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Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee
Summer Meeting Minutes
May 15-17, 2007
Double Tree Hotel
Missoula, MT
Welcome & Introductions: The IGBC Chairman, Chris Smith, opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. Members attending the meeting included the following:
Mitch King, Chris Smith, Gene Terland, Mike Gibeau, Tom Tidwell, Dave Brittell, Mark Wilson, Terry Mansfield, Janet Wise, Larry Kruckenberg, Bob Vaught, Teresa Hanley, Jack Troyer, Cal Joyner and Bob Naney.
IGBC Executive Assistant Ellen Davis and IGBC Advisors Chris Servheen, and Jim Claar, and IGBC I&E Subcommittee Chair Doug Zimmer were also present.
ACTION ITEMS: (Note: Additional discussion & details on action items addressed in topics below).
- Ginny Tribe will provide IGBC with a summary by May 30 of the “follow-up” actions to be taken in light of the land use workshop.
- Dave Brittell will report back to the IGBC Executive Committee on the results of deliberations among folks in Washington State regarding their “next steps” in light of the $454K appropriation to “help” with the North Cascades EIS.
- Chris Smith will pursue funding for 2008 fieldwork in the NCDE monitoring project through the Montana congressional delegation, in conjunction with other funding issues, during the D.C. briefings at the end of June.
- Chris Smith, Mitch King and Tom Tidwell will follow-up on steps to advance the concept of a trust for grizzlies in the greater Yellowstone area, with the potential to expand the trust to other areas and include wolves at a later date.
- All IGBC Agency members will appoint folks to participate in the DPS/Status Review by June 30 and notify Chris Servheen of those selected.
- State Representatives (Mansfield, Kruckenberg, Brittell, and Smith) will advise Chris Servheen by May 30 regarding their participation in Congressional briefings scheduled for June 27-29.
- Jim Claar, Kim Barber and Ellen Davis will draft a letter from the Chair to the subcommittees requesting their assistance in testing the portable electric fence system this summer to gather sufficient data to make a decision on the efficacy of this tool by next spring.
- Kim Barber, Mack Long, and Jim Claar will revise the “testing protocol” document and present the final version, along with a recommendation on whether or not to include portable electric fencing as a bear resistant method of food storage, at the spring 2008 IGBC meeting.
- Doug Zimmer, Ellen Davis & I&E Subcommittee members will work with Chuck Bartlebaugh, CWI, to get the new IGBC website up and “live” as soon as possible. The committee is empowered to post information as it sees fit and will “touch base” with the Chair on policy issues as necessary or appropriate.
- Cindy Swanson and Janet Wise will research options for having a graduate student through the Cooperative Studies Unit at the U of M compile the “administrative history” of the IGBC and report back to the IGBC.
- Laird Robinson and Ellen Davis will draft a letter from the Chair inviting appropriate dignitaries to the IGBC 25 year commemoration of grizzly bear recovery to be used in making the invitations. IGBC members will extend invitations as follows:
- Kempthorne: Mitch King
- Johanns: Regional Forester/Chief Gail Kimbell
- Governors and delegations: state members
Follow-up on Private Land Development Workshop with facillitator Ginny Tribe
Ginny began follow-up discussion about the previous day’s workshop by asking committee members to go around the table and talk about what topics hit home for each person and what their observations of the workshop were. Action items for IGBC executive committee members to “shepherd” include the following:
What can/will IGBC Agencies and others do regarding private land development, wildlife movement, and the character of rural landscapes in the Northern Rockies?
1. Make a connection with NRCS.
Shepherd – Theresa Hanley
2. Find a way to successfully approach NACO and get on their national agenda. Need to get moving on a clear definition of the issue to help start the discussion. Identify ways to strengthen partnerships with counties and start to build relationships at the national and local levels. Gene, Tom and Chris will make initial contact with MACO (Montana) and then Jack will make contact with NACO.
“We might be able to work together.”
“Here’s what we have to offer.”
Shepherds – Gene Terland, Tom Tidwell, Chris Smith & Jack Troyer
3. Identify 3 specific ground level skills that can provide “capacity” to local and county governments. Find partners who will help build needed capacity at the local and county levels (i.e., legal, data and information, education, etc.) and determine how to get a “Greg Neudecker” on the ground in other areas. Find ways where we can serve as “connectors” between money and resources and those that need them.
Shepherd – Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Idaho Fish and Game IGBC representatives
4. Explore among ourselves, and with others, the “notion” of maintaining working landscapes and find resources to needed data. Create a “preamble” or pre-statement from IGBC and develop a functional system that shares information and credible data with others.
What Counties Need… comments from a member of the Gallatin County Planning Board
- 3 Try to get back to allowing a rancher to sell of smaller acreages. Work with Chris Servheen, etc., to identify the best small parcel to sell that doesn’t impact wildlife. This might be part of the discussion with counties and with non-governmental organizations.
- 4 Produce and share credentialed, science-based GIS maps that are helpful to counties in making and defending decisions. Provide counties with GIS overlays – that’s one way of building capacity.
