The MWCC Watershed Fund is helping our community-based conservation partners complete on-the-ground projects to benefit natural resources, conservation stewardship, community health, and local livelihoods. Through a partnership with the Montana Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Watershed Fund has provided more than $405,000 in small Project Support grants since 2018. This funding has supported 17 local conservation organizations in achieving community conservation goals on private lands.
Here are a few examples of the impacts of this funding:
The MWCC Watershed Fund is helping improve water quality and reduce nonpoint source (NPS) pollution in watersheds across Montana by supporting Big Sky Watershed Corps (BSWC) members’ work on these issues. In 2020 and 2021, Watershed Fund Big Sky Watershed Corps Support provided more than $130,000 in grants to local watershed conservation organizations to:
Increase their capacity to implement Watershed Restoration Plans (WRPs) accepted by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality by providing cost share support for hosting a BSWC member to help implement WRPs and reduce NPS pollution
Attend relevant professional development training opportunities
Support BSWC member-led, on-the-ground projects that reduce or prevent nonpoint source pollution.
BSWC Project Support funding allows BSWC members to carry out small-scale projects that have a measurable impact, such as riparian revegetation and low-tech restoration. In most cases, it is the members’ first time writing, managing, and reporting on a grant, so the funding also helps with members’ professional development. In 2021, the Watershed Fund supported six BSWC member-led projects, including:
Low-tech, process-based restoration of California Creek, a tributary of the Ruby Watershed, to reduce erosion and stream degradation caused by historic mining practices. BSWC member London Bernier completed this project for the Ruby Valley Conservation District and Ruby Watershed Council
These projects were made possible by funding from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. We thank Montana DEQ for their support of the BSWC program since 2015.
The MWCC Watershed Fund is making a positive, measurable impact on watershed health across Montana by supporting local conservation goals. In the past two years, Watershed Fund Capacity Support has provided $81,000 in grants to 11 local watershed organizations to fill critical capacity gaps, enabling them to more sustainably and effectively pursue targeted conservation goals identified within their communities. The following are some examples of the impacts of this funding:
The Musselshell Watershed Coalition established a Cooperative Weed Management Area to improve communication among diverse partners, better manage weeds, and increase treatment of invasives.
HELENA, MT, May 13 – A partnership centering traditional ecological knowledge and cultural practices to return beavers to Blackfeet lands. A lifelong teacher and advocate for stream restoration in Lewis & Clark County and across the state. A collaborative leader who has spent the past 10 years building a resilient, collaborative watershed organization in the Bitterroot. A biologist who has restored and protected tens of thousands of acres of prairie wetlands and grasslands across north-central and northeastern Montana.
These are the winners of the 2021 Wetland and Watershed Stewardship Awards, representing a diverse array of locally driven, cooperative conservation efforts across Montana. The biennial awards are a joint project of the Montana Wetland Council (MWC) and the Montana Watershed Coordination Council (MWCC) to honor individuals and groups who embody excellence and commitment to wetland or watershed conservation, protection, and restoration.
The Wetland Stewardship Award recipient is Loren Ruport with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program in Malta. The Watershed Stewardship Award recipients are the Blackfeet Nation’s Ksik Stakii (Beaver) Project, Jeff Ryan with the Lewis & Clark County Conservation District, and Heather Mullee Barber with the Bitter Root Water Forum.
“The 2021 Wetland and Watershed Stewardship Award recipients exemplify the kind of conservation that supports Montana’s landscapes and livelihoods,” said Ethan Kunard, Executive Director of MWCC. “Their leadership and dedication have resulted in successful partnerships that protect treasured land and water resources statewide.”
Award recipients will be honored at a ceremony during the Fall Watershed Tour to be co-hosted by MWCC and local conservation partners September 15-17, 2021, along the Rocky Mountain Front.
The Montana Wetland Council is a cooperative network of diverse interests working to increase the quality and quantity of wetlands in Montana. Council participants work individually and collaboratively to accomplish its strategic goals to prevent loss of wetlands while addressing the often-complex issues surrounding wetlands and riparian areas.
The Montana Watershed Coordination Council works to unite and support Montana’s community-based conservation networks to promote healthy and productive watersheds. MWCC provides resources and support to conservation partnerships across the state to improve Montana’s landscapes and livelihoods.
The 2021 Wetland and Watershed Stewardship Awards are made possible by funding from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
BROWNING, MT, May 13 – When Blackfeet community leaders were seeking ways to increase climate resiliency, they looked to one of their oldest relationships: with the beaver.
Known as Ksik Stakii in the language of the Blackfeet (Amskapi Piikani) people, beavers are an animal of deep cultural significance, playing a critical role in the creation of life and the protection of streams, rivers, and wetlands. From this knowledge arose the Ksik Stakii Project: a broad partnership aimed at protecting beaver, restoring rivers, and increasing natural water storage to reduce vulnerability to flooding and drought. Education and volunteer involvement were also major components.
“That really was the key was the community involvement,” said Termaine Edmo, Climate Change Coordinator for the Blackfeet Nation. “The Beaver actually gifted us this process, so we are passing on that traditional knowledge to sustain who we are as Blackfeet people.”
