When the Governor’s Report on the Potential for Drought 2010 was issued in April, it only confirmed what many Bitterrooters already felt in their bones: the potential for severe drought. Ravalli County was listed as one of three counties in the state declared to be in severe drought. Following some cool temperatures and above average precipitation in May, Carbon County was downgraded, but it was not enough in Ravalli County and Mineral County to shake off their severe drought status.

At its April 22 meeting, the Drought Advisory Committee water supply and moisture condition experts confirmed that Montanans should expect shortages in surface water supply for the coming water use season, especially along the western border with Idaho, parts of Northwest Montana, the Northern Rocky Mountain Front, and over much of the Missouri and Yellowstone river basins.

“In these areas, even with normal precipitation, drought-like conditions are nearly inevitable by mid-July for irrigators without access to reservoir water and for in-stream uses such as fisheries and river-based recreation,” states the report.

The averaged river basin streamflow forecast summaries for the period June 1 through July 31 are generally above average around the state, but in the Bitterroot the forecast is only 71 percent of average. These forecasts assume normal spring conditions and do not account for well below average (70 percent or less) or well above average (130 percent or more) snowmelt or rain.

A strong El Nino climate anomaly event that began to form in May 2009 and peaked in December 2009 is acknowledged as the cause of the low water content currently seen with the Bitterroot Mountain snowpack. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Snow Survey reports that mountain snowpack across the state as of June 6 was 43 percent of average. In 2009 the snow water equivalent at Skalkaho Summit topped out at 24 inches. The average peak from 1971 to 2000 was 26 inches. But the peak in 2010 was only 15 inches. And despite the rainy May, precipitation amounts in the Bitterroot Basin, as of June 6, were only 76 percent of average.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) El Nino – Southern Oscillation (ENSO) update, the current El Nino, which weakened over the course of March, is now beginning to lift and enter the ENSO-neutral state. Not only is El Nino lifting but it may be replaced by a La Nina. This phenomena could exacerbate the drought situation in July and August.

On April 1, 2010, the Water Supply Outlook Report reported that, with average precipitation into July, streamflow is forecast to average about 58 percent of average. According to NRCS, timely rains and cool spring temperatures will be necessary to keep streamflows from reaching critically low flows earlier in the season than normal. And so far that is what’s happening.

Bitterroot River Water Commissioner Al Pernichele said that irrigators and fisheries experts were extremely concerned in April when the first drought report of the season came out. He said that there was concern that Painted Rocks reservoir would not even fill. That turned out not to be the case. Following a month of cool rainy weather the reservoir reached its 32,315 acre feet capacity at the end of May.

“That worry is over,” said Pernichele. But there is no question that water flows in the river are going to be close to record lows even if rains and cooler weather persist.

FWP fisheries biologist Chris Clancy said that the agency tries to keep 400 cfs of water in the river at Bell Crossing as a target for a healthy fishery. Anything under that begins to stress the fish. If the air temperatures are high during low flows the river water temperatures go up as well. The fishery may even be closed once the water temperatures reach 73 degrees three days in a row. This has never happened, according to Clancy, in the upper reaches of the Bitterroot, but from Tucker Crossing on down it was closed to fishing during hot spells in 2007 and a few times before that.

FWP owns 15,000 acre feet of water that it can release into the river for in-stream flows in late summer. That water is used to try and keep the target amount of 400 cfs minimum at Bell Crossing. But, more often than not, that doesn’t happen even with the FWP water releases from Painted Rocks.

“Most low water years we are lucky to keep 200 cfs at Bell Crossing,” said Clancy. He said that given this year’s low snowpack, it would almost inevitably be a record low flow year for the river. He said that once the water flows go down it is hard to bring them back up. As a result the agency tries to keep the flows up as long as it has water to use.

“From here on out it’s a question of when to release and how much,” said Clancy. “It’s a little science and a little art.”

According to Pernichele, Ravalli County is one of the most drought prone areas in the country. He said that according to the Department of Agriculture Drought Index, the county can count on a drought designation about every five to six years.

Pernichele thinks forming a county drought plan would be a good idea. The Big Hole and the Blackfoot already have drought plans of their own. The state also has a drought plan and Pernichele planned to meet with Jesse Aber from the DNRC to discuss the state’s plan on Monday.

Farmers, of course, are worried about how much moisture content is in the soil. The Agricultural Statistics Service’s presentation at the April 22 Drought Advisory Committee meeting stated that topsoil moisture adequate and surplus was 84 percent, above the five-year average of 75 percent, but below last year’s 95 percent. Subsoil moisture adequate and surplus is 69 percent, above the five-year average of 53 percent but below last year’s 75 percent. Range and pasture feed conditions are at 37 percent good to excellent, compared to 39 percent last year, and the five-year average of 39 percent. Winter wheat conditions were 62 percent good to excellent compared with 62 percent last year, and the five-year average of 61 percent.