Action Item:
Ginny Tribe provided IGBC with a summary (see above) by May 30 of the “follow-up” actions to be taken in light of the land use workshop.
Protection of grizzly bears – Limitation on Transplantation or Introduction – Negotiations with federal and state agencies/2007-09 Omnibus Operations Budget for North Cascades Grizzly Bear EIS - $454K – Dave Brittell
The State of Washington passed a law many years ago limiting the ability of State agencies to participate in grizzly bear projects involving bears that were not of Washington State origin. Therefore, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife is currently precluded by law from working on projects that involve augmentation of grizzly bears from other states and Canada. The recent appropriations of $454,000 dollars in the 2007-2009 Omnibus Operating Budget to assist the USFWS in conducing a grizzly bear EIS for the North Cascades raises several questions about the use of the money and the current law. Does this money, which would be used to assist the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service do an EIS with an option for augmentation, conflict with current state law that requires that the WDFW not work on projects involving potential augmentation of bears from outside Washington State?
Action Item:
Dave Brittell will report back to the IGBC Executive Committee on the results of deliberations among folks in Washington state regarding their “next steps” in light of the $454K appropriation to “help” with the North Cascades EIS.
Funding Shortfall for NCDE Trend Monitoring – Jim Satterfield
A monitoring program for the NCDE was initiated in 2005 to determine grizzly bear population trends following the comprehensive genetic sample collection/population estimate, now completed. The monitoring plan calls for completing at least 100 bear years of monitoring spread throughout the NCDE to determine the initial survival and trend estimate. It was expected the program would take approximately four years to complete, with the expectation that monitoring efforts will continue to annually assess population trend status. Jim Satterfield discussed the shortfall in funding for the 2007 field season for the program and the need to spend all available funds just to complete a minimal monitoring effort. The funds budgeted for Spring 2008 will need to be used to complete the 2007 fall monitoring program, which means there is no funding available for the 2008 monitoring season and beyond. The purpose of Jim’s presentation was to make all IGBC partners aware of the funding shortfall. Funding through Congressional appropriations have been requested, but it is unknown if those efforts will be successful.
Action Item:
Chris Smith will pursue funding for 2008 fieldwork in the NCDE monitoring project through the Montana congressional delegation, in conjunction with other funding issues, during the D.C. briefings at the end of June.
IGBC Funding Discussion
- Magnitude of funding needs for grizzly bear & wolf recovery and conservation.
- Potential roles for the national conservation trusts (NFF, NFWF, NPF)
- Potential roles for NGOs
- Congressional perspective
It will cost approximately $3.4 million dollars per year to implement the Yellowstone Conservation Strategy following delisting of the grizzly bear in Yellowstone. The NCDE will have similar needs in terms of education, outreach, monitoring, etc once the ecosystem gets to a recovered status and beyond to possible delisting. The majority of funding comes from local state agencies. In order to make recovery and delisting successful, we need to share support of recovery efforts but dollars are limited and only so much money is currently available. A “trust fund” concept would establish a national system that would dedicate both funding and NGO support for recovery efforts. Funding needs are significant, much more than has been available through federal and state funding. A “trust fund” concept has the support at the highest levels of both the Forest Service and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
National Forest Foundation Representative, Mary Mitsos, Congressional Staff, Tracy Stone-Manning (Senator Tester’s Office), Kelli McQuiston (Representative Rehberg’s Office) and Mary Tuckerman (Senator Baucus’s Office), Hank Fisher, National Wildlife Federation and Bob Irwin, Defenders of Wildlife Vice President for Conservation Programs, participated in discussion regarding creation of a National Trust Fund. All parties communicated favorable feedback for the idea and offered advice and suggestions on how to proceed.
Action Item:
Chris Smith, Mitch King and Tom Tidwell will follow-up on steps to advance the concept of a trust for grizzlies in the Greater Yellowstone area, with potential to expand the trust to other areas and include wolves at a later date.
DPS Process/Status Review – Chris Servheen
Chris Servheen provided the committee with an overview of the process that the FWS proposes to use to examine the potential for establishing any additional Distinct Population Segments (DPS’s) for grizzly bears and re-assessing the status of those populations. All IGBC member agencies need to name a representative to participate with the FWS on this. Total time commitment over the next 18 months will be about 20 days and much of this work can be completed via email and conference calls.
Action Item:
All IGBC agencies will appoint participants in the DPS/Status Review by June 30 and notify Chris Servheen who they have chosen.
