Bird Creek Ranch

American Avocet. Photo: USFWS

Bird Creek borders the Missouri River just downstream of Cascade, Montana. Restoration of cottonwood forests and erosion control are two important management objectives of the third generation owners of the ranch, Jim and Cindy Kittredge. But building the necessary fence to manage their herd of Scottish Highland cattle was an expensive proposition, and would require the development of alternative water sources as access to the river, Bird Creek and an oxbow slough. ABC got a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant in 2002, using challenge funds from PPL Montana and private foundations, to undertake habitat restoration and protection at the ranch. Using the Montana Conservation Corps as a work force, they fenced off over 5 miles of river, creek and slough habitats. This was combined with willow and cottonwood plantings from the state conservation nursery, and with a solar water pumping system to provide water to the newly formed pastures. Baseline monitoring of bird communities will be followed up in future years to document response to habitat improvements. In this win-win situation, ABC will continue to document the benefits to birds, while the landowners will be able to better manage their cattle, sheep, and trespass issues.

Fencing
The idea behind fencing was to restrict cattle from marginal pasturelands along the wetlands, but to allow for occasional weed control by sheep. Preliminary fence lines were laid out and measured by ABC and Conservation Fund staff, in consultation with the landowners, beginning November 2001. We completed approximately 5.6 miles in 2002, and another 3 miles will be constructed in 2003. Riparian habitat was either protected or enhanced through planting in all fenced areas, with the width of the zone between the fence and the water varying between 10 and perhaps 250m. In all cases, the fence was constructed at or beyond (outside) the visible edge of riparian vegetation. We estimate that the fencing completed in 2002 has protected 194 acres of riparian and wetland habitats. When the final fencing along Bird Creek is completed in spring 2003, a total of 386 acres of riparian and wetland habitats will have been newly fenced at Bird Creek Ranch, which means that all of the riparian and wetland acreage on the ranch will be protected from the effects of grazing by new or existing fence.

Plantings
Fencing alone is not often adequate to restore riparian habitat condition; in fact the CREP guidelines require the planting of woody vegetation where erosion problems are severe. Primary objectives at Bird Creek were to control erosion and provide habitat structure in riparian areas with a history of grazing and/or no natural regeneration. Plants (bare root stock) were purchased from the State Conservation Nursery, and consisted of >2500 "Daniels" (Plains) cottonwoods, and >1500 sandbar willows.

Water Developments
The provision of alternative water sources for livestock was a crucial element of this riparian restoration project. A single, high capacity central solar-powered system with buried pipe distribution to standard water tanks in each of 4 newly fenced pastures met the needs of landowners. Additional restoration of a large oxbow slough at the ranch, through dike reconstruction to catch spring flows, is another ranch objective that partners (e.g. The Conservation Fund, Ducks Unlimited) are pursuing in 2003.

Bald Eagle. Photo: USFWS

Bird Monitoring
We maintained a list of all birds seen at Bird Creek Ranch throughout the project period, and established a point count transect along the fenced portion of riverbank on the northwest part of the ranch. This transect will become part of a newly -implemented riparian monitoring program along the Missouri, funded by PPL Montana and run by the University of Montana. It will also be part of a statewide system of riparian transects used to determine trends of important bird species, conducted by volunteers from Montana Audubon.

Our cumulative list, totaling 86 species, has really helped the landowners understand the conservation value of their land. It includes 30 species identified by one of the major bird initiatives (Partners In Flight, North American Waterfowl Plan, U.S. Shorebird Plan, North American Colonial Waterbird Plan) as conservation priorities, including the Mallard, Northern Pintail, American White Pelican, Sandhill Crane, American Avocet, Wilson's Phalarope, Bald Eagle, Swainson's Hawk, Willow and Least Flycatchers, Red-eyed Vireo, Clay-colored Sparrow, and Lazuli Bunting.

Informational Brochure
ABC developed an informational brochure part of this project. ABC, Montana Audubon, American Public Lands Exchange and NRCS provided brochure copy and editing. PPL Montana and Montana Audubon provided funding for layout, production and printing. The brochure includes a map of the entire Madison/Missouri project area, showing Important Bird Areas and PPL Montana's hydroelectric projects, a list of bird and riparian habitat conservation priorities, and information on opportunities for landowners and interested members of the public to participate actively in conservation. We developed the brochure for a target audience that includes landowners along the Missouri, recreational users of the river, birders, and potential partners in conservation projects. We produced and printed 10,000 copies to be distributed through project partners, including ABC, the NRCS state office, local Conservation Districts, PPL Montana, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Lazuli Bunting. Photo: Ashok Khosla

Outcomes
The diversity of expertise and funding provided by partnerships were critically important to our success at Bird Creek Ranch, as an on-the-ground demonstration project for PPL Montana and their partners along the Missouri River system. ABC and our partners saw a need to proceed with a pragmatic, tangible project that would demonstrate the power of partnerships at a crucial time (prior to final designation of CREP status). For less than $50,000, we were able to bring about direct protection and enhancement of 386 acres of riparian and wetland habitat, with replacement water sources for livestock. In so doing, we met the management objectives of the owners of the Bird Creek Ranch, engaged youth in meaningful conservation work through our partnership with the Montana Conservation Corps, and paved the way for powerful outreach through these partners. Our informational brochure, produced for less than $3000, will allow us to reach 1000's of landowners, recreationists, and willing conservation partners throughout the Missouri system at a time when an unprecedented incentive program (CREP) is becoming available. Partners are already being approached by other landowners interested in similar work.

The future is bright along Montana's Missouri and its tributaries. ABC will assist Bird Creek Ranch in applying for CREP funding for any additional riparian restoration work that is needed. The Kittredges have also been pursuing the donation/sale of a conservation easement on the ranch, and work continues to restore the dike that controls water levels in the oxbow slough. Collaborative working groups such as the Montana Bird Conservation Partnership, the Montana Wetlands Legacy, and PPL Montana's Wildlife Technical Advisory Council are in place to identify, assess, and prioritize projects for the three Joint Ventures that overlap this river reach.

NGO partners are available to helpwilling landowners to apply for PPL Montana and CREP funds, so that the needs of riparian birds can be met along this crucial corridor.