In recognition of the collaborative, innovative, and holistic nature of this work, the Montana Watershed Coordination Council (MWCC) has selected the Ksik Stakii Project as a 2021 Watershed Stewardship Award recipient. The biennial Wetland and Watershed Stewardship Awards are a joint project of MWCC and the Montana Wetland Council (MWC) to honor individuals and groups who embody excellence and commitment to wetland or watershed conservation, protection, and restoration. Award recipients will be honored at a ceremony during the Fall Watershed Tour to be co-hosted by MWCC and local conservation partners September 15-17, 2021 along the Rocky Mountain Front.
The Ksik Stakii Project is a partnership among the Blackfeet Fish and Wildlife Department, Blackfeet Community College, Blackfeet Environmental Office, Blackfeet Agriculture Resource Management Planning Team, and the Center for Large Landscape Conservation. With the goal of serving both community and ecological needs, it encompasses numerous activities, including:
Installing beaver dam analogues (BDAs) – wooden post structures woven with vegetation to mimic the effects of beaver dams in slowing and retaining water – in the Cut Bank Creek watershed to reduce streambank erosion and reconnect streams with the floodplain.
Engaging Blackfeet youth to build the BDAs, through BCC’s Native Science Fellows program and the Montana Conservation Corps’ Piikani Lands Crew.
Highlighting climate change, Piikani Lifeways, risk management, hydrology, wetland vegetation, data collection and monitoring techniques, water quality, and aquatic and terrestrial invasive species through a comprehensive community education program.
Decreasing conflicts between beavers and humans by responding to complaints from community members with non-lethal strategies and holding “Living with Beaver” workshops.
The 2021 Wetland and Watershed Stewardship Awards are made possible by funding from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
HAMILTON, MT, May 13 – Building partnerships on common ground is Heather Mullee Barber’s strength. It’s the skill that has allowed her to nurture relationships with ranchers, farmers, anglers, river guides, irrigation districts, schools, businesses, conservation partners, and public land managers. It’s the approach that has allowed the organization she leads, the Bitter Root Water Forum, to improve river and stream health across the Bitterroot Watershed with widespread community support.
In her 10 years as Executive Director of the Forum, Heather has grown this grassroots watershed organization from one part-time staff member to a staff of three plus a Big Sky Watershed Corps AmeriCorps member. Along the way, she has led the development of the Bitterroot Watershed Restoration Plan; built a successful community watershed education program; and fostered the restoration, protection, and improvement of 24 stream miles, providing direct benefits to the Bitterroot River and the communities that rely on it.
“The development of the Bitter Root Water Forum into a successful watershed restoration organization is a direct result of Heather’s leadership, vision, and commitment,” said Charlie Larson, the Forum’s Board president. “We are extremely fortunate to have Heather working for the benefit of our water quality and riparian habitats. She cares deeply for the Bitterroot watershed and the people it serves.”
In recognition of her inclusive, collaborative approach to local watershed health, the Montana Watershed Coordination Council (MWCC) has selected Heather as a 2021 Watershed Stewardship Award recipient. The biennial Wetland and Watershed Stewardship Awards are a joint project of MWCC and the Montana Wetland Council (MWC) to honor individuals and groups who embody excellence and commitment to wetland or watershed conservation, protection, and restoration. Award recipients will be honored at a ceremony during the Fall Watershed Tour to be co-hosted by MWCC and local conservation partners September 15-17, 2021 along the Rocky Mountain Front.
Among Heather’s many accomplishments during her time with the Forum are:
Completing 14 water quality and wildlife habitat improvement projects across the Bitterroot Valley, including revegetation of
riparian (streamside) habitat, riparian fencing and grazing management, bioengineered streambank stabilization, and restoring deteriorating forest roads to the natural landscape. These projects have protected and improved 2,000 acres of public and private lands.
Creating a tour for real estate agents and the public that explores the details of water rights and irrigation infrastructure. Established in collaboration with local irrigation districts, the tour fosters understanding of irrigation practices and needs in the Bitterroot.
Connecting Bitterroot middle schoolers to their local water resources with the Earth Stewardship Program, hosted with local seventh grade teachers.
Protecting Hamilton’s new Skalkaho Bend Park from rapid riverbank erosion.
Learn more about the Bitter Root Water Forum through their website.
The 2021 Wetland and Watershed Stewardship Awards are made possible by funding from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
HELENA, MT, May 13 – You can trace Jeff Ryan’s path across Montana by following the newly planted willows – and the everyday people singing his praises for making rivers more resilient to flooding with restoration projects that incorporate living plants to benefit everyone involved.
“Jeff has helped pioneer the inclusion of living materials in riverbank restoration projects in the state,” said Chris Evans, LCCD administrator. “Time and time again, he has worked to bring common sense and respect for the resource back to the conversation through his open-mindedness in listening to people talk about their projects.”
In recognition of his dedication and innovative approaches to watershed health, the Montana Watershed Coordination Council (MWCC) has selected Jeff as a 2021 Watershed Stewardship Award recipient. The biennial Wetland and Watershed Stewardship Awards are a joint project of MWCC and the Montana Wetland Council (MWC) to honor individuals and groups who embody excellence and commitment to wetland or watershed conservation, protection, and restoration. Award recipients will be honored at a ceremony during the Fall Watershed Tour to be co-hosted by MWCC and local conservation partners September 15-17, 2021 along the Rocky Mountain Front.
Jeff’s numerous accomplishments include:
Advising and helping to develop dozens of restoration projects on the Beaverhead, Missouri, Musselshell, and Sun River Watersheds, as well Pumpkin Creek at Zoo Montana near Billings and multiple projects within Lewis and Clark County: on Little Prickly Pear, Prickly Pear, Sevenmile, Ten Mile, and Spokane Creeks.
