May 2024 Art Walk

Join MWCC and Helena artist Jeff Van Tine for a night full of fun and laughter at the MWCC office on Fuller Ave this Friday, May 10. Doors will open at 4pm. View the Artwalk map.

Theme: Watersheds support our working lands

In Montana we know that our landscape and the natural resource issues managers are trying to tackle occur at a spatial scale that can be hard to conceptualize. Jeff’s large images help us step back and contemplate the vast spatial reach of our industrial and human activities and boldly suggest that each watershed in which we live does a great service to our human communities; by supporting and absorbing everyday impacts taking place on Montana’s landscape.

Biography

Jeff Van Tine’s extraction photography provides a sharp focus on many of this planet’s environmental shortcomings in the hands of individuals, governments, and corporations alike. The choice of large photographs draws the eye, saying: “Look here, this is important.”

A large lump of coal and a penny is initially confusing, drawing the viewer to seek interest in the back story. A photo of a pickup truck in a large flat area in the middle of nowhere gives the viewer an idea of how much space is needed to drill an oil well and opens the discussion about surface rights. A photo of what looks like a huge swimming pool with colorful flags helps start a discussion about fracking. Why was the fracking waste shipped by tanker trucks from the Blackfeet Reservation to the Valier area, with Dupuyer Creek just down the hill? Why were they reinjecting the fracking fluid just south of the reservation boundary? The reason was, the Blackfeet Nation has a law banning reinjection of fracking waste on the reservation. The State of Montana has no such law.

Van Tine’s work shines a light on the visuals of the extraction industry and seeks to start serious discussions about the environment, climate change, and the steps we must take to tend the exhaustive extracting from our planet.

Jeff grew up in the century old artist community of Arden, near Philadelphia, growing up visiting the diversity of museums between Washington D.C and New York City. He still enjoys doing long visits to art museums wherever he travels in the US and abroad. Van Tine’s father and grandfather shot a lot of pictures with “Stereo Realist” cameras. In 5th grade he received a camera for Christmas. His brother received a skateboard. His brother went flying off the skateboard, Jeff captured the excitement and he has been hooked on photography ever since.

Jeff has worked with The Northern Rockies Action Group to bring non-profit environmental organizations in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming into the computer age. His computer and photography skills gave him a huge head start into the age of digital photography. After working in the computer industry for many years, Jeff accepted an invitation to teach photography at Carroll College and did for 14 years. Initially his students shot, developed, and printed film. In the his third year he was tasked with creating a curriculum for digital photography.

Currently Jeff is concentrating on providing Pro Bono photographic services to non-profit environmental organizations.

Support MWCC and other wonderful nonprofits around the state by participating in Montana Shares’ 30th Annual Raffle! Tickets are $10 for 1 ticket, $25 for 3 tickets, $40 for 6 tickets, or $100 for 18 tickets! Please be sure to have all tickets and check to Montana Shares before Sept. 11, 2024.

As our yearly Thanksgiving tradition, if you can call it that after two years, MWCC is reflecting on what the holiday means to us. Expressing gratitude, sharing local foods, and spending time with friends and family are top of the list. So is the understanding that this holiday – recognized by some Indigenous people as a National Day of Mourning – is part of our nation’s foundational history of genocide, land theft, and forced cultural assimilation of Indigenous peoples. We’re considering how this history and how we choose to celebrate Thanksgiving informs our work and relationships, and how we can use this knowledge to right historical wrongs. We’re also remembering that November is Native American Heritage Month. This holiday season, please join us in reflecting on these themes and considering how we can decolonize Thanksgiving as well as our conservation work.  Here are some resources and articles that may help.

New Resources

• Thanks-taking: Unspoken Words podcast
  • Unspoken Words is a podcast by Native American hosts Josiah Hugs (Apsaalooke), JC Beaumont (Apsaalooke/Nakoda) and Randy Bear Don’t Walk (Apsaalooke) that discusses the issues of Indigenous peoples with insight, experience and humility.
• A Thanksgiving Message from Seven Amazing Native Americans

Shared last year

• Don’t Trash Thanksgiving. Decolonize it. by Zenobia Jeffries Warfield
• Decolonizing Thanksgiving and Reviving Indigenous Relationships to Food by M. Karlos Baca
• Food Sovereignty is on the Menu This Thanksgiving by Salish ethnobotanist Rose Bear Don’t Walk
• Allyship with Our Native Community (2nd article on the page) by Crystal White Shield, Director of Community Organizing and Equity at the Missoula Food Bank & Community Center

Weathering staff and leadership transitions can be a daunting challenge for any small organization, especially for small nonprofits. But proper planning, transparency, investment, and collaboration can allow any organization to address change one step at a time. Working with the theme of “Cultivate”, MWCC Board Chair, Zach Owen, joined Montana Nonprofit leaders at the Montana Nonprofit Association Annual Conference as a guest panelist to highlight leadership transition pitfalls, opportunities, and tips and tricks.

