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

Reporting Blitz - August 10-17, 2026

To help see how far this land snail has spread, please download the INaturalist App and report where you are finding them.  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

 

September Meeting - Fergus CD

September 9th, 2026 - 7:00 pm

FERGUS CONSERVATION DISTRICT
AGENDA
DATE: Wednesday September 9th, 2026 TIME: 7pm PLACE: USDA
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. OPEN MIKE FOR GUEST BUSINESS Update on Data Centers
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
IV. TREASURER’S REPORT
A. FSB – CHECKING: $3,224.71 as of 08/31/26
B. FSB – SAVINGS: $65,389.49 as of 08/31/26
C. 1ST BANK SAVING: $15,371.71 as of 08/31/26
D. COUNTY FUNDS: $31,682.07 as of 08/31/26
E. Deposits Big Spring Creek Coordinator $2,180.00
F. BILLS – Dona’s August Health Reimbursement $250.00; PERS $477.88; August Federal Taxes $602.88; August Montana State Taxes $142.00; Mid-Rivers Internet $47.50; Ashley Reda, BSC Coordinator $580.00; Dona Stafford, Mileage Area III Admin $144.40; Unemployment $71.58; Worker’s Comp $432.49; Blaine CD, Area III Annual Meeting $75.00; MACD Bridger Plant Donation $50.00
Salary, PP 16 and 17
Dona Stafford $1,032.06 and $1,032.06
V. CORRESPONDENCE
August DNRC/CDB Report, MACD Dispatch
VII. NRCS REPORT –
VIII. OLD BUSINESS
A. FR 1220-26 – Pete Moe –
B. FR 1223-26 – Jamie Gilbert – Cleaning out Pond/Dam
C. Eastern Heath Snail – Current findings, including Gallatin County
D. Fuels Mitigation Grant – BLM – *
E. 310 Emergency Action Change Amendment  – Holding public meeting in October
F. AREA III Yearly Meeting – September 30, 2026 – Chinook
G. MACD Convention – Dec 1-3, 2026 – Fairmont Hot Springs
H. Big Spring Creek Watershed Coordinator – *
I. Big Spring Creek Watershed Monthly Meeting – *
IX. NEW BUSINESS
A. High Plains CD Resolution – Quorum
B. Mt Dept of Ag – Aerogardens
C. FR 1227-26 – Orms – Beaver Dam Removal
ADJOURNMENT

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.

2 acres of FREE Pollinator Seeds were handed out this year! If you have pictures to share, please email the conservation district, we'd love to see them!

Yellow Coneflower

White Prairieclover

Sunflower, Peredovic

Sunflower, Maximillian

Rocky Mountain Beeplant

Purple Coneflower

Blue Lewis Flax

Flax, Blue Lewis

Burnet, Small 2

Have you seen the Yellow Fish around Lewistown?  Yellow Fish are being painted next to storm drains that drain into Big Spring Creek.  Did you know that Every storm drain in Lewistown drains directly into Big Spring Creek?  This means many pollutants can end up in our beautiful stream that don’t belong there.

The Fergus Conservation District is working with the Big Spring Creek Watershed Council to mark the storm drains that lead to Big Spring Creek with Yellow Fish.  Big Spring Creek Watershed will be doing several educational programs to get kids involved in protecting Big Spring Creek with Freddie the Fish.  Check out the Big Spring Creek Watershed Council’s website for more information.  Painting Yellow Fish

Ready, Set, Summer - Creekside Park June 11th, 2026
Ready, Set, Summer - Tent

Range Improvement Loan Program

The interest rate may not be the same as they are adjusted yearly.  Great Program that could help You!  Click here for more information!

 

Contact

General Contact Information

Office Address
211 McKinley, Ste 3
Lewistown, MT 59457
406-708-3001
ferguscd@macdnet.org

Staff

Dona Sonnemaker Stafford

District Administrator

  • Phone  406/708-3001
  • Email  ferguscd@macdnet.org

Board Members

Anna Morris

Chair Person, Lewistown Urban Supervisor

Nita Bronec

Co-Chair Person, Supervisor – Denton Area

Kevan Comes

Treasurer, Supervisor – South of Lewistown

Steve Hertel

Moore Urban Supervisor

Terry Econom

Supervisor – Winifred Area

LJ Olson

Supervisor – Grass Range Area

Thad Jenni

Supervisor – North Lewistown

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