Love of outdoors, conservation drives Busmire

Green Mountain Conservation District (GMCD) Administrator Sarah Busmire's love for conservation and the outdoors started in 2015 when she spent seven years working on a dude ranch in northern Idaho. "Working there is when I realized I could make a career in working outdoors," Busmire said. "I didn't want to stay in hospitality, so I went back to school."

After receiving her bachelor's degree in fisheries and wildlife sciences, Busmire spent two seasons working for Avista as a fishery technician before starting as the new administrator for GMCD. Busmire started her new position in January and says she wants to be a resource for the community. "I want people to know I'm here to support private landowners and the projects they want to do on their property, while still supporting the 310 permitting process and ensuring our waterways are protected," she said.

Busmire says GMCD covers the area from lower Thompson River to the Idaho border. Because the county covers such a vast area that is surrounded by rivers and agriculture farm land, it is split into two districts, GMCD and Eastern Sanders County Conservation District.

Since starting the job, Busmire has focused on the Pollinator Initiative, which is funded by a grant through the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and has opened the door for more funding to help continue the pollinator program.

The administrator says she had a hand in helping procure an Area 5 pollinator grant for $24,000. Area 5 of Montana includes Lincoln, Sanders, Flathead, Missoula, Lake, Powell, Deer Lodge, Mineral, Granite and Ravalli counties. The funding Busmire receives from the grant will help expand on implementing native grass seed into the area, cost share programs and future research on wildflower plugs which she says will give more viable options for those who want to grow pollinator habitats in small flower pots or through home landscaping.

"I helped with the administration portion of the grant and I'll help with assisting and planning outreach events for next spring," she said. "This is how we can help support the community. Ultimately, the goal is to help people even if they have a tenth acre of land. This is something you can have right in your backyard. We want to be able to cater to everybody."

Busmire's passion for conserving and creating pollinator habitats has helped fuel a project at the GMCD office in Trout Creek by allowing her to help turn a small plot of land in the yard into a pollinator garden. Busmire says pollinator seed mix is still available through GMCD and to call ahead if interested in picking up free seed mix for your land.

Busmire is also planning the Sanders County Water Festival in October at Thompson Falls State Park. Other projects and grants she has received include funding that will allow her to build capacity for her position giving her the time needed to find other grants for future projects.

GMCD administers 310 permits in western Sanders County for any person wanting to work in or near a perennial stream or river on private or public land. "The entire collaboration is with both state and federal governments and private landowners," Busmire said. "Essentially, we want to protect the beauty of the streams, rivers, reservoirs and the riparian habitats that surround them."

Busmire says she wants to be able to give people whatever they need, whether that's opportunity for future projects, resources or to just help field questions people may have about GMCD and what they do.

"I want to be a good resource and all people have to do is reach out and I'm here," she said. "We just want to help people."

Reach Busmire at (406) 827-4833 or by email at [email protected].