Working with the Missouri River and Yellowstone River Conservation Districts Councils to create the Living on the Bank project, a resource for landowners who are living – or considering living – along a stream or river.
A 26-year career with the Montana Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Quality, where he learned the ins and outs of stream permitting that he now applies to his second career.
Learn more about the Lewis and Clark Conservation District, including many of the programs Jeff has helped to develop, through their website.
The 2021 Wetland and Watershed Stewardship Awards are made possible by funding from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
A project along the Bitterroot River that Jeff worked on with the Bitterroot Conservation District. Photos from before, immediately after, and two years later:
Malta, MT, May 13 – Working to find creative, flexible, inclusive, and innovative local partnerships to find win-win solutions for wildlife and landowners is Loren Ruport’s strength. It is the skill that has allowed him to nurture relationships with ranchers, farmers, conservation partners, and public land managers. It is his approach that has helped the Montana Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program he works for protect and restore thousands of acres of wetlands and grasslands on private lands across the prairies and sagebrush country of northcentral and northeastern Montana.
In his eight years as a Wildlife Biologist for the Montana Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, Loren has made landscape conservation successful by ensuring that everyone within that landscape had their voices heard and their needs met. This has created trust between local ranchers and government agencies, where previously there was a long history of mistrust. The relationships and partnerships that have been built on this foundation of trust have done truly powerful things for conservation in our landscape.
“Loren is a shining example of public engagement for the Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS]. He goes out of his way to get to know and interact with people in the community and connects to them on a personal level regardless of their interest in a conservation project. He is always ready to lend a hand, whether wrestling calves at a branding or helping build fence. The number of community members familiar with the FWS and our programs has grown exponentially since Loren has been in this position. It simply would not have happened without him.” – Marisa Sather, USFWS Wildlife Biologist
In recognition of his inclusive, collaborative approach to landscape conservation and the protection and restoration of wetlands and grasslands, the Montana Wetland Council has selected Loren as our 2021 Wetland Stewardship Award recipient. The biennial Wetland and Watershed Stewardship Awards are a joint project of MWCC and the Montana Wetland Council (MWC) to honor individuals and groups who embody excellence and commitment to wetland or watershed conservation, protection, and restoration. Award recipients will be honored at a ceremony during the Fall Watershed Tour to be co-hosted by MWCC and local conservation partners September 15-17, 2021 along the Rocky Mountain Front.
Among Loren’s many accomplishments during his time with the Montana Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program are:
Helped complete 18,414 acres of grassland restoration.
Develop and implement 16,730 acres of grazing system enhancement.
Conduct 1,655 acres of wetland restoration, 1,395 acres of wetland enhancement and 14 miles of riparian enhancement.
Developing and delivering 25 separate perpetual conservation easements along the Montana Hi-Line totaling 58,549 acres (including 2,927 wetland acres).
Learn more about the Montana Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program through their website.
For more information about Wetland Stewardship Award recipients, contact Stephen Carpenedo at 406-444-3527 or scarpenedo2@mt.gov.
The 2021 Wetland and Watershed Stewardship Awards are made possible by funding from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
We are excited to announce that MWCC and our local partners will be hosting the 2021 Fall Watershed Tour September 15th-17th along the Rocky Mountain Front. We’ll have more information coming soon and hope to see you there in person!
If you haven’t already watched the video highlighting the watershed conservation efforts that we visited during the 2019 Watershed Tour click here!
The Sun River Watershed Group (SRWG) recently replaced an aging and undersized culvert crossing with a steel bridge on Muddy Creek. The Muddy Creek Crossing and Habitat Project will also include riparian fencing and vegetation enhancements. These measures will protect and stabilize stream banks, reduce animal waste and erosion, and improve water quality. To learn more about this project and the Muddy Creek Master Plan, click here.
The Muddy Creek Crossing and Habitat Project is supported by many different funders, including the MWCC Watershed Fund and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Back in 2018, Laura Nowlin, Coordinator for the Musselshell Watershed Coalition, acknowledged in a blog post: “In the watershed world, there are a few topics that are guaranteed to be discussed at every gathering: drought/flooding, best local brewery, and stream gages.”
That narrative hasn’t changed, and neither has the important role of stream gages. While we recognize the importance of stream gages in the “watershed world,” we also understand that this infrastructure can sometimes get overlooked by everyday residents, recreationists, or visitors who benefit from Montana’s streams, rivers, and lakes.
To help improve the awareness and understanding of stream gages, the Montana DNRC recently developed an online resource aimed at telling the story of stream gages and the important role they play in water management. This new interactive StoryMap is a great resource to for anyone looking to educate their neighbors or partners about our state’s water measurement systems.
In 2021, the Big Sky Watershed Corps program is celebrating 10 years of service! In the months to come, we’ll take a look back at what that service has looked like and reflect on how that service has impacted Montana’s waters, impacted our partners, and impacted our members. Stay tuned!
BSWC Service Impact:
Member Stories by Angela Davis
I can still remember when I got the call that I did not get the placement for Big Sky Watershed Corps. At the time I was working three jobs in Bozeman, Montana, one of them as a delivery driver, delivering wine all across Bozeman and Helena. I was in the big delivery van, it was a cold sunny day in October and I pulled over to listen to the voicemail explaining I hadn’t gotten the position. I remember thinking to myself, “well that’s it, I guess this is my life now”, working multiple remedial dead-end jobs that were only marginally satisfying, even on the best of days.
