Events and Activities

Upcoming Meetings (Held at Lolo Community Center from 7-9 pm)

Lolo Watershed Group is hosting a Series of Community Discussions on Channel Migration

Thank you to all who attended the first community discussion on the channel migration of Lolo Creek. We had a great turnout, with 34 folks (including watershed residents, government agency staff, as well as organizational and business partners). The next two community meetings have been scheduled so please mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 27th and Wednesday, April 17th from 7-9pm at the Lolo Community Center.

March 27, 2013, 7-9: Continue discussion begun at February 27th meeting.
Landowner rights and responsibilities (Panel discussion by relevant agency staff on the requirements and options available to address the impacts of channel migration on private property – where to start, what is the process, what are the agencies involved, what are the financial costs and opportunities available for various options, etc.)

Actions taken along Lolo Creek to address channel migration and the impacts this has had. (Good examples, not so good examples, what can we learn and what can we do differently?)

April 17th, 2013, 7-9: Agenda to be set at March meeting.

Highlights from the February 27th Meeting

What is Channel Migration and Why Does Is Matter?

Travis Ross from Missoula County Water Quality District gave a presentation on channel migration, highlighting some areas along Lolo Creek that have shifted significantly over the past 50-60 years. This presentation is available online, but it is quite large and take a long time to load.  Download Powerpoint Presentation.
 

Identify Interests and Concerns on Lolo Creek

Working in groups of five or six, meeting participants discussed their personal concerns regarding channel movement of Lolo Creek and wrote these down on large poster paper. One person from each groups read the concerns aloud to the rest of the meeting participants. The facilitator assisted the participants in grouping the major concerns.
 

Prioritize Interests and Concerns

Concerns were grouped into major categories and then voted on by meeting attendants.  Each attendee was given three dot stickers to identify their major concerns. These interests and concerns were ranked as follows:

1. Human modification and the impacts of this on:
- other property (18)
- stream health (11)
2. Financial investments required to address CM and resources available to assist (16)
3. Property owners rights and responsibilities/expectations are unclear (13)
4. Understanding the role of government in planning, permitting and the administration of resources to landowners (7)
5. Lack of information and uncertainty of information available as well as how it is used or would be used (6)
6. Loss or impacts to structures/infrastructure (2)
7. Natural forces or changes (1)

Meeting Summary and Next Steps

Attendants agreed to participate in another meeting, set for Wednesday, March 27th from 7-9pm and on Wednesday, April 17th from 7-9pm at the Lolo Community Center. Agenda items, referenced above, will be based on the outcome of discussion on February 27th. To download a summary of the meeting, click here.
 

Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Ebb and Flow of Lolo Creek. The Lolo Watershed Group public meeting
will be held at 7 pm at the Lolo Community Center. Topics include 2012 flow rates as measured by Clark Fork Coalition, this summer’s drought and the dry creek bed, groundwater influence on creek flow, and upcoming projects and volunteer opportunities.

View Poster.