It is not just farmers worried about dry conditions; foresters and firefighters have their own concerns. Given the very low snowpack in the Bitterroot Mountains, the below average precipitation and the below average soil moisture content, combined with the lingering effects of a very dry fall, an unusual cold spell in the early winter, and the weakening El Nino and transition to La Nina, the Predictive Services Department of the Northern Rockies Coordination Center (NRCC) predicted on May 3 that we are being set up to experience a fire season that could rival the fires of 2000. A wet spring spurring vegetation growth across the forest followed by a dry July and August could also, in the end, simply add more fuel to any fires.

High interest in the 2010 wildfire season has prompted NRCC to issue a “Preliminary Fire Season Outlook” to educate the public on what comprises a wildfire assessment.

For more information about the fire season you may visit the NRCC website at HYPERLINK "http://gacc.nifc.gov/nrcc/index.htm" http://gacc.nifc.gov/nrcc/index.htm, then go to “Weather” on the left-hand side of the page, and finally to the right side of the Weather page under “NRCC Weather Products” and click on 2010 Preliminary Fire Season Outlook for the podcast by NRCC.

The official Governor’s Drought Advisory Committee Internet site provides numerous map products, assistance program information, instructions on how county commissions can request a USDA Natural Disaster Determination (NDD) with assistance of the Governor, and regular updates on climate conditions and forecasts. The Montana State Library’s Natural Resources Information System (NRIS) continues to provide support to the Drought Advisory Committee for maintaining important parts of its Internet site, including current links to the NRCS Surface Water Supply Index map suite and archives, the U.S. Drought Monitor and its related products, and all support for Montana Drought Status Map. Montana DNRC maintains all other content of the Governor’s Drought Advisory Committee Internet site. See: http://nris.mt.gov/wis/SWSInteractive/ and http://drought.mt.gov

Numerous local co-sponsors are holding an informational meeting to discuss the impending drought predicted for the Bitterroot Valley this summer. Called “Parched Fields and Poached Trout,” the meeting will feature short talks by Al Pernichele, Bitterroot River Water Commissioner; Larry Schock, DNRC Manager Painted Rocks Reservoir; and Chris Clancy, MFWP Fisheries Biologist. Each speaker will provide important information about their particular activities related to lower than average stream flows. Following the talks, there will be ample opportunity for discussion and questions. The meeting is free and open to the public on Thursday, June 17 at 7 p.m. at the Hamilton Elks Club, 203 State St., Hamilton.

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Wildland firefighter capacity test held

On Tuesday, May 25, the Bitterroot National Forest held a Work Capacity Test at the Metcalf Wildlife Refuge for those participating on wildland fire fighting assignments for 2010. There was quite a large showing, with a total of 79 people completing some form of the test.

The Work Capacity Test was organized by the Bitterroot National Forest. Participants included Bitterroot Helitack members, employees from the various Ranger District offices on the forest, Trapper Creek Job Corps students, and Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge personnel. Medical technicians are always required for these events; on this day a Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital ambulance was standing by.

The Work Capacity Test (WCT) is a strength and endurance exercise required each year for those working on wildfires. This physical test is in addition to a mandatory classroom refresher each and every year. There are three versions of the WCT: Arduous – participant must cover 3 miles, with 45 pounds, within 45 minutes; Moderate – participant must cover 2 miles, with 25 pounds, within 30 minutes; Light – participant must cover 1 mile within 16 minutes, with no weight

The Arduous test (70 completed) is for those who are directly fighting the fire. The Moderate (4 completed) test is for those working in the field on fire operations, like overhead staff, but not directly involved on the fire line. Light (5 completed) tests are for those who only occasionally visit the field.

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Stevi Council questions, approves payment of claims

By Michael Howell

Stevensville Town Councilor Pat Groninger held up the approval of monthly claims at the council meeting of Monday, May 24, specifically over a billing claim from Professional Consultants Inc. (PCI) for $14,000. More generally, Groninger stated, “I’m concerned on some of these numbers. As you know some of us have been doing some tallying and now some other things have come up. I’d like to have a special meeting with regards to PCI, HDR, sewer, Anderson.” Groninger stated that the meeting was necessary to discuss certain issues including the town’s expenses and the town’s ability to pay.

