Ecological Pub Talks and Community Forum: Missoula, Montana

by Amy Sacry, Geumconsulting

Three pub talks were held in Missoula, Montana, in 2017 to provide local practitioners, students, and scientists an opportunity to share knowledge and network. The first social was held in April at Imagine Nation Brewing. Amy Sacry (Geum Environmental Consulting) and Cara Nelson (Associate Professor of Restoration Ecology, University of Montana) presented information on results of five-year floodplain restoration monitoring for the Milltown Dam Restoration Project. Bethanie Walder (Executive Director for Society for Ecological Restoration) also attended the social and provided an overview of the purpose and goals of the organization.

The second social was held in June at Bad Goat Forest Products and featured a presentation on research completed by Christine Brissette (Trout Unlimited). Her research shows the effects of stream restoration on groundwater storage and discharge. Her research will soon be published in the Journal of Hydrology.

The third social was held in September at Imagine Nation Brewing and included a presentation of research conducted by Elizabeth Metcalf (Associate Professor of Recreation Management & Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, University of Montana). She is studying how to build social capacity for restoration success and was able to provide insight on how stakeholders perceive restoration and their priorities for the main resources restoration should address. At this pub talk we also introduced to the new SER Community Forum set up to start conversations related to ecological restoration topics relevant to those working in western Montana. The forum is called ‘Montana Ecological Restoration Community Network’ and can be accessed through SER website at www.ser/org/foums.

SER NW members in the Missoula area, along with others interested in ecological restoration in western Montana, hope to continue these pub talk socials in 2018 and keep the conversation and beer flowing!