I moved to Montana in 2015 from northeast Florida where I had worked as an environmental scientist for a handful of years. I was so excited to move cross country and thought that with my educational background and experience in the field I’d land a job in no time. Boy was I wrong! I attempted to network and volunteered all over town to no avail. I attended the bi-annual Montana Watershed Coordination Council meeting with resumes ready but got nowhere. Attending the meeting felt like a bust, at the time, but this was where I was introduced to the Big Sky Watershed Corps for the first time. It seemed like everyone I talked to pointed me to the program. There was even an army of current members in attendance participating in the event’s poster session. I didn’t know it then, but my life would one day be deeply connected to this powerfully impactful program.
The Big Sky Watershed Corps (BSWC) began in 2011 with a small group of AmeriCorps members serving with local conservation organizations. Over the last ten years, Montana has watched as this program has grown from 10 members to 34 members serving all along the Clark Fork, the Yellowstone, the Musselshell, the Milk River, and everywhere in between. As we celebrate the ten-year anniversary of this service program we wanted to share the impact it’s had not only on our communities, waters, and lands but also on the AmeriCorps members who have served within it. Members like myself, Ethan Kunard, and Liz Shull.
Ethan served with the BSWC in 2013 & 2014. He found the program while looking for jobs in Montana and thought it would be a great opportunity to gain more experience in the watershed conservation world while honing his interest and skills for his future career path. And boy did it deliver! During his service terms, Ethan developed new skills and gained professional hands-on experience in conservation. But something else happened too. Ethan began to see how vital community engagement was with any kind of watershed work. Experiencing this first-hand changed how he viewed natural resource management; it was no longer a science separate from the community or the individuals it impacted but an inseparable partnership. This revelation ultimately led him to his recent position as Executive Director for Montana Watershed Coordination Council where he continues to serve watershed communities by connecting them to valuable resources and also to one another.
Ethan isn’t the only member to have changed because of his service term. Liz recently completed her second term of service with BSWC in November of 2020 as the BSWC Team Leader. I remember sitting in a local coffee shop with Liz discussing the program with her shortly after she had heard about it. Liz was frustrated searching for “her fit” in the conservation world. She knew she wanted to work in conservation but didn’t know where or even what kind of position to pursue. She did know that her current position in water rights wasn’t the right fit, so we talked about opportunities with BSWC. The BSWC program was a space for Liz, as she puts it, “to conduct some productive self-exploration.” She wanted to try it all and the BSWC is a great place for that! Liz described it this way, “The BSWC paved a path for me to figure out what I wanted to do while still getting things done.” Through Liz’s service, she gained more understanding about her own passions, gained confidence in her abilities, and gained a lot of great connections within the natural resource’s world in Montana. Today, Liz is doing work she loves and is proud to do, serving our nation’s vets as the Development Associate with Warriors and Quiet Waters.
While I didn’t get placed with BSWC that cold autumn day I did eventually find my place in the program and completed two terms of service in 2017 & 2018. At the start, BSWC was nothing more than a stepping stone to me. This was my gateway to my next environmental science gig. It was going to land me a job, like a real job where I made more than the meager biweekly living allowance I received as a member. I had no idea it would change my life and alter my career ambitions forever but that’s the thing about service. It changes people. It changes the people delivering a service, it changes those receiving the service, and in the case of BSWC, it also changes the lands and waters we all love.
While I’m still passionate about science and our environment I no longer consider myself a scientist and I no longer want a career as an environmental scientist. I’ve found something I love even more. For me, my journey with BSWC showed me the power of service, the impact an AmeriCorps program can have on people and places and after watching that for a bit I knew I wanted to help make that happen again and again, and again! I wanted to be a part of that; connecting people with opportunity and service, supporting the next member’s life-altering experience. That’s exactly what I do as the Program Manager within the Big Sky Watershed Corps program. I continue to serve our Montana communities by connecting them to energized AmeriCorps members eager to make a difference. My service term led me down a career path of continued service, just like it did for Ethan, Liz and so many others who have severed in the program and so many others who have yet to start their term, because you don’t complete nearly eleven months of service without changing and buying-in to the lasting impacts service can have on people and the places we love.
Adam Sigler and Claire Bickford, MSU Extension Water Quality. Adam Sigler is also Chair of the MWCC Water Committee
In response to irrigator concerns about saline water reducing crop productivity, the Musselshell Watershed Coalition (MWC) has been collecting river salinity data for seven straight years. The five volunteers who collect the data are spread out from Harlowton to Mosby and cover far in excess of 200 river miles. The data they’ve gathered, which are viewable alongside USGS flow data through the MSU Extension Water Quality (MSUEWQ) Data Hub, clearly show that salinity increases moving downstream and salt concentrations are highest when flows are lowest.
MWC’s volunteer monitoring program is one of many across Montana that are collecting data to better understand specific local concerns about water quality and quantity and to engage the public in working toward solutions.
In February of 2020, Katie Makarowski (MDEQ) and Adam Sigler (MSUEWQ) led a volunteer monitoring workshop in Helena attended by 23 attendees from 19 organizations. The workshop focused on helping volunteer monitoring groups refine their programming to meet their goals. The Monitoring Methods Selection Guide and the Volunteer Monitoring Catalogue were two primary resources from the workshop, which are available through the MDEQ and MSUEWQ websites.
