Montana DNRC

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Montana DNRC The Montana DNRC helps ensure land & water resources provide benefits for present and future generations. The Montana Dept.

of Natural Resources and Conservation:

Manages more than 5.2 million acres of School Trust Lands. Activities such as timber harvesting, grazing and agricultural leasing, recreation, and oil and natural gas production on these lands generate millions of dollars for public education. Administers laws governing the appropriation and use of Montana’s groundwater and surface water. Manages 24 state-owned dams and 250 miles of irrigation canals. Provides technical assistance to 110 county floodplain management programs, and regulates construction, operation and maintenance of Montana’s dams. Provides leadership and coordination for Montana’s wildfire services, including wildfire training, prevention and preparedness, and safe, aggressive suppression activities. Supports urban and community forestry programs; enforces Montana’s forest practices laws and rules; provides financial aid to projects that promote sustainable management of forests. Operates a nursery to produce and distribute seedlings for conservation plantings to private landowners, state, federal and tribal landowners, and other conservation organizations. Provides financial and technical support to Montana’s 58 Conservation Districts. Awards grants and loans for projects that improve, protect or reclaim natural resources. Provides financial management of Montana’s Water Pollution Control State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan programs.

Whether you’re a homeowner, city official, arborist, or forester, you can do your part to protect Montana ash trees from...
10/09/2026

Whether you’re a homeowner, city official, arborist, or forester, you can do your part to protect Montana ash trees from the invasive Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). Not sure how? Our upcoming webinar may help!

🗓 Thursday, October 15
🕙 10:00 - 11:30 AM
💻 Zoom link available at invasivespecies.mt.gov/misc/webinars

Join DNRC’s forest pest management and urban and community forestry programs to learn how to:

🔎 identify and report suspected EAB
🤔 recognize its impact on forests and communities
👉 apply proactive management techniques

This event is hosted by the Montana Invasive Species Council.
Western Montana Conservation Commission

📸 (1) Uninfested ash in Lewistown | DNRC service forester Cody Knoop
📸 (2) Infested ash | DNRC forest pest management program manager Amy Gannon

This wildfire season, to date, DNRC's fleet of detection planes, helicopters, and air attack aircraft have kept 95% of w...
10/07/2026

This wildfire season, to date, DNRC's fleet of detection planes, helicopters, and air attack aircraft have kept 95% of wildfires under 10 acres by detecting wildfire starts when they're small, delivering bucket drops, and coordinating airspace. In 2026, the state contracted six aircraft: one Large Air Tankers (LAT), two Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs), two Type 1 CH-47 Tanked Helicopters, and one Incident Awareness and Assessment (IAA) fixed wing aircraft for nighttime detection and mapping.

One such resource is Tanker 182, a Conair Dash 8-400AT Large Air Tanker (LAT) that delivers 2,642 gallons of fire retardant right where it's needed. Tanker 182 is owned and operated by Aero-Flite Aerial Firefighting and contracted through the DNR - Division of Forestry & Fire Protection - DFFP. It was stationed in Montana since mid-July and was released Saturday. During that time, the plane delivered 108 drops totaling 254,184 gallons on 38 fires across the state (view their August flight paths in the pictures!).

"For the third year, Montana has leveraged its partnership with the State of Alaska and the Northwest Compact to bring a Large Airtanker to Billings as part of our aggressive wildfire-response strategy," said Cory Calnan, deputy Fire Protection Bureau chief. "Operating under Montana DNRC’s operational control, Tanker 182 has provided immediate, high-volume aerial retardant delivery when it matters most, slowing the growth of emerging fires, helping protect communities, and creating time for ground crews to establish control."

Thanks to DNRC's robust fleet and the support we receive from partnerships, DNRC continues to protect lives, property, and natural resources from wildfire.

📸 Photos courtesy Smith Valley Fire Department Captain James Brower, DNRC, and Aero-Flite

Stay on target this hunting season and prevent human-caused wildfires. 🎯 🔫 Before target shooting, check fire restrictio...
09/23/2026

Stay on target this hunting season and prevent human-caused wildfires. 🎯

🔫 Before target shooting, check fire restrictions for your area at MTFireInfo.org.
Prevent wildfire by clearing vegetation surrounding your target area.
🔥 Avoid shooting explosive targets or metal items that cause sparks.

As always, visit MTFireInfo.org to learn more about reducing your wildfire risk this hunting season.

09/18/2026

Since it was built in 1938 with funding from the Public Works Administration during the New Deal, the Flint Creek Water Project has helped irrigate hayfields and pastures and provided a place for recreation. DNRC owns the dam on a U.S. Forest Service easement, while the Flint Creek Water Users Association operates and maintains it.

