Montana Climate Events
JUNE 2009
June 23-25. Rattlesnake Watershed Group needs volunteers to pot plants at the UM plant nursery out at Fort Missoula (June 23-25). We have 700 bare root plants to put in one gallon pots. If you have some extra gallon sized pots, please bring. The plants will be used in restoration projects this fall. To help, call Andrew at (406) 531-2527
June 24. Local Currency in the Bitterroot. WHEN: 6pm. Enjoy an evening of music and fun in Darby Town Park as Bitterroot Barter celebrates it's first community event. Barter members will receive hOURS and Directories. Fundraiser Raffle and Potluck Dinner. Wear your dancing shoes as live music will be provided by Joan Zen (6:30-8:30 pm). Questions? Call Amy 821-0178 or
Christina 239-0546. or go to www.bitterrootbarter.com
June 24. Butte Silver Bow County Commissioners meet at 7:00 pm at the Butte courthouse to discuss the ordinance to mandate that all future transmission lines be buried within Silver Bow County. This will affect the 500 kV transmission line that Northwestern Energy wants to build in Southwest Montana. For more info, contact Marie of Move MSTI 782-5164
June 24-25. Missouri Basin Climate Variability Workshop. WHERE: Helena Park Plaza Hotel.
June 25. MUD Mingle (potluck). WHEN: 6-9 pm. WHERE: MUD, 629 Phillips, Msl.
Did you buy too many Jerusalem artichokes at the farmer's market and don't know what to do with them? Find a recipe and experiment on the folks who attend these monthly potlucks. Or if you prefer, pick up a growler from the new Kettle House on North 1st Street and head on over to enjoy live music from the Mason Jar String Band. Free and open to all.
June 25. Mt Jumbo Wildflower Walk. Join Morgan Valliant, Missoula's Conservation Land Manager, for a 'ride' on the saddle of Mt. Jumbo. Learn native plants and invasive species that threaten them and about local restoration efforts in Missoula's open space. Be prepared for a light hike and hundreds of wildflowers. WHEN: June 25, 7pm; WHERE: Meet at Lincoln Hills Trailhead parking lot below Mt. Jumbo Saddle . Call MT Natural History Center - 327-0405 or e-mail Morgan
June 25. Seeley Lake Regional plan update. When: June 25, noon - 1pm. WHERE: UM, Fine Arts Building, Room 302. We'll discuss what's at risk, where the plan stands, and how we can help protect the working landscape and wildlife habitat in rural Missoula County.
Please RSVP by emailing (sarah) or calling Sarah (542.1055).
June 26-27. Bitterroot BioBlitz -- Science, education, fun -- we have it all. Enjoy the beautiful Metcalf Wildlife Refuge (Stevensville) while watching crazed scientists scurry around to see how many species they can count in 24 hours. Or if that is too strange, enjoy activities, presentations, and exhibits. Details here
June 27. Sierra Club Service Outing-- weed pull & tour of Sawmill Gulch Elk Habitat. Meet at the Rattlesnake Recreation Area Trailhead north of Missoula at 8 a.m. We'll be done by noon. After weeding, we'll hike through the wildland-urban interface forest thinning demonstration project and learn about the latest habits of the North Hills Elk Herd, which winters in the area. This outing is a joint venture with Great Old Broads for Wilderness. Long sleeve shirt, long pants, sturdy footgear, work gloves, and protective eyewear are required. Bring your own gloves and hand clippers if you have them (we have some extras). Email Bert Lindler or call 542-7645.
June 27. Birding Hike (half day) up Mt. Sentinel, down the Hellgate Canyon Trail, and along the Kim Williams Trail Saturday, June 27. Meet at 8:00 a.m. in parking lot at the base of the M trail. Five Valleys Audubon hosts this five-mile hike, which is free and open to the public. For more info, contact Larry Weeks at 549-5632.
June 27. Basics of Composting workshop. WHEN: 1pm, WHERE: MUD, 629 Phillips, Msl.
