Earlier this month, the Northern Rocky Mountain Grotto was recognized with the 2019 Conservation Project Award from the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. NRMG representatives Ellen Whittle, Savannah Sawyer, and Carl Froslie traveled to the 84th North American Wildlife & Natural Resources Conference in Denver to accept the award on the Grotto’s behalf.
The Northern Rocky Mountain Grotto has worked with federal and state agency partners to conduct cave inventory, monitoring, and restoration projects since 2010. Projects include the annual Lick Creek Cave Clean-up, the installation of informational signs and registers at dozens of caves, and a Grotto-wide commitment to report bat observations. The NRMG also works with the Bigfork High School Cave Club to monitor cave climates, visitor impacts, and biological points for caves throughout the northern Rockies.
“…We value their dedicated commitment, technical expertise, and leadership in working with federal and state agencies, communities, and other partners to leverage resources in the management and conservation of lands and wildlife.”— Rob Harper, Director of Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Air and Rare Plants in the Forest Service (BLM Press Release)
The NRMG was nominated for this award by their USFS/BLM partners in Montana.
“We’ve really enjoyed working with the FS and BLM since 2011. As many agencies are stretched thin with resources, it is imperative that we learn to work more effectively to help manage the outdoor resources we all care so much about.”— Ian Chechet, Chairman of the Northern Rocky Mountain Grotto (BLM Press Release)