Yeah, you! We want to hear from you about key topics as we review recreation rules for state trust lands. Public comment...
09/18/2026

Yeah, you! We want to hear from you about key topics as we review recreation rules for state trust lands. Public comment links can be accessed on the DNRC Recreational Use Rules Webpage at https://dnrc.mt.gov/TrustLand/public-use/RecreationalUseRules.

The comment period is open through September 25, 2026.
Comments on this post will not be considered as official public comment.

Helena area residents. Prescribed burn operations are starting today. Follow the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest ...
09/16/2026

Helena area residents. Prescribed burn operations are starting today. Follow the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest page for updates.

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and Missoula Conservation District invite you to our upcoming w...
09/10/2026

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and Missoula Conservation District invite you to our upcoming workshops at the Missoula Conservation Seedling Nursery in Missoula.

🌱 Sept 17: Learn how to collect Smooth Blue Aster seed with DNRC nursery professionals, then join the team for a BBQ.
🌱 Oct. 8: Learn how to pre-process Smooth Blue Aster seed and operate a brush machine and an office clipper with DNRC nursery professionals.

Join one or both workshops. RSVPs required. Find workshop times and locations at dnrc.mt.gov/Forestry/Conservation-Nursery/Events.

🔥Weekly Wildfire Situation Update🔥Last week, Montana saw 68 new wildfires, burning approximately 18,202 acres. To date, ...
09/08/2026

🔥Weekly Wildfire Situation Update🔥

Last week, Montana saw 68 new wildfires, burning approximately 18,202 acres. To date, there have been 2,008 fires burning 159,053 acres statewide.

Montana will see wet, cool, and windy weather through Tuesday, with rain and thunderstorms in parts of western and north-central Montana. Conditions will be warmer and drier on Wednesday and Thursday, with strong winds are possible on Thursday. Another cold front arrives on Friday, bringing cooler temperatures and a chance of showers, with mountain snow possible over the weekend.

🔥Montana’s Active Large Incidents🔥

Sand Creek | 35,509 acres, 36% contained
Five miles east of Wisdom, MT, burning in timber, brush, and grass. Minimal fire behavior with backing, creeping, and smoldering. Area, road, and trail closures in effect.

Bobcat Lakes | 10,895 acres, 61% contained
Twelve miles east of Wisdom, MT, burning in timber and brush. Minimal fire behavior with backing, creeping, and smoldering. Area, road, and trail closures in effect.

Nature Grove | 1,422 acres, 0% contained
Fifteen miles southeast of Hamilton, MT, burning in timber. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Road and trail closures in effect.

Moose | 6,005 acres, 15% contained
Twenty-four miles southwest of Philipsburg, MT, burning in timber and heavy slash. Minimal fire behavior with backing, creeping, and smoldering. Road and trail closures in effect.

Rattlesnake Complex | 15,582 acres, 97% contained
Thirty miles east of Miles City, MT, burning in timber, brush, and grass. Minimal fire behavior.

Camp Creek | 9,725 acres, 0% contained
Twenty-five miles northeast of Seeley Lake, MT, burning in timber, brush, and grass. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Trail closures in effect.

Silvertip | 7,280 acres, 15% contained
Thirty miles northeast of Condon, MT, burning in timber. Minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering. Area and trail closures in effect.

Cooper | 310 acres, 0% contained
Twenty-two miles southwest of Conner, MT, burning in timber.

Scimitar | 334 acres, 0% contained
Twenty-nine miles southwest of Conner, MT, burning in timber.

This will be the final weekly update for the 2026 wildfire season unless conditions change. Learn more about active wildfires, current fire restrictions, and wildfire prevention at MTFireInfo.org.

Applications are open for funding to support Walks in the Woods or Timber Tours! Celebrate Montana Forest Products Week ...
09/07/2026

Applications are open for funding to support Walks in the Woods or Timber Tours!

Celebrate Montana Forest Products Week (October 18-24, 2026) by hosting a tour that highlights the importance of local wood products, working forest landscapes, or the forestry sector. Eligible applicants include forest landowners, foresters, educators, mills, and community groups. Up to $750 is available per proposal.

Applications will be accepted beginning September 2, 2026. All applications received by September 16, 2026 will be competitively evaluated in the first review period. If funding remains, applications will be accepted and evaluated on an open and rolling basis until all funding is allocated or October 14, 2026. For details and to apply, visit https://grants.dnrc.mt.gov/submit/f51e8f01-b20c-4466-9f7e-198766cc4143/forestry-fy27-forest-products-week.

09/07/2026

Flashback to last year, when DNRC introduced our redesigned 2.0 wildland firefighting engine! 🚒

Address

1601 N. Park Avenue
Helena, MT
59601

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+14064442074

Website

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