6PM On Tuesday, January 9, 2024

A community meeting with an annual report on the results of CRC’s Aquatic Water Quality Monitoring of the area’s lakes and streams. The meeting will take place at the Seeley Lake Historical Museum “Barn” just south of Seeley Lake on hwy 83. Read the November 16th, Pathfinder article by Dave Torell, CRC’s Executive director about the plans for the January 9th meeting by CLICKING HERE.

Thank you Rachel for leading this outdoor event. To learn more about what happened, check out the Seeley Swan Pathfinder’s article by Jean Pocha in the March 23, issue.

If you have questions, contact the CRC Office.

Click Here to REGISTER

RVSP by calling or texting 406-241-2660
If texting, please include your name and the total number attending with you.

Join us on Wednesday, June 22nd, from 9 AM - 3 PM for this informative outing.

Click here to learn more. The walk is limited, so registration is required.

CRC’s Pollinator Garden - The Place To Bee

The celebration will feature live music; presentations on bee keeping, how to establish a pollinator garden and building pollinator houses; face painting; and food and beverages for all.

Speakers include:
• 12:30pm: Beekeeping, by Charles from Big Sky Beekeepers
• 2:00pm: Native Plant Gardening, featuring Jean from the Pathfinder
• 3:00pm: DIY Pollinator Houses and Feeders, by Caryn from Clearwater Resource Council

CRC’s “Place to Bee” is located at Lindey’s Prime Steak House on Highway 83 in downtown Seeley Lake. Please join us!

This was CRC’s 2nd Annual Winter Snowshoe!

It was guided by Forest Service Wildlife Biologist Scott Tomson and retired wildlife biologist Rachel Feigley who led the group on a 2-3 mile snowshoe hike.

To learn more visit our 2022 Winter Snowshoe Hike page.

Father and son, Steve and Matt Arno guided the group. Steve is a retired USFS research scientist/forester and Matt is a DNRC forester practitioner.

The hike was approximately 1-2 miles.

A planning meeting to IDENTIFY WATERSHED RESTORATION PROJECTS and sources of FUNDING that will CONTRIBUTE to IMPROVED WATER QUALITY in the CLEARWATER VALLEY.

Click Here for directions to Placid Lake State Park

There was food, refreshments and a short meeting. The meeting included thanking volunteers for their involvement over the years, to electing board members and discussing CRC's strategic vision for the upcoming year. Joann Wallenburn was given a “Dragonfly Pin” for her years of service to CRC.

Took place: Saturday, July 31st from 12 noon – 4 pm

Where: Seeley Lake - Big Larch Campground, Boat Launch area

Who: All ages were welcome

Fragrant waterlily is a highly invasive plant which has widespread consequences on native plants and animals. This was the second such event this summer, as CRC continues to work to stop its spread. CRC will provided competitors with supplies to cut the lilies. There we prizes for the teams that collected the most lillies.

At 4 pm, an after-party took place with food and drinks for all participants.

To learn more, read the Seeley Swan Pathfinder August 5, 2021 article, “Clearing out invasive water lilies” by Henry Netherland.

Placid Lake State Park Campground - Open to the public and to all campers!

Join Julia Schwager as she discusses the importance of fuels mitigation, fire safety, and forest ecology.

CRC Staff and volunteers removed invasive waterlilies on Seeley Lake.

Read the Seeley Swan Pathfinder article, “Volunteers Dig to Remove Fragrant Waterlily” from the July 15, 2021 issue to learn more. A job well done!

Thanks
to those who
joined us for…

A special Thanks to the Huckleberry Jam Pickers and all those who helped make this event happen.

Save the date

Spring Wildflower Walk
Saturday June 19th

The group met at the CRC office in the Bison and Bear Center at 9 a.m. for Covid-safe carpooling to our hiking location.

It was an ideal day for hiking.

If you weren’t able to participate, check out the
CRC Wildflower page.

Attendees who purchased a raffle ticket received a free drink and bowl of homemade chili made with locally sourced meat, or a veggie chili was available for non-carnivores. In keeping with the spirit of Earth Day, attendees were asked to bring their own reusable bowl, cup, and utensil, although there were extras on hand. The proceeds from the raffle are going to CRC’s Students-in-Action program which provides educational outdoor opportunities for local high school students.

In addition to chili and raffle tickets that can be used to win a variety of fun prizes, activities and information stations will be set up in the parking lot. CRC will provide materials to create your own native seed sculpture. The sculpture can later be planted in your garden to better attract and feed pollinator species. CRC will also award prizes to children and adults that complete our STOP invasive species hitchhikers challenge.

In addition, tables were hosted by the following organizations: U.S. Forest Service; Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks; Tamaracks Lodge; Seeley Lake Historical Society; Seeley Lake Community Foundation; the Clark Fork Coalition; Audubon Society; and Trail Creek Merc.

Read the Seeley Swan Pathfinder article, “CRC Celebrates Earth Day with area organizations” to learn more.

Where: Canoe Trail at the Seeley Lake Ranger Station (meet at trailhead)

Event Description:
CRC arranged for a winter snowshoe / nature walk event.

The focus was to learn about winter wildlife signs and winter ecology.

The walk was approximately 2.5 miles and attendees needed to dress for the weather and provide their own snowshoes, water, and snacks.

To learn more visit the Winter hike page.

MAKE THE CUT - Invasive Lily Pull

Folks turned out to join CRC for a day of fun and aquatic invasive species prevention!

When: August 15th from 9 am – 2 pm
Where: Placid Lake and Salmon Lake

We anticipate that this was the first of many annual lily removal events - a competition to remove the most invasive lily plants. Participants joined as family or friends, in a variety of boats, and pulled away.

Fragrant waterlily is a highly invasive plant which has widespread consequences on native plants and animals. Help CRC stop the spread by joining us for a lily pulling event! CRC will provide competitors with supplies for the pull, and food to re-energize after the event is complete.

Learn more about this event described in the August 20, issue of the Seeley Swan Pathfinder, “Making the cut in first annual lily removal competition.”

Thank You to
Citizens Alliance Bank
for helping to Sponsor this event.

Macroinvertebrate workshop

The macroinvertebrate workshop, held in July of 2020 was a chance for participants to learn about native/invasive aquatic bugs and their role in the ecosystem! Sampling techniques were reviewed and attendees had a hands on experience in sampling and identification exercise of what was found.. The event was free of charge although for planning purposes participants needed to RSVP.

Due to Covid-19, masks are suggested for this event and social distancing was required.

To learn more about this event and see pictures of what was found visit the Macroinvertebrate Workshop page

Featuring Molly Hackett for a return visit.

Taking place virtually via your computer, tablet, or smart phone by going to https://zoom.us/j/919710143

Download the event poster (pdf) for more details.