The proposed project involves the FBC, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Conservation Districts in Flathead and Lake Counties, Flathead Lake biological Station, Montana Conservation Corp, Montana Fish, wildlife and Parks (FWP), US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Flathead Lakers, Flathead Lake Protection Association, Native Plant Society, Bitterroot Restoration, Kirk Environmental and the Swan Ecosystem Center, plus a host of funding partners, such as the Turner Foundation. The FBC is the primary sponsor of this project. General efforts include: (1) planning and field demonstration of buffer zones at 9 sites; (2) producing an educational video on the demonstration projects with community/agency members sharing their thoughts on Flathead Basin (Basin) water quality and benefits of buffer zones; and, (3) promoting increased community participation in federal programs offering incentives to install and maintain buffer zones. The combined resources of partners will be used to design and install native plant buffer zones on commercial agriculture/grazing land, lakeshore residential properties, new development property, and government parcels. On selected sites, stream restoration, pond construction, and innovative bioengineering technologies for eroding lakeshore will be demonstrated. Implementing this project will result in important community education and promoting buffer zones in the Basin, less nutrient load into Flathead Lake from the key demonstration projects, protecting stream and lake banks, and provide improved aquatic habitat. The Flathead Basin Buffer Zone and Water Quality Improvement Demonstration Project is a comprehensive Section 319 Grant Information and Education effort. The project is an essential component of the Voluntary Nutrient Reduction Strategy (VNRS) and TMDL process being implemented by the Flathead Basin Commission (FBC) and Flathead community at large. The project emphasizes good stewardship practices, use of BMPs, and taking advantage of Federal programs for installation/leasing of buffer zones along waterways. The project includes completing 9 demonstration projects on a cross section of land types and locations within the Flathead Basin. Demonstration buffers, innovative lakeshore stabilization, and associated stream/pond restoration will be completed to reduce nutrient loads, protect natural resources, and improve impaired cold water fisheries and aquatic life habitats. The demonstration project will be shown in a high quality video. In addition, the video will promote federal cost sharing and leasing programs as incentives for landowners to install buffers, fences, and restore waterways. As part of the community outreach program, six workshops in different areas of the Basin will be offered and promoted, and a technical report will be prepared outlining the overall success of the project. The goals of this demonstration project are to educate the local community on buffer zones, help the community move closer to meeting the TMDL target levels for Flathead Lake by initiating key field efforts, protecting stream banks and lakeshore, improve aquatic habitat, and begin developing a self-sustaining water quality improvement program for the Basin. Buffer zones are one of several long-term stewardship/BMP components being implemented under the VNRS and meeting target TMDL levels for Flathead Lake.