And Cultivate was an appropriate theme. As MNA advertised, “Cultivation is the process of intention, growth, renewal, and transformation. By focusing on the essentials, we create space for big things to thrive.” Zach highlighted a few essentials for any leadership transition:

• A leadership transition doesn’t end with the new hire – Make sure new staff and new leaders are supported as they make their way through the first 30, 60, or 90 days
• And remember, we are all just people trying to achieve our missions. None of us are perfect, but if we step back and give ourselves time to plan for tomorrow we can find success while major transitions are afoot. 

So how can small organizations continue to cultivate during leadership transitions? Join MWCC Board Chair Zach Owen to discuss and learn about MWCC’s experience with leadership transitions from start to finish; from transition planning, to post-hiring, and all the way through staff onboarding.  Zach will lead this Conservation Conversation on January 17th, 2024 at noon. Register here!

The Montana Watershed Coordination Council (MWCC) Board of Directors is pleased to announce Amy Seaman as its next Executive Director. Seaman succeeds outgoing Executive Director Ethan Kunard and will lead MWCC in fulfilling its mission of uniting and supporting Montana’s community-based conservation networks to promote healthy and productive watersheds. Since the early 1990s, MWCC has played a critical role in removing barriers and coordinating the work of various conservation entities and interests towards common goals and values.

Amy comes to us with over fifteen years of experience supporting bird, wildlife, and natural resource conservation efforts in Montana and the west and brings a broad knowledge of our state’s exceptional watershed resources. She served on the MWCC board 2015-2021 and has been part of the watershed community since the start of her most recent role as Montana Audubon’s Director of Policy & Science. Having seen many of Montana’s vast spaces and working lands, and having a strong understanding of the policies behind natural resource management, Seaman is in a strong position to support the mission of MWCC. Her educational background includes a B.S in Environmental Science from Boston University and an M.Sc. in Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno.

“MWCC has a strong foundation and board, and we’ve been building support for watershed stewards across Montana,” said Zach Owen, Chair of the MWCC Board of Directors. “Amy has a lot of passion for Montana’s landscapes and the water and people that connect them. We’re excited to have her back at MWCC, this time as the leader, and to work with her on the future of MWCC and our support of Montana’s watershed communities.”

The opportunity to continue driving conservation and partnership of all types forward is a prime motivating force behind Seaman’s work. “I am ready to continue the positive inertia MWCC has built with Montanans in all geographies of the state. There is a strong foundation of community building, and I look forward to expanding that work,” she says. Having spent 10 years conversing with partners in the field, Seaman is excited to connect as the MWCC Executive Director in a new way with the many players, working to conserve Montana’s most precious resources.

The position will be based in Helena and will begin on August 14, 2023.

Support MWCC and other wonderful nonprofits around the state by participating in Montana Shares’ 29th Annual Raffle! Tickets are $10 for 1 ticket, $25 for 3 tickets, $40 for 6 tickets, or $100 for 18 tickets! Please be sure to have all tickets and check to Montana Shares before Sept. 13, 2023.

By: Michelle McGree

I am an ardent supporter of fish, fish habitat, and healthy watersheds. Seeing habitat restoration transform a landscape to something nature can support, and that supports humans, too, feels like magic. But recently I asked myself, have I been admiring the gift without asking where it came from?

In 2014 I joined Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) as a Program Manager of the Future Fisheries Improvement Program (FFIP). The main responsibilities of running a grant program were obvious: follow the rules and guidelines, release requests for proposals, and facilitate project funding. When I started with the FFIP, I immersed myself in Program history, statute, and administrative rule, and how to run the Program as efficiently and effectively as possible. I did, and still do, take the guidance seriously to keep the FFIP in compliance and doing exactly what it was meant to do – help fund impactful improvements to fish habitat. This is not a bad thing; it is a great way to keep the grant program in good standing.