Come to MUD's composting for dummies workshop and you'll learn how to get the right mix of materials, to create the best soil for your garden babies, and how to not stink up the neigborhood.
June 27. Water-wise Landscaping: Bitter Root Water Forum hosts a free forum on Xeriscaping (water-wise landscaping) Saturday, June 27 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Bitterroot Public Library Community Room (downstairs) . See how beautiful gardens can be with very little water. Attendees will receive a free packet of xeriscape plant seed while supplies last. For more info, contact Kielien DeWitt, 406.381.1101
June 28. Bitterroot Native Plant Garden Tour. WHEN: 10am - meet at Sam's Spade, 111 S. 4th St., Hamilton to carpool; or at 10:30 maps with directions to gardens with descriptions available at the Stevi cutoff river access. Reception after tour to hug fellow plant huggers and enjoy local food. www.mtnativeplants.org Info: Kelly @ 258-5439
June 28. Wildflower Hike to Packer Meadow/Lolo Pass. Join Sierra Club members for this annual 8 mile hike on the Lee Ridge or (depending on conditions) the Lewis and Clark/Nez Perce Trail as we hike from Lee Creek campground (Hwy 12) up to Packer Meadow to see spring wildflowers, including the deep blue Camas blooms in Packer meadow. This is a moderately strenuous hike. Horticulturist Adrienne Hopkins will help us identify plants along the way. Bring your lunch and plenty of water. Watch for more info as we monitor spring snow conditions. contact Outings Coordinator, John Wolverton.
June 30. Move MSTI meeting in Beaverhead County. WHEN: 7pm; WHERE: Dillon Middle School, 14 N Cottom, Dillon. This group is concerned about the 500 kV transmission line that Northwestern Energy wants to build in Southwest Montana. For more info, contact Marie 782-5164
JULY 2009
July 1. UM Sustainable Campus Committee meets. WHEN: 3:10-4:45pm; UM Main Hall 004 (downstairs). For more info, contact cherie.peacock
July 3. One River One Voice Float and Party. Daniel Kiely is checking the health of the Clark Fork by floating 320 miles of river. On July 3, he'll float through Missoula and you can join him, Mayor John, Governor Brian and others for the float & party. Put in at Sha'ron in the afternoon and take out that evening at Caras Park, where you'll find food & drink available for purchase, and free music by Cold Hard Cash courtesy of the Clark Fork Coalition. More info from Stacy.
July 5. Stark Mountain Lookout Bird & Plant trip. with MT Native Plant Society. Info: Kelly 258-5439.
July 7. Farm Tour - sponsored by AERO. WHEN: 1 - 4 pm. WHERE: Home Acres Orchard. 839 Groff Lane, Stevensville. Register by calling AERO office in Helena, 406/443-7272, Limit 50. Orchard includes 18 varieties of apple, pear, apricot, berries, plums.
July 9-12. Bird Watching trip to Glacier Park with Five Valleys Audubon. Cost $10 donation. Call Larry Weeks at 549-5632 to make arrangements. Make your own campsite reservations by calling 1-800-365-2267 for the St. Mary's (July 9-10) and Fish Creek (July 11) campgrounds.
July 10,11,18. Forest Stewardship Workshops - 1-day workshops on setting property goals, plant identification, property delineation, stewardship inventory techniques, data summarization and interpretation, cost analysis, and the legal issues of forest land ownership. WHERE: Swan Ecosystem Center in Condon. Register for them at the MSU Extension Forestry website: www.cfc.umt.edu/extensionforestry.
