1) Natural Resource Conservation Services

NRCS can provide both technical and financial resources for farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. Their programs and expertise span conservation issues such as forest stand improvement, hazardous fuels mitigation, soil conservation, weed mitigation, and grazing management. 

• Bridger-Bangtail Forest Health: Hazardous Fuels Reduction Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP)

• Post-Fire Erosion Control Guidance Document

• Fire: Resources for Preparation, Monitoring, and Recovery

NRCS Contacts:

Christopher Mahony, NRCS District Conservationist

Email: christopher.mahony@usda.gov

Phone: 406-522-4012

Avery Hackett, NRCS Forester

Email: avery.hackett@usda.gov

2) Gallatin Conservation District

The Conservation District has several programs to assist landowners fund and implement conservation projects. Check out their Gallatin Pollinator Initiative and conservation project Cost Share Program. They also work closely with the Montana Conservation Seedling Nursery to order and distribute seedlings for conservation projects. 

Elizabeth Emeline, Natural Resource Specialist

Gallatin Conservation District

Email: elizabeth@gallatincd.org

Phone: 406-282-4350

3) Gallatin County Weed District

The Gallatin County Weed District is a wealth of information about effective noxious weed management. They have several technical and financial resources available to landowners including free property inspections, sprayer rentals, and cost share programs to control noxious weeds. 

Mike Jones, Senior Assistance Coordinator

Email: Michael.Jones@gallatin.mt.gov

Phone: 406-582-3265

4) Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

DNRC provides resources about assessing and mitigating wildfire risk to your home and property, and can come out to your place to do a free Wildfire Preparedness Site Visit. Learn more at: Wildfire Prevention and Preparedness

Crystal Beckman, Forestry Assistance Specialist

Email: clbeckman@mt.gov

Phone: 406-556-4510

5) Montana Conservation Seedling nursery

The Conservation Seedling Nursery provides plants for conservation projects that occur throughout the State of Montana. Their stock includes bareroot and containerized plants that are derived from locally adapted and source identified seedlings. They provide seedlings for private landowners; county conservation districts; government agencies; conservation organizations; and the forestry industry throughout the State of Montana.

Tom Perry, Nursery and Forest Products Program Manager

Email: tom.perry@mt.gov

Phone: 406-542-4210

6) Montana State University Extension Forestry 

The mission of Extension Forestry is to provide education and outreach to Non-industrial Private Forest Landowners (family forest owners) around Montana. They provide educational programming including: 

• Forest Stewardship Program: three day workshop held annually at various locations across Montana where you can learn about your forest, create a Forest Stewardship Plan, and receive a personalized site visit with a natural resource professional.

• Forestry Mini-Collage: A one-day educational workshop held at The University of Montana Campus in Missoula, Montana on March 12, 2022. This webpage includes a pile of great resources and presentations from the 2021 workshop. 

Additional Resources by the MSU Extension:

Management Practices For Forest Health And Catastrophic Wildfire Resistance.

After Wildfire: Information for landowners coping with the aftermath of wildfire

7) Gallatin County Emergency Management

Gallatin County Emergency Management’s mission is to minimize loss of life and personal injury, damage to property and the environment from disasters, both natural and man made. Their Wildfire in Gallatin County page provides homeowners a variety of information on how they can help reduce the damage done to their house in a wildfire.