Seeing the Bigger Picture
At a very basic level, my job as a Program Manager is to focus is on part of the restoration process for many, many projects, and not necessarily to know all the details, progress, challenges, and successes of each individual project. With that said, even though it’s not a requirement, I believe understanding more about each restoration project and the people involved makes me a better grant manager and restoration professional.

I haven’t always been that insightful. In a statewide position, without a solid tie to any one local community, it isn’t easy to understand how restoration truly works, or where it begins. Years ago, I would have defined pre-project work as design; something required for construction. Now I know that pre-project work means much more than that, and begins well before the drawings and engineers.

It Takes Capacity
Initiating projects – having conversations, building trust, identifying priorities, and developing ideas – isn’t what I focused on, or really understood. To local biologists and project partners, this part of project planning is probably obvious, but I’d argue that it isn’t always clear to a grant program manager. I didn’t truly grasp the value of a starting point, and didn’t realize how challenging it was to fund these things. How do you pay for people to build trust with a landowner? Those things just happen, right?

I’d like to say that I learned these things solely by administering grants, but I didn’t. I expanded my view of restoration thanks to MWCC. Having deeper conversations at MWCC events and tours and serving on the Board of Directors opened my eyes to how restoration happens from start to finish, as well as the struggles and support needed to get all of it done. I was aware of local partnerships and the role of FWP biologists, but I didn’t really understand the dynamics. I got to know the handful of people that run an entire watershed group, conservation district, or nonprofit for far less money than they deserve. I met the people dedicating their lives to making their home watershed better, working side-by-side with local FWP field staff and so many others.

I learned that just because someone loves a watershed doesn’t mean that they should, or can, work for free. If these individuals don’t get paid sufficiently, the organizations don’t continue. And if they don’t continue, who are the non-governmental locals that help build trust with a landowner? Who are the people sitting at a kitchen table with a coffee talking about possible restoration work? A team is needed to get an idea to a design phase and beyond.

Planting the Restoration Seed
Through the FFIP we can’t pay for these organizations to operate. We can’t financially support the staff time for individuals to go from an idea to a ready-to-implement project, but it is in our best interest to see that happen. We want to fund impactful on-the-ground restoration. What we can do, however, is advocate for this important work in other ways, including support of organizations like MWCC to provide Capacity Support funding to these groups. We can raise awareness that capacity is not only important, it’s vital to seeing restoration happen across the state. We can use MWCC’s Theory of Change in these conversations.

At FWP, we prioritize fisheries habitat restoration as a critical part of wild fish management. We value restoration projects; through the FFIP we’ve funded over 800 projects since 1996. By doing all we can to support initiating ideas and building relationships, we can do much more down the road. It’s planting a seed knowing someday it will grow. MWCC helped me understand that concept, and I am now a better partner to the entire restoration community – truly supporting restoration from the ground up.

By: Zach Owen

Bear with me until the end; we might reach a positive note… 

The conservation work MWCC supports is collaborative. Community-based, local. Local leadership solving shared problems. This can result in lasting solutions, acceptable to all, though not perfect. This kind of work can be frustrating, and is also really rewarding. 

There are always problems to take on. Some people double down: more effort, let’s fix this! Burnout, anyone? For this type, subject yourself to a little cosmic insignificance therapy. But I’ll admit, that can backfire, sending you to a dark place…

In the last few years, more of us are confronting real existential threats. Global pandemics, catastrophic climate change, and more. If we go too far down this road, we wonder – is any of this worth it? Is there a future to save? Even without us mucking around, the Earth will eventually be uninhabitable. We do have a few billion years … in case that lifts your spirit. 

There are a few conclusions you could reach. Nihilism is one. If it all ends with our sun dying, assuming a natural or human-caused catastrophe doesn’t end us first, what’s the point of our work? Or anything at all?

Well, maybe there isn’t one. But…we’re still forced to live with ourselves. The “nothing matters, it’s all pointless!!” attitude takes many forms, none of them particularly enjoyable or useful. Joseph Campbell addressed this. If people are confronted with the knowledge that there’s no meaning, that things simply are as they are, won’t they just give up? Or worse, become violent or careless? Not necessarily. We still need to live with ourselves, to participate. Whether your participation is intentional or not, you participate simply by living your life. 