July 11. 4th Annual Bitterroot Floating Weed Pull. Volunteers float Bitterroot River from Darby Bridge to Wally Crawford Fishing Access pulling noxious weeds along the way. Volunteers meet at Wally Crawford between 8 and 8:45 to catch the shuttle to the Darby Bridge so float can begin at 9 am and finish by 3 pm, followed by a BBQ and prize drawing (sponsors Ravalli County Weed Districy & USFS). More info, email Melissa or call (406) 777-5842
July 17-19. Montana Native Plant Society State Meeting
July 18-19. Old Growth Western Red-Cedars & Fishing, Great Burn Backpack -- Just 30 miles west of Missoula lies the famed Great Burn Roadless Area. In addition to jagged granite peaks and expansive sub-alpine meadows, hidden pockets of ancient western red-cedar, spared by the great fire of 1910, remain in several drainages. Some of these giants are more than 500 years old! An easy 10 mile (round-trip) overnight backpack up the west fork of Fish Creek. Anglers, bring your fly rod. Space is limited. To sign up, email trip leader Bob Clark at bob.clark(at)sierraclub.org.
July 23. Wildfire Hazard Reduction for Your Forest - 1-day workshop on reducing fire risk on your property. WHERE: Lubrecht Experimental Forest in Greenough. Register for them at the MSU Extension Forestry website: www.cfc.umt.edu/extensionforestry.
July 25. Ninemile Watershed Restoration Day. at Little McCormick Creek (a tributary of Ninemile Creek) northwest of Missoula. Help collect fish and invertebrate data, install erosion controls, pull weeds, and rescue plants in key trout habitat. Part of a watershed restoration project of TU, Sierra, Lolo National Forest, and MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks. If coming from Missoula, meet at Missoula Public Library parking lot at 8 am or (from the Ninemile) meet at the Ninemile Ranger Station at 9 am. Return to Missoula by 5 pm. All Welcome; lunch and transportation provided. Info, call 406-549-1142
July 27-Aug 6. River Assessment & Monitoring course by Dave Rosgen at Lubrecht Experimental Forest. register at www.wildlandhydrology.com
AUGUST 2009
Aug 5. UM Sustainable Campus Committee meets. WHEN: 3:10-4:45pm; UM Main Hall 004 (downstairs). For more info, email cheri.peacock.
Aug 6. UM Recycling Committee meets to hammer out a budget, plan recycling parties, and celebrate UM Recycling's debut on youtube. All Welcome. WHEN: 11am; WHERE: UM Facilities Services' conference room. For more info, email UM Recycle
Aug 8. Sheep Mountain Research Natural Area in Rattlesnake Mountains. MT Native Plant Society field trip. All welcome. Info: Steve 329-3041
Aug 8-9. Great Burn Backpack, Fishing & Service Outing. Enjoy the high country of the Great Burn and help clean up lakeshore campsites. This trip takes you to Cedar Log Lakes on the Montana side of the Bitterroot divide. The trail winds along the divide in and out of Idaho, past Kid Lake to Upper Cedar Log Lake. Indian paintbrush, beargrass, hemlock, sub-alpine fir, moose, bears, and wolves. Bring your rod and MT fishing license. Plan to spend time packing up trash and cleaning up heavily-used campsites. This is a joint trip with Sierra Club and Great Burn Study Group. Space is limited. To sign up, email Beverly Dupree at thegreatburn(at)yahoo(dot)com
Aug 11-13. Children’s Environmental Health Summit: Greening our Schools and Daycares. Sponsored by MT Children’s Environmental Health Network, EPA and DEQ. WHERE: Holiday Inn-Parkside in Missoula. Evening events on 8/11 and 8/12 are free; Registration for the Summit, 8/12-8/13 is required. Contact Diana Hammer for info, 457-5040.
Aug 15. Annual Blackfoot River Weed Pull. WHEN: Aug 15, 10am-noon. WHERE: Russell Gates Fishing Access, Highway 200, MM35. Persecute spotted knapweed and leafy spurge along the Blackfoot River. Bring gloves & we'll provide the trash bags & drinks! For more info, contact Ali
Aug 20. Garden City Harvest Farm Party at the PEAS farm. Live music, great food, good times with your friends and neighbors. More info at 406-523-3663 or email GCH
