<html><head></head><body><div class="ydpb42c820cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family: garamond, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span><p class="ydp1044f466xmsonormal"> <b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Missoula County Seeking Nominations for Land
Stewardship Award</span></b></p>
<p class="ydp1044f466xmsonormal"><span style="color:black"> </span>Missoula County Community and
Planning Services is now accepting nominations for the annual Land Stewardship
Award. The award recognizes landowners and residents who are taking stewardship
of land and water seriously and embarking on projects and practices that make a
difference for land, water, forests, wildlife and communities.</p>
<p class="ydp1044f466xmsonormal"><span style="color:black"> </span>Community members and
organizations are invited to nominate landowners and residents who are
restoring, protecting or enhancing land and natural resources to ensure natural
systems are maintained and strengthened. The nomination form is due Tuesday,
April 30, and is available on the Community and Planning Services Open Lands
website at <span class="ydp1044f466xmsohyperlink"><a href="http://missoula.co/stewardshipaward" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://missoula.co/stewardshipaward</a></span>.</p>
<p class="ydp1044f466xmsonormal"><span style="color:black"> </span>The award program, through the
leadership of the county’s Open Lands Advisory Committee, recognizes the
critical role private landowners and residents play in resource conservation
through their stewardship activities.</p>
<p class="ydp1044f466xmsonormal"> <a name="x__Hlk2339506">“In addition to thanking these
tireless, voluntary stewards for the work they do to protect resources on
private lands in the county, the Land Stewardship Award allows us to capture
the stories of the successes and challenges they’ve met along the way,” said </a>Kylie Paul, natural resource specialist with CAPS’ Parks,
Trails & Open Lands. “These stories help us highlight tools and
programs landowners and residents can take advantage of to restore, enhance and
protect land and water resources.”</p>
<p class="ydp1044f466xmsonormal"> The
Land Stewardship Award has recognized previous recipients for their innovative
and cooperative land management of forests, ranches and properties in the Swan,
Blackfoot, Ninemile, Bonner and Gold Creek regions. An interactive map highlighting
past recipients is online at <span class="ydp1044f466xmsohyperlink"><a href="http://missoula.co/stewardshipmap" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://missoula.co/stewardshipmap</a></span>.</p>
<p class="ydp1044f466xmsonormal"><span style="color:black"> </span>For
more information about the program, call Kylie Paul at 406-258-4869 or email <span class="ydp1044f466xmsohyperlink"><a href="mailto:kpaul@missoulacounty.us" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kpaul@missoulacounty.us</a></span>.</p>
<p class="ydp1044f466xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-autospace:none">###<br></p>
<p class="ydp1044f466xmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-autospace:none"><i><span style="font-family:Cabin">The Community and
Planning Services Open Lands Program focuses on connecting communities, private
landowners, local organizations and agencies with resources and opportunities
to conserve the diverse mix of forests, grass lands, agricultural lands and
water resources throughout Missoula County. More information about the Open
Lands Program is online at <span class="ydp1044f466xmsohyperlink"><a href="http://missoula.co/openlandsprogram" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://missoula.co/openlandsprogram</a></span>.</span></i><br></p></span></div></body></html>