Dunn County
Report date
August 2020
What has been most instrumental to your progress?
Our wildlife/ranching habitat program is going well. Interest from landowners has been so great we are nearly out of the $4 million funding and will be going back to the ND Outdoor Heritage Fund for more dollars. In addition to the Habitat Program funding, The ND Natural Resources Trust (NRT) who is administering the program, is planning on requesting additional funding for up to 20 contracts to implement a carbon capture pilot program. The program will work to establish a baseline in ND to demonstrate levels of carbon capture with native grasses vs cropland. Important for conservation practices, landowner relations and habitat quality.
We have met with several groups and/or had them attend our meetings including, US Forest Service, ND Trust Lands, ND Dept. of Environmental Quality, ND Game & Fish, Elkhorn Coalition, Vision West ND, ND Saltlands Coalition. The USFS, ND Natural Resources Trust and the Governor's Office have committed to regularly attend our meetings for presenting updates and providing input. Important to build working relationships and collaboration with other groups and government entities.
Three board members and facilitator attended ND Reclamation Conference in February as part of our training. Important to build relationships and understanding of surface reclamation issues.
We continue to work with Governor Burgum and his staff to encourage development of a new state energy plan. ND's energy plan is 10 years old and pre-boom making it very outdated for today's industry practices. Updates to the state energy plan are in process. We are monitoring the progress and are especially excited that the new plan will contain an ESG (Environment/Social/Governance) component.
We continue to work with Governor Burgum and his staff to encourage development of a new state energy plan. ND's energy plan is 10 years old and pre-boom making it very outdated for today's industry practices. Updates to the state energy plan are in process. We are monitoring the progress and are especially excited that the new plan will contain an ESG (Environment/Social/Governance) component.
Key lessons learned
Moving the state energy plan forward has proven to be very difficult. We had envisioned a comprehensive long term plan with wide input from the public. The current approach is more of a task force or industry council approach to needed changes in state policy. The ND Empower Commission is using a subcommittee structure to work out the appropriate changes in state policy and will then be recommending those changes to the ND Legislature in January of 2021. We will be monitoring their work, their report and activity in the Legislature. While this approach is different than what we had in mind we can be useful to impact their results and help to seek public input in the current process and in the Legislative process.
We had planned one of our key public information gathering events in partnership with the Visions West ND to be held in March of 2020. The COVID crisis has put that event on hold for now.
In addition, a combination of COVID and low energy prices has created some major changes for the oil company we have been partnered with for our pilot project. We continue to work on the pilot, but activity has slowed significantly.
COVID has slowed our work and reduced our expenditures in year one by approximately $30,000.
In addition, a combination of COVID and low energy prices has created some major changes for the oil company we have been partnered with for our pilot project. We continue to work on the pilot, but activity has slowed significantly.
COVID has slowed our work and reduced our expenditures in year one by approximately $30,000.
Reflections on inclusive, collaborative or resourceful problem-solving
Definitely 'collaborative'. There are so many components to the areas we are working on and so many individuals, groups and entities that have a stakeholder interest in the mineral and surface assets of western North Dakota.
Other key elements of Community Innovation
I would say the most important component of our success has been the knowledge, resources and connectivity of the BAG members to the community at large. They are a group of well respected community leaders who demonstrate their common sense approach to find practical solutions. They have a large network of people among the group. Whenever we have a issue and need contacts to get something done they have multiple resources to tap.
I cannot tell you the number of times I have been asked who is on the BAG and the response I get is, that is good group of people. Rod Backman, Facilitator.
I cannot tell you the number of times I have been asked who is on the BAG and the response I get is, that is good group of people. Rod Backman, Facilitator.
Understanding the problem
An overriding description of the need is to protect the surface assets in western ND while producing energy.
The more we work on the project and the issues,(both old and new) the more resources and potential solutions come to light.
Solutions like new reclamation processes, more funding sources and creative ideas for less disturbance of the surface resources.
Getting the stakeholders in the same room has proven to generate discussions and solutions.
The more we work on the project and the issues,(both old and new) the more resources and potential solutions come to light.
Solutions like new reclamation processes, more funding sources and creative ideas for less disturbance of the surface resources.
Getting the stakeholders in the same room has proven to generate discussions and solutions.
If you could do it all over again...
Gather stakeholders together early vs later. We have found when visiting with stakeholders, problems are easier to work out.
Bringing the Governor's representative/staff onboard for the meetings has been a key to our success.
Thank you to the Bush Foundation, we feel your grant has increased our credibility with the Governor's office.
Bringing the Governor's representative/staff onboard for the meetings has been a key to our success.
Thank you to the Bush Foundation, we feel your grant has increased our credibility with the Governor's office.
One last thought
Education of the public on energy and conservation issues is difficult because it is complicated.