PCI is currently under contract with the Town as engineering consultants on the current water project, HDR Engineering is contracted for the town’s sewer upgrade project, and John Anderson is the developer of the Twin Creeks subdivision. That subdivision approval was conditioned upon Anderson providing the Town with a well field and one well and the water right for the well. The Town’s attempt to transfer the surface water irrigation rights from Anderson to the Town for use as a ground water well permit has been bogged down by DNRC’s denial of the application for change. That decision is now under appeal within the DNRC hearings process. The next hearing in the process has been postponed until October.

Anderson has also worked with the Town on an agreement that allowed the Town, at its own cost, to upgrade the water line serving the subdivision along Middle Burnt Fork Road to accommodate the town’s plans for its water renovation project and the conversion to a well field. This would involve the abandonment of the water treatment plant but involves using the existing reservoir. In order to get the water line serving the reservoir out from under the road the idea was for the town to pay for the costs related to increasing the subdivision’s water line along the road from 8” to 24” to accommodate the added use by the town.

Councilor Desera Towle suggested that getting copies of the actual claims submitted by PCI showing the details of how the money is being apportioned might make it easier for the Council members to understand and accept the claims.

Councilor Clayton Floyd said, “We’ve been through this before. We’ve signed contracts. We voted on those contracts with all the firms involved. They are billing us for things we have already approved. They have given us a more detailed billing just so we could understand. They’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do. I don’t know how you keep on…”

“It’s simple,” said Groninger. “We’ve got a lot of money going out. My doubt is we don’t have the money to back it. There’s some things going on that we’ve got to stop, or slow down and understand in order to be responsible to the citizens. There is a boat load of money going out but our pockets are dwindling rapidly… It’s going to come back and bite us.”

“It’s going to bite us either way,” said Floyd. He said if you don’t pay a contract, that too would come back and bite you. He agreed that the town’s financial situation was not good.

“But the time we should have had that discussion was back when we voted those contracts,” said Floyd. He said it was past that point now and there were other ways the town could save money, like the new sewer rates and the proposed increase in water rates. He said the water and sewer projects cannot be stopped in midstream and contracted payments should not be held up.

Towle proposed an amendment to the motion to approve the claims that would exclude the two claims from PCI, which would be tabled for a discussion at the end of the meeting.

Councilors Floyd and Robin Holcomb voted against the amendment. Councilors Groninger and Towle voted for approval. Mayor Lew Barnett broke the tie. The amendment was approved and the rest of the claims were then approved.

At the end of the meeting when the PCI claim was revisited, Towle moved to approve the claims but stated the claim approval process needed to be changed to include detailed reporting. Payment of the claims from PCI was approved. And then a work session was scheduled to examine issues related to the sewer and water projects.

During the course of the regular meeting the rules were suspended to hear a few agenda items out of order. Councilor Floyd said that at a previous meeting that included PCI consultants, Public Works director Ed Sutherland, developer John Anderson and Nathan Lucky of Territorial Landworks, the issue was raised whether Territorial Landworks should be reimbursed $7,000 for work on upsizing the water project.

Councilor Towle asked if that $7,000 was the same as that on the PCI list being considered in the claims?

PCI consultant Andy Medford said, “Yes, it is the line item that was blacked out.”

“That’s a pretty tricky way to get a claim approved,” said Towle.

Medford said that it was actually an inadvertent smudge made on a copy.

Councilor Floyd said, “Frankly, my opinion on it is, the town has gone above and beyond what we had to on this situation. We have shouldered expenses that rightly belong to John Anderson and Twin Creeks subdivision. I think Anderson has already paid this bill. I’m a little troubled with the whole agreement. We’ve done our part and more.”

Councilor Groninger said, “There’s a lot of money been spent. A lot of money committed to. We need to address these things. We had a quote. Then other things come up. There needs to be clarification.” Groninger admitted that there was a true savings to the town on the pipe through the upsizing agreement, “but because we got a savings doesn’t mean we have to give away a savings. I’m very concerned about this $7,000, where it’s going and why,” he said.

Councilor Towle asked why this was being brought up at this time and Medford responded that it was part of the contract.

Town Attorney Keithi Worthington stated that the town had no contract with Anderson. She said that there was a Resolution of Intent which states the town’s intentions, but she insisted that this did not amount to a contract.

The matter was ultimately tabled until the June 14th council meeting.

In other business the Council:

• agreed that the Mayor should proceed with administrative changes in the town’s swimming pool fees. During discussion Town Clerk Roni Kimp raised the question about the outstanding deficit of $23,000 from last year on swimming pool operation. Councilor Holcomb stated that the funds raised by the Stevensville Foundation could not be spent on that. Councilor Towle said that she wants monthly reports in June, July and August, on the state of the pool funds. “Lets not sabatoge their new budget,” said Towle. Councilor Groninger said neither the Park Board nor the Stevensville Foundation should be burdened with that deficit. He said it was an oversight in the council’s budget. “They stepped up to the plate, they did an awesome job. We need to find those funds.”