Volunteer monitoring of Montana’s water resources has been going on for more than 20 years, and the number of programs has been steadily increasing in recent years.
Data from the Madison and Gallatin stream teams are also viewable in the MSUEWQ Data Hub, with more groups on track to add data soon.
In the Musselshell, the MWC recently expanded its volunteer monitoring efforts to again address local concerns. Many small streams and springs in central and eastern Montana have salt and/or sulfate concentrations too high for livestock, so in 2020, Big Sky Watershed Corps member Brian Hauschild added a project on livestock water. Brian monitored stock ponds in Petroleum County and found salinity concentrations increased by an average of 27% over the summer, an important consideration for livestock producers trying to make sure their animals have safe water to drink. (Brian’s report and poster are available here.)
BSWC is an AmeriCorps program that places young professionals in Montana’s watershed communities to make a measurable difference in local conservation initiatives. To learn more about the program, visit MWCC’s BSWC web page. If you have any questions about the BSWC program, contact Terri Nichols at terri@mtwatersheds.org
Valerie Kurth, Member of the MWCC Water Committee and Water Resource Planner for the Montana Department of Natural Resources
“Never does nature say one thing and wisdom say another.” – Juvenal, The Sixteen Satires
One of the most interesting – and most innovative – recommendations in Montana’s State Water Plan (2015) is to explore the use of natural storage and retention to benefit water supplies and ecosystems. But what does natural storage mean, and how can we accomplish it in Montana? DNRC Water Planners recently released a short information paper that addresses these questions and more.
Traditionally, water storage has meant reservoirs, which are usually confined by human-made dam structures. Montana has over 64,000 reservoirs, and most of them are small and privately-owned (more information on dams in Montana). Demand for water in Montana continues to grow, but the likelihood of building new, large-scale reservoirs is slim because these types of projects are expensive, few suitable locations exist, and environmental impacts would need to be mitigated.
So, in the absence of additional reservoir storage, how can we continue to meet the increasing water demand? One option is to promote nature’s intrinsic ability to store water.
Riparian areas, floodplains, wetlands, and even agricultural land can act like a natural sponge. During spring run-off, they absorb water, which is then slowly released back into the channel over the summer months. This short-term, alluvial aquifer storage serves a key function: the returning water helps maintain river and stream flows late into the summer, when aquatic organisms – and people – need it the most. This type of natural storage is simple and inexpensive, as long as the ecosystem is intact (i.e., the channel can access the floodplain and the floodplain is stabilized by the roots of native vegetation).
We can also enhance the volume of naturally stored water using one or more of the following approaches:
Floodplain restoration – Keeping rivers and adjacent riparian areas healthy and functional is the easiest approach, but it is not always possible. If the integrity of a river is already compromised, then it can be restored by reconnecting the floodplain, planting riparian vegetation, and allowing the channel to move dynamically. All of this will promote shallow, temporary storage of water in adjacent floodplains.
Irrigation infrastructure – Seepage from irrigation canals and flood irrigation recharges shallow alluvial aquifers to supply late-season flows. Irrigation infrastructure already exists in many places, and it may be feasible to run water through it during spring runoff. However, restrictions on the time period of diversion may limit the practicality of this strategy in Montana.
Wetlands and infiltration galleries – Unallocated water could be diverted into constructed wetlands or retention basins. Beaver dams and their artificially constructed analogs may hold the key to creating and maintaining wetlands as natural storage systems. Check out the real world examples highlighted in the Big Hole Watershed Committee’s new video, Holding Back the Snowpack.
Natural and nature-based solutions are gaining traction around the country as effective solutions to reducing the risks of weather- and climate-based hazards, especially storm-related flooding (more information here and here). Many of the same strategies for mitigating flood waters, such as preserving wetlands and keeping riparian areas intact, also function in natural water storage. Importantly, these solutions usually bring additional benefits: conserving bird habitat, protecting drinking water, and enhancing recreational opportunities are all ecological bonuses. And, when looking at the bottom line, nature-based solutions are typically more cost-effective than heavily engineered approaches (like dams) because they do not require ongoing maintenance.
This post was written by Garfield County Conservation District Administrator and MWCC Board Member Dusty Olson.
The Garfield County Conservation District is back in the full swing of summer (already?!?!), boat season, and watercraft inspecting! We are operating the Wibaux and Flowing Wells watercraft inspection stations again this year, keeping Montana’s waterways safe from Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS), while weathering a few surprises along the way.
Both stations have been up and running for just over a month now. We are excited about the brand new, fully staffed crew along Montana’s eastern border at Wibaux and are eagerly training and working with FWP to ensure our best inspections.
Along with the inspections, a large part of our duties include education. With every boater and floater, we share the CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY message, along with the importance of stopping in for a watercraft inspection at the following times:
Any time they encounter an open inspection station
When coming into Montana from out of state
When traveling west over the Continental Divide
When launching anywhere in the Flathead basin, if they last launched on waters outside the Flathead Basin
We’re also sharing information about the Vessel AIS Prevention Pass, which nonresidents launching watercraft in Montana must purchase. The fee is $30 for motorboats and $10 for nonmotorized watercraft. The Vessel AIS Prevention Pass expires Dec. 31 and is not transferrable between vessels. To purchase the Vessel AIS Prevention Pass or for any additional information, we direct people to the cleandraindryMT.com website.
