Supervisor Manual-New Version February 2021

Materials from a New Supervisor Training in 2014

Oath of Office Information

Other

Montana Stream Permitting Book

A Guide to Stream Permitting for Conservation Districts and Others

310 Related

• 310 Permit Database
• For Up to Date Permitting forms go to DNRC’s page
• 310 Fee Memo
• 310 Legal Opinions
• 310 Court Decisions
• 310 Permit Fees (Q&A)
• Current 310 Model Rules for CDs
• 310 Training-Administrator’s Perspective
• 310 Permit Procedures list-Lewis and Clark

The Employee Handbook is a more thorough take on what we CD Employees do.  However, for those new to the office, we wanted a more succinct “First Week on the Job” crash course.  We’ve done some edits on the original “field guide” and will be getting these out to District soon!

New Employee Orientation Guide

2023 Handbook-NEW!!!!

If you see a need for an addition or changes, please email chris@lewisandclarkcd.org.

Sample Time Sheets:

Sample Position Descriptions:

Sample Performance Appraisal Forms:

Conservation District Law Book

Conservation District Operations Audit-2021

Conservation District Personnel Policy

Conservation District Records Retention Schedules

Funding Opportunity for Conservation Districts

Vendor Invoice (doc) Vendor Invoice (pdf)

Sample IRS Letter

Standard Rental Agreement for Conservation Districts

Standard Contract For Services

Water Reservation Slides

Missouri River Basin

Water Reservations Information

Yellowstone Water Reservations

Statewide Employee Training-SET

Every other year on odd years, the EO works to put together a Statewide Employee Training on timely topics. The Committee has already started planning this year’s training, and it will likely be August 27th-29th, with the 27th (Sunday) to be a travel day. More information will be coming out soon!

Employee Roundtables

While Conservation District Employees have always met, it was usually only quarterly for Areas, or semi-annually or annually at the Spring Board meeting and MACD Convention.  Born of the Covid pandemic, the Roundtables happen on a monthly basis, on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 10 am.  The meeting link is sent out via email to those on the MACD Administrator and MACD Alternative Administrator list serves prior to each Roundtable.

If you’re interested in presenting on any of these topics or to get on the list for the meeting link, contact Chris Evans at chris@lewisandclarkcd.org or call 406-389-3884.

The draft list of topics for 2023 are below. Topics below be pre-empted by some other opportunities-stay tuned!

January 18-Legislative Session outreach
February 15-Canva, Facebook, Intagram and scheduled posting
March 15-Permissive Mill Levy-how to start, how to operate
March 21-USDA Computer Network, updates on USDA space and Cooperative Work Agreement (special session)
April 19-Financial reporting and documentation-Organization, when to file, what to file, how to file, DOA reporting, BARS system
May 17-Local Work Groups-How to make them work for your District
June 21-Forestry-Fuels mitigation programs by districts, education about preparing for fire, and following a fire
July 19-File Management-Google Drive how-to, Electronic Security, Hard copy storage, Records Retention
August 16-310 Permitting-Tracking, project follow up, new streamside landowner education
September 20-Planning for your District’s future-Strategic, Annual, Budget, Succession planning
October 18-Personnel-Hiring, incentives for keeping staff, personnel documents
November-Not a Roundtable, since it’s during Convention
December 20-CD Basics-History, Acronyms, NRCS/CD Relationship, other agencies, etc.

If you have ideas for Roundtable Topics or other training requests, please fill out this form.

More and more, Conservation Districts are having to negotiate the perils of the SAM.Gov (system awards management) system for accessing federal grant funds.

Deanna Langman with Big Sky Economic Development recently had some tips for Conservation Districts and their SAM.gov registrations.

• FAQs, guides and renewal instructions can be found at this LINK.
• SAM will send reminders, but she recommends making a reminder tickler on your calendar.
• You may want to book mark the link above and print out the Quick Start Guide for your SAM folder.
• Your organized SAM “folder” should contain login information, UEI, CAGE Code, MPIN, etc.
• To avoid future delays and confusion, she recommends linking SAM registration duties to a job description.
• Also, she recommends creating a second “user account” and linking it to the CD user’s account so that more than one person has access.
• Instructions for adding a user can be found at this LINK.
• Each user should have a primary and secondary method of “two factor” authentication set up in the primary “Login.gov” account (SAM user account).

If your CD is having trouble with your SAM.gov account, Deanna can be reached by calling 406-869-8410 or by emailing deanna@bigskyeda.org.  Her address is 222 North 32nd St., Suite 200, Billings Montana, 59101.

This section of the website is for sharing education tips and tools.

List of Conservation Themed Books for children

Educational Resources on Invasive Species

Many years ago, MACD purchased 4 Rolling River Trailers to be used for youth and adult education events in regard to stream form and function.

These trailers do a really great job at simulating natural processes.  They do require some training to be used though.

Trailers are located at the Richland County CD office, the Cascade County CD office, the Flathead CD office and the Lewis and Clark CD office. If a District would like to get some training and use the trailers, they need to contact one of those offices to set up a user agreement.

Currently, there is no fee to use the trailers, though the Trailer Team, a subsidiary of the MACD Work Group, will be meeting soon to discuss some potential changes.  The Lewis and Clark CD sponsors a Trailer Maintenance Grant, but the trailers are aging and the grant doesn’t cover abuse or accidental damage.  A damage deposit or user fee may be the end result.

There are 2 guides that were put together in 2020 with more information on the use and transport of the trailers; the User Guide and the Transport Guide.