• approved Montana Rail Link agreements for town sewer and water pipe crossings.

• approved authorizing PCI to write a letter to HDR about the sewer line capabilities of handling water upgrade work at the school. No expense to town.

• approved Main Street Association’s application for special events permits for Western Heritage Days – 4 permits at $25 per permit and the closure of 2nd street.

• approved the re-allocation of $2,500 within the Fire Department budget.

• approved up to 200 one-day passes to the swimming pool for 4th to 6th grade Spirit Week Awards, and also to second graders who held a cupcake sale to raise money for the pool. Following some discussion about whether or not Lone Rock students should be included, Mayor Barnett finally said, “If the kids at Lone Rock participated in any way in raising money for the pool I will personally pay for their passes.”

• agreed the Mayor can adopt administratively new state building codes. The State adopted new building codes in May and the town has 90 days to incorporate the changes into its jurisdiction.

• tabled until June 14 a discussion about amending the contract with the Town’s water rights attorney Ross Miller to allow additional payments to Geomatrix for extended work related to the appeal process underway. No dollar amount was given.

• tabled until June 28 a discussion of a proposed Junk Vehicle Ordinance.

• tabled until June 14 a discussion of special event permits for Creamery Picnic.

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Council adopts rules of order

By Michael Howell

At the May 24 Stevensville Town Council meeting, Councilor Clayton Floyd stated, “The Stevensville Town Council has operated since its inception without rules to guide itself procedurally. The town has adopted an agenda procedure by resolution. But it’s time for this council, and for future councils, to have at least a kind of framework in place to outline how we would conduct ourselves and handle the issues that come before us.”

Floyd moved for the adoption of the Council Rules as presented with amendments that might also be made. Those amendments included changing “Old Business” on the council agenda to read “Unfinished Business,” per Roberts Rules of Order.

It also included changes to Rule 20 – Adoption of Ordinances – to bring it into better conformance with state law concerning publication requirements for public hearings.

Following a discussion about Rule 27, concerning state statutes governing the authority of the mayor to hire and fire all non-elected town officials, it was decided to strike Rule 27 from the motion. The discussion centered around questions raised by Town Attorney Keithi Worthington about the town adopting policy that is not in compliance with state law. She said that having the Council under its own rules be the final arbitrator over grievances related to a firing might be in conflict with the authority granted under statute for the mayor to hire and fire. If the Council is the final authority in the appeal process it could lead to a decision contrary to that made by the mayor. But the law gives the authority to the mayor.

Then there was the question about the Fire Department, which selects its own Chief, and other officers, by election amongst the members. Fire Chief Jeff Motley said that although elected by the Fire Department that list of officers is then submitted to the Town Council for approval. A roster of all the Fire Department volunteers is also submitted for approval concerning Worker’s Comp criteria.

All these questions were laid to rest by removing Rule 27 from the proposal.

The Council also approved amendments to Rule 2 to include reference to making public notice of hearings according to state statutes for publication and changing “two days” to “48 hours.” It approved changes to Rule 4 concerning open meetings by stating that all its meetings would be open with the exception that some may be closed for consideration of employee privacy or for litigation strategy. The name of the person and the issue will be noticed in the case of personnel closures, but not for litigation strategy.

After adopting the several amendments the council adopted the full Rules of Order as amended.

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Coyotes kill lambs near Stevi

Over the course of two weeks coyotes have killed about 23 lambs on Dan Severson’s ranch east of Stevensville. The killing took place in two episodes. In the first attack, on the third weekend in May, nine lambs were killed. The following weekend another 14 were killed.

According to Debbie Severson the coyotes were frequently seen in the area over the winter but did not seem to be bothering the cows. Then, one of Dan’s sons, Lee Severson, saw some buzzards flying around one day and, checking into the activity, he discovered the nine dead lambs. The lambs were all killed but were not eaten or chewed on. Then, a week later, 14 lambs and a ewe were found dead. The ewe had been chewed on and partially eaten, but the lambs showed no signs of being torn up or chewed on, just killed and left.

Debbie said that in all the years that Dan has been raising sheep, coyotes have never been a problem, until two years ago when about 10 lambs were killed. But this year they have lost about half of their 53 lambs.

“It’s pretty discouraging,” Debbie said.

She said that the trapper working for FWP that is helping them out said that wolves and dogs will almost always chew on and tear up their prey. But coyotes often will kill without tearing up the prey and just leave it.

Severson said that the mother coyotes may have been teaching their young offspring how to kill.

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