Working with the public along a roadside doesn’t come without its challenges, victories, and funny stories! Opening these crucial stations in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic was our first challenge this year, but we came out victorious with full, passionate, and hard-working crews at both stations.
The Wibaux station seems to have a tick infestation, so employees count every day without a tick as a small victory. The Wednesday before Memorial Day Weekend, there was a huge storm in the Flowing Wells area. Strong winds tipped over windmills, ripped apart sheds, and downed more than 100 power poles in the area. The watercraft station fared well over all but did have to survive without power for a few days!
The inspectors persevered, and we were able to stay open during normal operating hours. Even with the weather, inspection numbers were up for the holiday weekend, and Flowing Wells got a surprise visitor in one of the boats.
This post was written by Garfield County Conservation District Administrator and MWCC Board Member Dusty Olson.
The Garfield County Conservation District is back in the full swing of summer (already?!?!), boat season, and watercraft inspecting! We are operating the Wibaux and Flowing Wells watercraft inspection stations again this year, keeping Montana’s waterways safe from Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS), while weathering a few surprises along the way.
Both stations have been up and running for just over a month now. We are excited about the brand new, fully staffed crew along Montana’s eastern border at Wibaux and are eagerly training and working with FWP to ensure our best inspections.Along with the inspections, a large part of our duties include education. With every boater and floater, we share the CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY message, along with the importance of stopping in for a watercraft inspection at the following times:
Any time they encounter an open inspection station
When coming into Montana from out of state
When traveling west over the Continental Divide
When launching anywhere in the Flathead basin, if they last launched on waters outside the Flathead Basin
We’re also sharing information about the Vessel AIS Prevention Pass, which nonresidents launching watercraft in Montana must purchase. The fee is $30 for motorboats and $10 for nonmotorized watercraft. The Vessel AIS Prevention Pass expires Dec. 31 and is not transferrable between vessels. To purchase the Vessel AIS Prevention Pass or for any additional information, we direct people to the cleandraindryMT.com website.
Working with the public along a roadside doesn’t come without its challenges, victories, and funny stories! Opening these crucial stations in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic was our first challenge this year, but we came out victorious with full, passionate, and hard-working crews at both stations.
The Wibaux station seems to have a tick infestation, so employees count every day without a tick as a small victory. The Wednesday before Memorial Day Weekend, there was a huge storm in the Flowing Wells area. Strong winds tipped over windmills, ripped apart sheds, and downed more than 100 power poles in the area. The watercraft station fared well over all but did have to survive without power for a few days!
The inspectors persevered, and we were able to stay open during normal operating hours. Even with the weather, inspection numbers were up for the holiday weekend, and Flowing Wells got a surprise visitor in one of the boats.
Over the past decade, more than 20 landowners took on hundreds of conservation projects to improve stream health and agricultural lands along the creek. They upgraded irrigation systems to reduce water use, installed fencing and off-stream stock watering systems, planted trees, and helped develop plans for restoring 20 miles of stream. In all, half the private lands along Deep Creek – 19,000 acres – saw conservation improvements that transformed the creek, returning it to a wider floodplain that stores more water for fish and agricultural producers alike.
None of it would have been possible without a slew of watershed partners working together, including the landowners themselves, state and federal agencies, nonprofit groups, volunteers, and the Broadwater Conservation District (CD), which helped build trust among all the partners.
“People came together who wouldn’t have without some help,” said Broadwater CD Supervisor Gary Flynn, who gives special praise to the efforts of CD Project Coordinator Denise Thompson and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) District Conservationist Justin Meissner. “I don’t think it would’ve been nearly as successful without both of them.”
On a sunny day in late October, over 40 landowners and watershed partners gathered to celebrate their successes: increased stream flows, more brown trout spawning, improvements to agricultural production, reduced water temperatures, less sediment in the stream, and more than 30 local and statewide education and outreach events reaching 1,500 people.
Behind them, glinting gold in the sun, was the statue built to commemorate all their hard work: a man and woman, one in hip waders, the other with a clipboard, reaching out to shake hands. Along with two informational signs designed by Casey Steinke of Top Sign & Grafx, the roadside pull-out tells the Deep Creek story with the words “Teamwork Makes the Stream Work.”
“It’s the community’s stream,” said Ron Spoon, a Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) biologist who has spent nearly 30 years helping Deep Creek landowners use water more efficiently. “The culture has changed here, and this is where we leave it for the landowners to figure out … What parts to keep and what parts to change in the future.”
Jim Dolan, the artist who created the handshake sculpture, was impressed. “To have people get together and actually work out something with their water is a pretty big deal in Montana,” he told the crowd.
Other key partners recognized at the October 24 celebration and dedication were Deep Creek Landowner Advisory Group members; the Broadwater County Stream and Lake Committee; Robert Ray with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Jim Beck, who has spent years coordinating volunteers to monitor Deep Creek for temperature, flow, sediments, and other signs of health; Kim and Sam Antonick, the landowners who are hosting the sculpture and signs on their property; and the Broadwater CD Board of Supervisors, who Thompson called the “unsung heroes” of conservation in the county.
“This is not necessarily an end point, either,” Flynn said. “It’s a waypoint. We just hope it gives people some ideas they can grab ahold of and go with if they want.”
