlife/forestry projects were completed this month. Sarah will be presenting to the NFAB board next week on areas of interest on the Forest, what is working well and what concerns there are.

D. Office Manager Update Bridget has assisted with water sampling this past month. Preparations for the electronics recycling event were completed. A five-lot subdivision review was completed. She attended the field tour with the Wyoming Stock Growers Association and the USFS in the Bearlodge. She attended the Wyoming Department of Audit virtual public officer training on August 23.

E. Local Issues Rare earth mining needs to be on our radar as operations progress again in the Bearlodge.

F. Financials A motion to pay the bills was made by Kim and seconded by Casey. Motion carried. All checks were signed, and the reconciliation reports prepared by Bridget were reviewed and signed.

G. Approve August 1st Minutes A motion to approve the minutes as presented was made by Wanda and seconded by Lily. Motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS

A. Inyan Kara Subdivision Review A motion to approve the Inyan Kara Subdivision Review reports was made by Wanda and seconded by Lily. Motion carried.

B. Self-Audit FY 2023 This annual requirement for the Wyoming Department of Audit was completed by the Board members.

C. Forage Sampling Keela has been receiving requests for assistance with collecting forage samples to test for nitrates. Keela would collect and ship the samples and the District would handle the billing and payments. Kim made a motion to start a forage sampling program, Wanda seconded. Motion carried.

TIME OFF REQUESTS were approved.

Motion to adjourn was made by Lily at 3:02 pm.

Office Manager Signature:

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Chairman Signature:

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