About the Local Government Advisor Program
Established by the Montana Legislature in 2015 through House Bill 510, the Local Government Advisor Program provides technical and financial assistance for local government officials to effectively engage with federal and state land managers.
Local, federal, and state partners work collaboratively to address forest management in accordance with the Montana Forest Action Plan, including wildfire risk and forest health, working forests and economies, and sustaining cross boundary work.
What We Do
Technical Assistance
The Local Government Forest Advisor advises local government personnel on how projects, land management plans, federal processes, and legislation may impact resources, human health and safety, local economies, and county budgets during cross-boundary projects.
Financial Assistance
We administer the Local Government Assistance Grant to local governments and collaboratives to initiate and increase cross-boundary forest management projects that contribute to the goals of the Montana Forest Action Plan.
View Local Government Forestry Assistance Grant opportunities
Recent Local Government Highlights
2024 – ongoing: Guided Sanders County and the Lolo National Forest to expand the Wilkes-Cherry project to address private land treatment opportunities.
2024 – 2025: Assisted Ravalli County and Ravalli County Collaborative in production of a training video about slash and pile burning.
2023 – 2024: Assisted Ravalli County in establishing a new county forester. This position will expand the capacity of the counties to lead and support actions to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health.
2023 – 2024: Assisted Madison County in establishing a new county forester. This position will expand the capacity of the counties to lead and support actions to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health.
2023 – 2024: Assisted Lincoln County in establishing a new county forester. This position will expand the capacity of the counties to lead and support actions to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health.
2022 – ongoing: Assisted Lincoln County in developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with agency partners to clarify goals and expectations; developed a “project roadmap” showing projects completed and in progress on all lands in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI).
2024: Assisted Jefferson County through the Tri-county FireSafe Working Group to conduct outreach efforts and 65+ home wildfire risk assessments on private forested lands between two counties. Continuing to work with 100+ homeowners on a waiting list for risk assessments.
2024: Assisted Lewis and Clark County through the Tri-county FireSafe Working Group to conduct outreach efforts and 65+ home wildfire risk assessments on private forested lands between two counties. Continuing to work with 100+ homeowners on a waiting list for risk assessments.
2023 – ongoing: Assisted Silver Bow County in expediting reduction of hazardous fuels in Basin Creek, which provides 60% of Butte’s water supply. The Basin Creek watershed is covered with heavy dead and down trees and is at high risk for a catastrophic wildfire.
2023: Assisted Missoula County in their work with the Lolo National Forest on the Wildfire Adapted Missoula project.
2023 – 2024: Assisted Powell County in establishing a new natural resources director position. This position will expand the capacity of the counties to lead and support actions to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health.
2023 – 2024: Assisted Mineral County in establishing a new county resource advisor position. This position will expand the capacity of the counties to lead and support actions to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health.
November 2024: The 2024 Forest County Summit for County Commissioners and their collaboratives included a field trip to view and discuss homeowner associations treatments, evacuation routes, and Forest Service projects.