County Resources

Montana has extensive on-the-ground infrastructure to support restoration and land stewardship. The agencies below serve landowners, land managers, and restoration practitioners across all 56 Montana counties. All services are available regardless of land ownership type.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

NRCS provides free, voluntary technical and financial assistance to private landowners for conservation and restoration work. Key programs include:

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) — cost-share payments for conservation practices including native seedings, prescribed grazing, and riparian buffers
• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) — rental payments for land enrolled in conservation uses including native grass and pollinator habitat
• Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) — financial assistance for protecting and restoring wetlands

Find your local NRCS field office →

Montana Conservation Districts

Montana has 58 conservation districts that provide local coordination and technical services for soil and water conservation. Many conservation districts administer additional state and local programs beyond NRCS offerings.

Find your conservation district →

MSU Extension

Montana State University Extension provides research-based educational resources, workshops, and county-level specialists for agriculture, range, horticulture, and natural resources.

Find your county extension office →

Key extension publications relevant to restoration:

• Range and pasture management guides
• Weed identification and management
• Native grass establishment guides

County Weed Management Areas

Each Montana county has a designated weed management area responsible for noxious weed management on public lands and providing educational resources to private landowners.

Montana Weed Control Association county contacts →

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP)

FWP manages wildlife, fisheries, and state parks and has habitat restoration programs, including:

• Habitat Montana — secures and restores habitat through land acquisition and conservation easements
• Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program — cost-share for upland habitat restoration including native seedings

FWP Wildlife Management →

County Directory

A detailed county-by-county resource table with specific contacts for NRCS, conservation district, extension office, and weed management area will be added here. Contact the Faist Lab if you have county-specific resource information to contribute.