September E-Views
Make It Work
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Board meetings in parks, site visits in masks, socially distanced volunteer days, partner calls from kitchens, and none of our fun parties—there’s no doubt that we are in our “New Normal.” Strange though this time may be, Prickly Pear Land Trust is adapting alongside and providing essential services to this resilient mountain community. |
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Fired Up—Sevenmile Creek Moves Forward
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On Wednesday, September 2nd, a grassfire ripped through Prickly Pear Land Trust’s Sevenmile Creek restoration property, scorching nearly all of the 350 acres. Fortunately, and thanks to the quick response of the DNRC and local firefighters, no one was injured and no primary structures were lost. Local fire and law enforcement authorities have determined that the fire started on a neighboring property upwind of PPLT's Sevenmile Creek parcel. We are sad to have had this happen but we will overcome this too, and while Sevenmile lost the majority of its perimeter fencing and upland grasses, the stream restoration held its own against its second natural disaster in two years (in 2019, the newly restored stream reaches held their banks during an exceptionally high water year). The fact that all the restored wetlands and a great deal of the vegetation along the reconstructed stream banks survived the blaze speaks volumes to nature’s built-in resilience. Thanks to the multi-year effort by PPLT’s partners, the elevated floodplain did its job.
Despite the temporary loss of habitat, fire is a natural part of landscapes like Sevenmile. Grasslands evolve with fire and to that effect, local ecologists and other grassland experts believe that the lost upland habitat should recover fairly well. The final stage of restoration is set to begin in the next few weeks. While many hope that 2021 will provide renewal and reinvigoration after a challenging 2020, at least at this community's little Sevenmile Creek, this is assured.
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Community Reaches Important Conservation Goals with Potter Ranch
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You helped this community achieve an amazing milestone last week. Prickly Pear Land Trust with the Potter family, closed on a conservation easement that secured protection on a very visible conservation easement in the Spokane Hills. The project was ambitious two years ago, before any thought of a pandemic entered anyone’s minds. But through the hard and thoughtful work, and with the support of many, many people, this community can now celebrate an incredible project.
To all of the businesses that sponsor our work, write letters or send representatives to testify before our county commission, to the biologists, geologists, photographers and naturalists who donate time and energy, to the county, to the lawyers, planners, commissioners, neighbors, fellow ranchers, hunters, retired volunteers, notaries who’ve supported our staff, and to each of our donors and the residents that put forward the Open Space Bond—THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! We hope you will all take a second every once in awhile, to breathe deeply and look at the Spokane Hills, keep an eye out for elk (they’re up there) and know that you had a part in keeping it wild and open forever.
And a sincere thanks to the Potter family for having the foresight and patience to accomplish this step, for the betterment of our collective legacy and this amazing landscape.
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Last Chance Public Comment—Scratchgravel Hills |
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The last opportunity to make official comments on the Bureau of Land Management’s Scratchgravel Hills project is October 6th. This is an exciting opportunity for the Helena community. PPLT staff and board have worked diligently on organizational comments as well as pursuing collaborative efforts with partners to achieve the best possible outcome. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in this process!
If you would like to provide comments they can be mailed to:
BLM – Butte Field Office
Attention: Scratchgravel Hills RAMP
106 N. Parkmont
Butte, MT 59701
The plan in its entirety can be found on the BLM website here.
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Masks and Maintenance—Volunteering Makes a Quiet Rebound |
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In a typical year PPLT hosts 30+ volunteer workdays between April and September. With 2020 that number tumbled to single digits. The first workday didn’t even take place until July when we knew enough to keep folks safe from the Coronavirus. As the science continued to show that socially distanced gatherings in the fresh air were safe, we cranked back up efforts. Despite a late start and strict capping of group sizes, you all still helped us accomplish so much! As the city wrapped up construction on the Beattie Street trailhead, PPLT volunteers convened to build the 550 feet of new trail necessary to reconnect to the former trail. Additionally volunteers assisted in brushing and drain maintenance, the closure of detrimental social trails, trail safety improvements, and maintenance of trails and picnic tables at Tenmile Creek Park. That doesn’t even include all the individuals who pick up dog poop or gathered rocks to remove from the 8-acre grassland restoration site at the park. Thank you to everyone who has helped out, we will see you next year! |
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In the last six months, PPLT has made difficult decisions and pivoted our work on a dime. With several major land acquisition, stream restoration, and trail projects culminating in their final stages, this summer is packed by normal standards. Summer is also when PPLT begins planning Harvest Moon. When we weighed the options and risks to host Harvest Moon this year, it became clear that we would need to cancel the event.
Harvest Moon annually raises in excess of $300,000 for PPLT, making up forty percent of our annual budget. To say this event is critical to the success of PPLT is an understatement. Without the gifts made at Harvest Moon, our work does not happen.
This summer an anonymous donor and the PPLT Board have offered a $150,000 matching challenge to all gifts received. Making every dollar go a little bit further. Giving back to this place is important to you. Will you make a gift to PPLT this summer? Will you help us keep boots on the ground, and critical conservation and trails projects moving forward?
Thank you to these amazing businesses and longtime Harvest Moon sponsors who have stepped up and pledged their support again this summer! PPLT is grateful for their support as we look forward.
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