To learn more about the Deep Creek restoration project, contact CD Project Coordinator Denise Thompson or CD Administrator Josie Reynolds at: (406) 266-3146, ext. 3014 for Thompson, ext. 3016 for Reynolds. You can also find more information about the Broadwater CD’s work at https://broadwatercd.org/.
Last week, Montana Watershed Coordination Council’s communications fellow, Rosie Costain, joined in on a project to increase natural water storage in the Big Hole Watershed. Rosie tells a bit more about the experience:
When Ben LaPorte, program manager for the Big Hole Watershed Committee (BHWC) and one of the people involved in a restoration project along the East Fork of Divide Creek, calls the night before heading to the project site to say, “We really thought about cancelling this,” one might not look forward to the work that must be done. Blowing snow and cold temperatures accompanied him that day on his trip up to the mountain meadows we would be working in the next morning. The forecast wasn’t expected to improve.
Ben followed up his somewhat dismal report with, “But it’s now or never,” — a response fit for someone in the mindset of a beaver. As a part of a project to increase natural water storage, the BHWC joined with the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest to patch historic beaver dams along the East Fork of Divide Creek. As they were looking for some extra volunteers, I had the opportunity to join them for a day.
When a beaver is around, its dams create a series of ponds and wetlands that hold water throughout the year. This prevents spring snowmelt from rushing down the mountain, flooding areas downstream, and can contribute to groundwater storage, along with other benefits.
The critters that originally constructed the series of dams that exist in the mountain meadows along this portion of Divide Creek left decades ago. BHWC Executive Director Pedro Marques says elk moving into the area and eating the willows may have contributed to the beavers’ departure. But the remnants of their dams, which now resemble little more than raised, grassy lines through the meadow, are still present.
After a 45-minute uphill hike up to the project site, with snow on the ground but none falling from the sky, I joined in some of the work.
Patching a dam has a few simple steps and requires a few more tools than a beaver would with it’s leatherman-like body. First, beaver-substitutes (in this case, Ben, Pedro, and four Forest Service employees) find a hole in one of the historic dams. Then, they use chainsaws to cut down conifers encroaching into the meadow, remove the limbs, and cut the trunk into sections, which are used as the base structures for patching. Using a post-pounder, the trunk sections are placed in a zig-zag pattern in the dam’s gap where the stream flows through. Workers weave the leftover limbs between the newly placed posts and dig up muck from the surrounding meadow to hold everything in place. (I was a muck gatherer — a slow one, but I feel my beginning-beaver status provided me with some leeway.) Someone stomps down each layer of limbs and mud until it is about even with the rest of the dam. Water still leaks through, but the stream’s flow is hindered.
One of the most fascinating parts of this work was the immediacy of the results. While carrying buckets of concrete-like mud and sod a few feet to the dam opening, the marshy ground became more pond-like with each trip. By the end of construction, water was already pooling up, slowing the stream’s journey down the mountain. Water gauges will provide concrete data as to how much water is retained and about any changes to groundwater levels.
This project is similar to one just downstream on the Morris Ranch. Instead of patching old dams, this project included building new structures (or beaver dam analogs). MWCC’s Watershed Fund provided support to the BHWC project in installing these beaver mimicry structures along the privately-owned section of the creek.
The Morris Ranch project will be included in MWCC’s upcoming Missouri Headwaters Watershed Tour. Find out more here.
The Watershed Fund provides direct support to community-based Watershed partners for on-the ground projects on private lands, capacity-building, and professional development.
Tom Watson, Jerry Shows, and Kale Gullett from NRCS gave a presentation on the process of creating and updating Long Range Plans (LRPs) and Targeted Implementation Plans (TIPs) for the agency’s Montana-Focused Conservation initiative. NRCS staff also discussed funding strategies going forward and answered questions from some of the more than 70 watershed and conservation organization representatives who attended. Webinar hosted by MWCC on March 7, 2019. To see the Montana NRCS office’s new Long-Range Planning document, which includes a Long-Range Planning Template, click here.
In the watershed world, there are a few topics that are guaranteed to be discussed at every gathering: drought/flooding, best local brewery, and stream gages. At a recent meeting of the Musselshell Watershed Coalition, the group took a close look at gaging stations – how they work, who uses them and how, and who pays for them and how.
Montana’s stream gage network is supported by a hodge podge of payers and, as a result of recent state budget cuts, a number of stream gages were scheduled to be shut down. While United State Geological Survey (USGS) is primarily responsible for gage maintenance and data, the many stations throughout Montana are financially supported by cost share agreements between USGS and state agencies, tribes, or private entities. What the 2017-2018 shut offs brought to light is the lack of coordination in the various purposes and funding schemes for different stations as well as the ill defined gaging station beneficiaries. Shut offs came with limited advance notice and resulted in significant public outcry.
Gaging station information is public and readily available. There is currently no method for assessing who uses the information and for what purpose. We anecdotally know that many economic sectors from agriculture, energy, to outfitting use gaging station information to assess landscape conditions for business purposes. Even more local governments and community organizations use information to assess climate conditions and plan for changing circumstances, including ecosystem vulnerability and emergency response. Historical data collected by these stations is critical for the purposes their data is used. Without this information, we’re essentially blind.