When confronted with the reality that things are as they are, and will end with the sun burning out if not long before, we still have the rest of our lives, and our children’s lives, on and on for hopefully hundreds of thousands of years. Maybe none of it matters in the end, but all the same we choose to take part. We participate. The goal in a pointless, utterly baffling endeavor like life, in Joseph Campbell’s opinion, is to participate with decency. As a human. In service to humanity. Because on some level it does matter, day to day, over a lifetime. Maybe it’s all a pointless game, but don’t you want to enjoy it? Shouldn’t you still play it well? Don’t you want everyone around you to suffer less, even enjoy themselves? 

From the highly controversial but none-the-less wise Teachings of Don Juan is an idea of choosing a path. I’m taking liberties, but the idea is that there are endless paths we can take, and all lead the same place: nowhere. Or I’ll add: death. So, choose a path with heart. It all ends the same, so why not choose a worthy path?

Another positive take is Effective Altruism and the 80,000 Hours website. These have changed my thinking. Barring an extinction event, the future could be really long. We owe it to future generations to leave a minimal mess to clean up, or even to set them up nicely. And we don’t need a bunch of money to do it. Well, it will take a bunch of money, but there are other people with all that money. For most, it’s the good we can do in our career, our hobbies, our day-to-day interactions.

And here we come to the point. When I think about career choices and how to live, I can’t help but run them through the “sun burning out” scenario. What if Montana is a desert in 200 years? Is all this feel-good watershed work pointless? Maybe the water aspect of it is. But what about the skills we’re learning? Collaboration? Creative problem-solving? Diverse groups finding solutions?  

The Watershed Approach:

• Is tied to a distinct land area or hydrologic boundary
• Ensures broad stakeholder involvement and inclusivity
• Is community-based and community-driven
• Relies on local leadership
• Encourages collaboration with partners in the watershed
• Strives for consensus, and avoids litigation as a conservation strategy

Discard the first bullet, and we have a durable approach that can be applied anywhere, any time. At the root of our jobs, aren’t these the skills we’re building? Even if the actual on-the-ground project work is wiped away by flood, drought, development or some other horseman (horseperson?), won’t those skills translate to any future problem? And while there is huge potential in the future, it’s hard for any of us to doubt there are huge problems coming. These skills do translate. 

Don’t you feel better now? It’s a matter of walking the line. We all need to participate. On some level, it really does matter. The future could be huge, and long. When you start getting overwhelmed with the details, treat yourself to a little cosmic insignificance therapy. A little perspective. Laugh about it. Then go for a walk. Remind yourself you’ve got to do something for the rest of your life, so why not something decent? Then back to work. 

During Thanksgiving this year, MWCC is reflecting on what the holiday means to us. Expressing gratitude, sharing local foods, and spending time with friends and family are top of the list. So is the understanding that this holiday – recognized by some Indigenous people as a National Day of Mourning – is part of our nation’s foundational history of genocide, land theft, and forced cultural assimilation of Indigenous peoples. We’re considering how this history and how we choose to celebrate Thanksgiving informs our work and relationships, and how we can use this knowledge to right historical wrongs. We’re also remembering that November is Native American Heritage Month. And we’re feeling deep gratitude for all the ways that Indigenous peoples have stewarded and cared for the lands now known as Montana since time immemorial – and all the ways they continue to do so today,

This holiday season, please join us in reflecting on these themes and considering how we can decolonize Thanksgiving as well as our conservation work.  Here are some resources and articles that may help.

• Don’t Trash Thanksgiving. Decolonize it. by Zenobia Jeffries Warfield
• Decolonizing Thanksgiving and Reviving Indigenous Relationships to Food by M. Karlos Baca
• Food Sovereignty is on the Menu This Thanksgiving by Salish Ethnobotanist Rose Bear Don’t Walk
• Allyship with Our Native Community (2nd article on the page) by Crystal White Shield, Director of Community Organizing and Equity at the Missoula Food Bank & Community Center

The Montana Watershed Coordination Council will join the rest of the world on Nov. 29 to strengthen our communities by participating in #GivingTuesday. Join millions of global givers by donating at our Individual Donor page. If you donate before November 30th, your contribution to MWCC will be matched thanks to the generosity of the Cinnabar Foundation. Your support will get us one step closer to our year-end goal of raising $15,000 – allowing us to continue implementing critical conservation programs! For updates on our  #GivingTuesday campaign, follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

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
• Revegetation of the construction area for a fish screen in Lolo Creek. BSWC member Maeve Holman completed this project for the Lolo Watershed Group.
• Fencing maintenance, cattle crossing fortifications, and revegetation of a site along the North Burnt Fork Creek, a tributary of the Bitteroot River. BSWC member Ellie DeVos completed this project for the Bitter Root Water Forum.

