Stillwater County has a total area of 1,805 square miles. Elevations range from 3,400 feet near Park City, MT in the mid-eastern part of county to 12,807 feet at Granite Peak in Park County near the Stillwater County line. Precipitation ranges from 12 inches in the northeast part of the county to 60 inches in the higher elevation mountainous terrain in the southern part of the county. The county is comprised of several river drainages, most of which ultimately flow into the Yellowstone River.
Nearly 90 percent of the approximately 904,000 acres of private land in the county is used for agricultural production. About 69,000 private acres of the county are forested, most of which are grazed. Acres not in farming operations are spread across State, BLM, urban areas, small acre landowners, and a large US Forest Service component. The NRCS office, located in Columbus, offers voluntary technical and financial assistance to private landowners interested in natural resource conservation based on a focused approach using long range planning with local input.
Current Financial Assistance Opportunities for Stillwater County Landowners
- Countryman Creek Fuels Reduction Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP)
- Rooting for Soil Health Targeted Implementation Plan (TIP)
- Clark Fork of the Yellowstone Soil Erosion Reduction TIP
- Invasive Annual Grass Control for Ventenata in Carbon and Stillwater Counties TIP
In addition to these local projects, producers may also apply for statewide programs such as the Conservation Stewardship Program, national Environmental Quality Incentives Program initiatives, and conservation easement programs. For more information on these and other programs, see State Programs and Initiatives on the NRCS Montana webpage.
Additional Information
Montana Local Working Groups
Every year, county Conservation Districts and the NRCS host local working group meetings where farmers, landowners, conservation partners, and other stakeholders in the community discuss the natural resource needs for the county. Based on this feedback, NRCS updates the county’s long-range plan and develops new Targeted Implementation Plans to address those resource concerns.
Montana Focused Conservation
In Montana, NRCS uses a “Focused Conservation” strategy to guide its EQIP investments. Montana Focused Conservation begins with goals identified in local-level Long Range Plans. Based on those plans, NRCS develops Targeted Implementation Plans (TIPs) to guide on-the-ground implementation.
Learn MoreWhat's Available in My Montana County?
Current local financial assistance opportunities in Montana, listed by county. In addition to the local opportunities, producers may also apply for statewide and national programs.
Learn MoreMontana Programs and Application Dates
Program applications are accepted on a continual basis, however, NRCS establishes application ranking dates for evaluation, ranking and approval of eligible applications. Applications received after the ranking date will be automatically deferred to the next funding period.
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