New NAIP Mapping Results of Eastern Montana Prairie Dog Colonies AND a Spring Meeting?

[lhanaus...@mt.gov]

New Report: Attached is a recently completed report on NAIP mapping conducted by the Montana Natural Heritage Program last fall.  In summary, the work found that an increase in resolution of the 2015 NAIP tiles resulted in increased ability to delineate colonies.  The persistence of several large complexes in central and southern Custer County was confirmed.

Annual Meeting: In reviewing the notes from our last meeting (attached), May 2016, there does not appear to be much change from the updates provided at that time:  1) Efforts to secure funding and support for a Montana landowner incentive program continue to move in concert with efforts of the Black-Footed Ferret Executive Recovery Committee, 2) Tribal and Non-Government partners such as World Wildlife Fund continue to work on restoring ferrets to tribal lands, 3) Sylvatic plaque vaccine testing and use is moving into an operational stage with large amounts of vaccine being manufactured for use this year (Montana sites outside of UL Bend for vaccine application to be determined (if any) , 4) Dusting efforts continue in some parts of the state, primarily on tribal and some private lands.

Is there interest and need for a spring meeting?  I'm leaning towards providing more detailed updates as needed or as pertinent through this format in lieu of an in person meeting.  I ,with help from others, could significantly expand on 1-4 above and send a report out if that works for everyone. 

Lauri Hanauska-Brown