Lower Clark Fork Watershed Group

“Description AmountMaterials and Supplies 9,581Travel 5,948Insurance 5,048Office expenses 1,079Facilities and equipment 1,826Education and Training 548Dues and Memberships 365Meals/food 273Business, fees, bank charges, misc. 83”

“Category Beginning of Year End of YearAccounts Receivable 5,724 22,738Inventory - not for sale 667 667”

“Category Beginning of Year End of YearAccounts Payable 0 684Payroll Liabilities 479 3,209”

“The mission of the Lower Clark Fork Watershed Group (LCFWG) is to facilitate collaboration among watershed stakeholders and to coordinate efforts to maintain, enhance, and restore the ecological integrity of tributaries to the lower Clark Fork River. Our work focuses primarily on in-stream and on-the-ground restoration projects that improve water quality and enhance habitat for Bull Trout or Westslope Cutthroat Trout. In 2023, the LCFWG maintained communication among project partners to coordinate continued efforts to improve the health of our watersheds. Major 2023 accomplishments across the watershed are described below: -Private Land Stewardship Program: The LCFWG continued the Private Land Stewardship Program, aimed at landowner outreach and engagement intended to increase on-the-ground projects on private lands. In 2023, LCFWG worked with the Natural Resource Conservation Service to develop revegetation projects on private lands in the Bull River drainage. New revegetation projects were implemented in the Beaver Creek drainage on one private property and continued efforts were planned for 2024 in the Bull River drainage. -Beaver Creek: Revegetation efforts were implemented in fall of 2023, which consisted of 100 new plantings on a parcel of private property. These new plantings utilizing our techniques showcases how they can be adapted to different drainages where Reed Canary Grass is present. -Bull River: Continued ongoing efforts to re-vegetate areas along the Bull River, which over time will help stabilize stream banks, improve water quality, and create diverse habitat for native fish and wildlife. Major accomplishments in 2023 included new plantings of approximately 400 trees and shrubs on four properties along the East Fork and mainstem Bull River, removing old browse protection materials at past projects, and maintaining engagement with landowners and protecting past planting efforts from browse. On Arbor Day 2023, the LCFWG hosted an Arbor Day planting event where 12 volunteers got 150 trees planted and caged on private property. Additional plantings will be completed in 2024 and beyond, as the LCFWG worked to secure funding for approximately 500 additional plantings annually from 2023-2026. These major planting efforts will be paired with significant maintenance efforts, volunteer, and landowner engagement. -Thompson River: Worked with partner Trout Unlimited and others to continue stakeholder engagement in preliminary planning and feasibility assessment activities for project development in the Thompson River. With the support of the Lolo National Forest and other stakeholders, the partners aim to develop projects in the drainage to reduce impacts of roads and other human activities on Bull Trout, Westslope Cutthroat Trout and the robust recreational fishery in the drainage. Activities in 2023 included two stakeholder meetings with road managers and natural resource managers. These meetings supported the development of a LiDAR proposal for the Thompson River for future project development and planning and research into alternative project options to support reduced road impacts and increased floodplain connectivity. -Vermilion River: The LCFWG continued to support the continuation of the Vermilion River Restoration and Effectiveness Monitoring project, in partnership with the United States Geological Survey and the United States Forest Service. Additional funding was secured for monitoring efforts. This project is slated for implementation in 2024-2025 and would continue the efforts in the Vermilion River watershed for a top down approach to river restoration, which have been ongoing for the last 15 years. The Grouse Reach slated for completion in 2024-2025 would improve floodplain habitat and improve connectivity to Grouse Creek, which is a tributary to the Vermilion River. In 2024, the LCFWG will continue working with landowners, volunteers, and partner organizations to implement further revegetation efforts in”