Community Engagement on Stream Flow Management - Montana Watershed Coordination Council

This project was funded by a Capacity Support Grant from the MWCC Watershed Fund.

Project Description

The goals of this project are to develop a common understanding of the history of Beaverhead River flows and how they contrast with current management and flows; to foster better relationships and understanding of on-the-ground realities among irrigators, the fishing industry, and the general community; and to increase possibilities for collaboration on future projects. To move toward these goals, BWC will work with local and state partners to accomplish the following:

Work with the Bureau of Reclamation, local irrigators, Montana FWP, and fishing industry representatives to develop public outreach materials (digital and print) that address specific facts, partnerships and misunderstandings related to the management of Beaverhead River flows.
Distribute these materials in targeted (fly shop owners, local nonprofits) and general (articles, mailings, placement in local stores) ways to reach specific groups and the community.
Use these materials as a starting point for community conversations about flow management and hold meetings to discuss the issue.

Project Outcomes and Impacts

Met with a wide range of community members and local partners to discuss common misunderstandings, concerns, and community history of disagreements.
Engaged local Bureau of Reclamation, Montana FWP employees and local irrigators to review the data collected, conduct research, and help design an informational brochure on Beaverhead River Flow Management.
Distributed the brochure to local partners and highlighted it at a community meeting.