Pollinator Initiative

What is the Pollinator Initiative?

The Lake County Conservation District (LCCD) Pollinator Initiative supports the establishment of native pollinator habitat across Lake County. We provide a locally adapted native seed mix selected for our soils, climate, and growing conditions. We also provide technical assistance to help ensure successful establishment of your pollinator plot long term.

Participants are responsible for site preparation prior to planting and for ongoing management of their pollinator plots. LCCD staff provide guidance on site selection, preparation, and planting methods.

Seed is available at no cost during two annual distribution windows:
Spring: April 1 – May 15
Fall: October 1 – November 15

Whether you manage a backyard garden, small acreage, or agricultural land, this program is designed to support meaningful habitat improvements at a variety of scales.

Click the button above to open a PDF version of the Monitoring Journal available for download.

Want your own copy of the Monitoring Journal to track your pollinator observations? Stop by the office for yours!

Why Focus on Pollinators?

Bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, birds, and other animal pollinators play a critical role in both agricultural production and healthy native ecosystems. Roughly one out of every three bites of food depends on pollination. Beyond crop production, pollinators support plant reproduction that sustains wildlife habitat, soil stability, and overall ecological function.

Here in Montana and across the country, pollinators face pressure from habitat loss, fragmentation, and land use change. Expanding the availability of diverse, season-long flowering habitat is one practical way landowners can contribute to long-term conservation outcomes.

For additional science-based information on pollinator conservation, visit the Xerces Society website.

About the Initiative

LCCD launched the Pollinator Initiative in 2016 to address local habitat gaps and increase the abundance and distribution of native flowering plants throughout Lake County. Learn more about the history of our Pollinator Initiative here! 

Since its inception, the program has:

• Assisted more than 450 participants

• Helped establish over 735 acres of pollinator habitat

• Hosted more than 40 educational events

• Reached over 2,500 youth and adults

• Supported other conservation districts in developing similar initiatives statewide

Each individual planting contributes to a broader network of habitat patches distributed across the county. Collectively, these plantings function as stepping stones and corridors that improve pollinator movement and survival at the landscape scale.

If you are interested in participating, you may reserve seed at any time. Please note that distribution occurs only during the spring and fall windows listed above.