Product Testing Protocol – Kim Barber, Jim Claar and Mack Long
Jim Claar showed a PowerPoint presentation of the portable electric fences being tested and handed out the Recreation Tech Tips summary of specification requirements, results and effective and successful use. Since 1995, persons using any portion of the national forests in the Northern Continental Divide Grizzly Bear Ecosystem (NCDE) have been required to store food, garbage, and other attractants (such as horse feed) in a bear resistant manner. A portable electric mesh fence system was evaluated to determine whether it was effective in keeping bears away from stored food. The NCDE includes some wilderness and non-wilderness portions of the Flathead, Lewis and Clark, Lolo and Helena National Forests south and west of Glacier National Park. Similar requirements have been in place since 1990 in the Greater Yellowstone Grizzly Bear Ecosystem (GYE). The GYE includes some wilderness and non-wilderness portions of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Bridger-Teton, Custer, Gallatin, Targhee, and Shoshone National Forests. The area where these special orders apply is being expanded. Portable electric mesh fence systems are being tested by the Missoula Technology and Development Center and considered by land managers for approval as an acceptable means of meeting the requirements where food must be stored in a bear-resistant manner. Approval of any fence system for food storage must be provided by the land managers where this fence will be used. These fence systems are intended to keep bears away from food, garbage, and other attractants in the backcountry. They are not intended to protect campers from bears and have not been tested for such use.
Action Item:
Ellen Davis, Jim Claar and Kim Barber will draft a letter from the IGBC Chair to the subcommittees requesting their assistance in testing the portable electric fence system this summer and fall to gather sufficient data to make a decision on the efficacy of this tool by next spring. Jim and/or Kim will provide testing protocol which will accompany letter to the subcommittees.
The testing of portable fences will aggressively continue. IGBC agency members will encourage testing opportunities for their agencies. Situations for testing fences will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Kim Barber, Jim Claar, and Mack Long will revise the “testing protocol” document and present the final version, along with a recommendation on whether or not to include portable electric fencing as a bear resistant method of food storage, at the Spring, 2008, IGBC meeting. The time, prior to the Spring meeting, will be used to continue testing and get lots of feedback on the fence.
I&E Topics – Doug Zimmer, Ellen Davis and Chuck Bartlebaugh
- 2007/2008 I&E Priorities
- Access Management Talking Points
- IGBC/CWI Participating Agreement update
- PowerPoint slide show on IGBC website progress
Doug Zimmer, IGBC I&E Chair, reviewed the areas of concentration for the IGBC I&E subcommittee to focus on for 2007/2008. The list was divided into two sections; IGBC I&E Tasks; and the Center for Wildlife Information projects. Doug reviewed the list of priorities and the accomplishments associated with each task and updated the committee on accomplishments.
Doug Zimmer reviewed the draft edition of the grizzly bear motorized access management talking points. Since no further edits were requested, the motorized access management talking points are considered final and ready for use by the IGBC committee.
Ellen Davis gave an update on the IGBC/CWI Participating Agreement. The agreement has been finalized, signed by all relevant parties and submitted to ASC for processing. The agreement includes web design and development for the IGBC website by CWI.
Chuck Bartlebaugh/Doug Zimmer presented a PowerPoint showcasing the new IGBC website designed by CWI. Chuck received rave reviews on the basic design and will move ahead with content.
Action Item:
Doug Zimmer, Ellen Davis and the IGBC I & E subcommittee members will work with Chuck Bartlebaugh and CWI to get the new IGBC website up and “live” as soon as possible. The IGBC I&E Subcommittee is empowered to post information as it sees fit and will “touch base” with the Chairman on policy issues as necessary or appropriate.
IGBC 25th Anniversary Celebration – Larry Kruckenberg, Laird Robinson
- History Document
- Celebration – concept, budget, planning committee
Larry Kruckenberg reiterated his position on the importance of capturing IGBC’s 25 year history in a written history but also noted that the recent retirement departures of Bill Paleck and Bob Summerfield, who were helping Larry on his committee, made it very difficult to accomplish. It was noted that Clarissa Reed, NPS, is interested in possibly doing a documented history on Yellowstone.
Cindy Swanson brought up the idea of a U of M graduate student through the Cooperative Studies Unit might be interested in doing a written history of IGBC.
Action Item:
Janet Wise will make contact with Clarissa to determine if this is a feasible option and the level of her interest. Cindy Swanson and Janet Wise will research options for having a graduate student compile the “administrative history” of the IGBC and report back to IGBC.
Laird Robinson agreed to chair a planning committee to organize a commemoration of the 25th anniversary in conjunction with the 2008 summer IGBC meeting. Laird gave an overview of his vision for this event including inviting the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture, Governors, whose predecessors signed the initial MOU creating the IGBC, Canada IGBC members and partners, past IGBC chairs, Native Tribes, and the public, to join IGBC and everyone involved in grizzly bear recovery efforts to celebrate 25 years of grizzly bear recovery.
Action Item:
Laird Robinson and Ellen Davis will draft a letter from the Chair inviting appropriate dignitaries to the IGBC 25 year commemoration of grizzly bear recovery to be used in making the invitations. IGBC members will extend invitations as follows:
- Kempthorne: Mitch King
- Johanns: Regional Forester/Chief Gail Kimbell
- Governors and delegations: state members
Upcoming IGBC Meetings
Winter IGBC Meeting, December 11, 2007, Missoula, MT
Spring IGBC Meeting (North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference), March 26-29, 2008, Phoenix, AZ
Summer IGBC Meeting, June 19-21, 2008 (IGBC 25th anniversary celebration). Montana location to be announced at a later date.
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