LOCALLY-LED, COMMONSENSE CONSERVATION

Fergus

Conservation District

About

1. Protect and promote conservation of soil and water resources

2. Protect and promote the health, safety and general wellbeing of the people of Fergus County

3. Protect tax base

Formed in 1946, sitting in the middle of Montana, the Fergus Conservation District has worked hard to protect and conserve Fergus County’s soil and water resources.

For many years, the focus of Fergus CD has been in preserving, fixing, and maintaining the Blue-Ribbon Trout Stream, Big Spring Creek, and all its tributaries. The Big Spring Watershed Council was started by the CD to help secure funding for the many projects associated with stream restoration. Big Spring Creek Watershed Booklet.

Another project was the trail system throughout Lewistown. The CD received grants to help with the hiring of the Conservation Corp to start working on the trails.

Fire Mitigation was started in Fergus County with a grant from the BLM. This helps thin trees around home sites which is important as we have 4 mountain ranges within the Fergus Conservation District.

WHAT IS A CONSERVATION DISTRICT?

Montana’s conservation districts partner with private landowners to keep our land and water healthy for the next generation. Led and staffed by locals, conservation districts champion balanced conservation solutions for those that they serve.

Find your local Conservation District

Learn More

Eastern Heath Snail

The Eastern Heath Snail is an Invasive Land Snail that has been found in Fergus County. The attached video shows what they can do to crops, please stop the spread and report them to the Fergus Conservation District.

Snails

Monthly Meeting 2026 - Fergus CD

March 11th, 2026 7:00 pm

Do you need a 310-Permit?

Working on a stream/river??? Check to see if you need a 310-Permit! There’s no cost for the permit. Drop in our office for an application, download the application here, or go through the Online Platform and drop it off to us.

Water Reservations

Montana’s water reservation law provides an opportunity to legally allocate water for future consumptive uses as well as to maintain in-stream flows to protect water rights, aquatic life and water quality.

The conservation district water reservations are for agricultural irrigation and in some districts for stock watering. Districts rely on land users within the basin to develop the water resource and put the reserved water to use. Districts encourage land users and resource managers to apply for reserved water for new or supplemental irrigation projects.

Fergus Conservation District holds a water reservation of 3,914 acre-feet per year with a maximum flow rate of 33.7 cubic feet per second from the main stem of the Missouri River which has a priority date of July 1, 1985.

Currently the Fergus Conservation District has 3,613 acre-feet and a flow rate of 28.233 cubic feet per second available.

Call today for an appointment! 406-708-3001

Pull Your Share!

Think about how many of us enjoy recreating in Montana. If each of us pulls noxious weeds for 5 to 15 minutes per outing day, our cumulative efforts will significantly reduce noxious weeds and improve our wildlife habitat.

Pull Your Share Today!

Check out the Montana Invasive Weeds here.

FREE Pollinator Seeds - Contact Fergus CD to get your packet today!