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 Big Hole Watershed Committee developed an upland and forest health restoration program.
• The Blackfoot Challenge is increasing the pace and scale of prescribed burning on public and private lands.
• The Lolo Watershed Group hired a paid coordinator to fund and carry out community conservation goals.
• The Musselshell Watershed Coalition established a Cooperative Weed Management Area to improve communication among diverse partners, better manage weeds, and increase treatment of invasives.

The Watershed Fund has also awarded nearly $225,000 in additional capacity-related funding to support professional development training opportunities, hosting Big Sky Watershed Corps members, and responding and adapting to the Covid-19 pandemic.

An additional $40,000 in direct Capacity Support is available for 2021-2022. For more details, see the Request for Proposals.

We thank the following funders who have contributed to Watershed Fund Capacity Support since 2019

Ksik Stakii Project, Blackfeet Nation

Jeff Ryan, Lewis & Clark Conservation District

Heather Mullee Barber, Bitter Root Water Forum

Loren Ruport, USFWS Partners Program

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.
• Creating a Beaver Mimicry Guidebook.
• Decreasing conflicts between beavers and humans by responding to complaints from community members with non-lethal strategies and holding “Living with Beaver” workshops.

Learn more about the Ksik Stakii Project and the Blackfeet Climate Change Adaptation Plan on the Blackfeet Country and Climate Change 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.

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.

Volunteer Monitoring Resources

The Montana Dept. of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Montana Watershed Coordination Council (MWCC), and MSUEWQ have been partnering to provide technical assistance to volunteer monitoring groups for over 10 years. MDEQ provides lab analysis funding each year as well as technical guidance on their website, MWCC has a who’s who in water monitoring website and has coordinated many trainings, and MSUEWQ has a variety of resources in addition to the Data Hub.

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.

More About Local Monitoring Efforts

The Sun River Watershed Group (SRWG) has collected an impressive dataset for nutrients spanning 20 years, which facilitated a nutrient trend analysis in 2017. These data indicate that certain tributaries contribute more nitrogen to the Sun River than others and that nitrate moving through groundwater is an important nitrogen source to the river. This volunteer-collected data has helped the SRWG identify project opportunities and continues to help inform their strategic plans moving forward.

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.)

Check out the great work 2020 Big Sky Watershed Corps (BSWC) members got done for watershed health across Montana. Emma Kelsick writes about building rain barrels with the Sun River Watershed Group, Grace Pierstorff of the Bitter Root Water Forum shares her experience teaching seventh-graders what a watershed is, and Reyna Abreu-Vigil takes us wading through streams to protect native fish habitat with Montana Trout Unlimited and the Lolo National Forest. Abigail Toretsky plants the seed(ling)s for conservation success with the Lolo Watershed Group and Lolo National Forest, Brooke Helstrom of the Gallatin Watershed Council finds and builds community with Gallatin Watershed Stewards, and Liz Shull shares her two-year BSWC journey, including her time as the member Team Leader for Montana Conservation Corps.

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:  

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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/.

To learn more about the people behind the restoration, check out the Montana Watershed Coordination Council’s Broadwater County Watershed Stories web page: https://mtwatersheds.org/app/watershed-stories-broadwater-cd/

For each stop of the 2019 Fall Watershed Tour a Big Sky Watershed Corps member wrote a blog post. 

• Collaborative Conservation in the Big Hole Watershed by Emilie Lahneman
• A restoration Success Story in the Beaverhead by Lacey Gunther
• Coming Together in the Ruby Valley by Liz Shull
• A Glimpse of the Centennial Valley
• Reducing Risk in the Jefferson by Mark Werley
• The Gallatin Watershed: A Story of Stewardship and Collaboration by Zane Ashford

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. 

by: Laura Nowlin, Sep. 6, 2018

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:

1. There are 211 stream gages in Montana that are part of the US Geological Survey (USGS) Stream Gage Partner Network.
2. Data for those stream gages can be found here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/
3. Gages measure stream height and then compute streamflow using a variety of continuously changing data sets.
4. Gages cost money – on average, $18,080 for a year-round gage and $12,700 for a seasonal (7-month) gage.
5. We all use the data from stream gages, from everything from studying how fish migrate to alerting residents of rising floodwaters.
6. 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:

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.