While budget cuts have caused a serious threat to stream gages, one positive outcome has been the response that a broad stakeholder group has had to connect the dots on who, who, and where the needs are for sustaining the gaging network. Even the Water Policy Interim Committee has paid special attention to the needs and solutions proposed by those who have stepped forward to offer their time and ideas. With the help of state agency partners- MT FWP, DNRC, USGS, local watershed organizations, and citizens, the group is digging into the answers to critical questions on how to maintain this critical data for present and future decision makers at every level.
Here are some stream gage network high points, boiled down:
There are 211 stream gages in Montana that are part of the US Geological Survey (USGS) Stream Gage Partner Network.
Gages measure stream height and then compute streamflow using a variety of continuously changing data sets.
Gages cost money – on average, $18,080 for a year-round gage and $12,700 for a seasonal (7-month) gage.
We all use the data from stream gages, from everything from studying how fish migrate to alerting residents of rising floodwaters.
We all help to pay for the stream gaging program – some help more than others.
“Let me count the ways.”
“Gages are essential to us to manage the river and to set priority dates.” – Craig Dalgarno, Musselshell River Water Commissioner.
On the Musselshell River, there are two things that we think about first – water rights and flooding. And, gaging stations are essential when our daily decisions factor water rights and flooding into the mix. But as our Chief Water Commissioner, Peter Marchi, said, “[Stream gages] are a phenomenal resource.” He meant for everything related to water, not just water distribution. Here is a quick list of the uses for gaging stations that we discussed:
Entity
Use
Water Distribution Project
Water Measurement and Tracking for distributing water rights
National Weather Service
River Forecasts, drought monitoring, weekly exceedance levels
DNRC
Water distribution and maintenance for state owned projects; assists watershed groups with drought planning; fisheries management; peak flow for floodplain mapping.
FWP
Informing fisheries management – monitor in-stream flow water rights; fishing restrictions and closures; recreation management; reservoir management; study fish migration
DEQ
Utilized in project specific scenarios for pollutant loading; permitting; restoration planning and design
DES
Life-saving notifications of high water; develop action plans for any given event (trigger points for when to start protecting infrastructure and when to notify residents)
Recreation
Stream flows for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, etc.
Bureau of Reclamation
Monitoring reservoir levels, water accounting, studies
Watershed Groups, State and Local Agencies
River Studies, broader understanding of the water resource
Arguably the most critical use is for emergency planning and notifications. On May 31, Roundup was hit by a hailstorm that brought baseball-sized hail and a downpour to a very localized area. This caused the Musselshell River to rise 3.5 feet in less than 8 hours. Musselshell County DES Coordinators had their hands full. Because of previous floods, they knew at what gage height what roads, bridges, and public and private property would start to flood. As they watched gages, they issued warnings to residents on the river to begin moving livestock, equipment, and to make evacuations if necessary. They warned of road closures and called on the County road crew to begin protecting infrastructure. Coordinator Justin Russell linked the stream gage websites to his social media account, and after information on the May 31 hailstorm and flood event was posted, there were more than 22,000 visits to the site, this not only saved thousands of phone calls to his office, but it also made the information easily available. Justin says, “Upstream gages are our best friends.”
This is not an exhaustive list, but we are working to get there, because, as Bill Bergin, Jr., a Musselshell River landowner and Musselshell Watershed Coalition board member says, “gaging stations are critical for being next to the river.”
These conversations are happening all over the state, including a group comprised of local, state, and federal partners that are collaborating to devise a solution to the ever-present issue of how to fund the stream gages. There is a complex network of partners who fund gages. On average, the breakdown across the state for funding is:
Following the lead of Jen Downing, Big Hole Watershed Committee Executive Director and Montana Watershed Coordination Council board member, this group has proposed a draft resolution for a study bill that will look at the many aspects of gaging stations. The group is also considering a bill that will formalize its activities to maintain the information sharing and coordination needs that were identified through this funding crisis. Coordination of stream gage information is more complicated than it seems at first. What the group wants to ensure is that in the future, we will be better informed and prepared to make difficult decisions about stream gage locations and priorities. The group is also committed to exploring new funding mechanisms that build on the importance of the network to generate the financial support needed to maintain it. In tough budget times, we need to be prepared to make tough decisions and to equitably share the burden of maintaining the information we need. With the broad scope of stream gage beneficiaries, we should be able to justify the funding. What we need to maintain is consistent education and awareness about the importance of the stream gage network. These stations are more than data stored away on a computer or a website. The information collected is used daily by real Montanans upholding their livelihoods. Check out this draft to see what the study is proposed to consider, and consider attending the next WPIC meeting on September 10-11.
Contact Montana Watershed Coordination Council to find out the latest that is happening with this group.
The Beaverhead Watershed Committee, Ruby Watershed Council, and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks put together a video chock full of information about bioengineering approached for streambank stabilization. To check out the video, click here.
After a summer of intense wildfires that left more than a million acres burned in Montana alone, the role local conservation organizations can play in making their communities resilient and prepared in the face of natural disasters is becoming more and more important. Check out this great blog post from the River Network about the role of local conservation organizations in disaster management, and then read a new report from Headwaters Economics that outlines planning tools and strategies to reduce Montana’s wildfire risk.
The MWCC Watershed Fund is helping our community-based conservation partners complete on-the-ground projects to benefit natural resources, conservation stewardship, community health, and local livelihoods. Through a partnership with the Montana Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Watershed Fund has provided more than $405,000 in small Project Support grants since 2018. This funding has supported 17 local conservation organizations in achieving community conservation goals on private lands.
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