The Missouri River Conservation Districts Council, working with the Garfield County Conservation District and the Eastern Plains Resource Conservation and Development Council, is helping form a Stakeholder Group specific to the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge.  The goal is to convene a diverse group of stakeholders to discuss management of the Refuge, identify conflicts among user groups, agencies, and others; identify potential solutions to the conflicts; work to resolve conflicts; and provide a forum for increased understanding, cooperation, and partnership among the user groups, agencies, and others.  Some of the issues that the group might delve into include: livestock grazing, hunting and wildlife management, access roads, wildfire concerns, and any other issue brought to the table.  The group would likely include local landowners, grazing permitees, agency representatives, county commissioners, local business owners, outfitters, wildlife organizations, environmental groups, noxious weed experts, and others.

The Council was inspired during their tour of the Beartooth Wildlife Management Areas last summer, where they heard from Council Member Scott Blackman who owns land adjacent to the WMA and grazes livestock in the area.  Scott stated “Years ago we didn’t want a Wildlife Management Area next to us, now we consider them one of our best neighbors.”  Much of that increased goodwill is the result of 20 years of conversations and problem solving accomplished through their stakeholder group, the Devil’s Kitchen Working Group.  The group includes area landowners, recreators, sportsmen, agency representatives, and anyone else who wants to come to the meetings.  They have no formal membership list and include anyone who is interested.  Additionally, they have no formal ground rules or voting provisions – decisions are made and recommendations provided to agencies only when everyone at the table agrees.  It may sound impossible, but this model works!  For example, one of the group’s early goals was to reach specific elk herd numbers in the area.  Winter elk surveys now indicate that they are rapidly approaching those numbers.  After discussion on all sides, the group agreed to pursue damage hunts in specific areas to lessen the impact of the herds on private lands.

Based on the success of the Devil’s Kitchen Working Group, the Council hopes to form a similar group specific to the CMR Refuge.  Thanks go to the Garfield County CD for sponsoring the project and to the Eastern Plain RC&D for agreeing to pursue it.  The next step is to identify interested parties and hire a facilitator.  If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact the Council office at (406) 454-0056 or mrcdc@missouririvercouncil.info.