This project was funded by a Capacity Support Grant from the MWCC Watershed Fund.
Project Description
To address population growth, climate change, increased development, changes in land use, increased recreation pressure, and other impacts to the health and well-being of the Three Forks of the Flathead River, FRA will engage a diverse group of stakeholders to develop: 1) coordinated and expanded water quality monitoring efforts and 2) a robust outreach and education program. Partners in this effort include Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park, USGS, Montana FWP, the Bureau of Reclamation, Flathead Conservation District, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, local outfitters, and nonprofits. This project will result in a better understanding of what services are most needed and how to expand education and outreach programming around nonpoint source pollution specific to the unique needs of the Three Forks.
Project Outcomes and Impacts
- 26 stakeholders actively participated in 10 meetings and two workshops.
- Developed a list of 30 stakeholders across the river basin, including organization names, websites, and descriptions.
- Developed a report, Flathead Headwaters: Building Capacity around Water Quality Monitoring, that includes: an overview of the watershed, what we know, relevant management and regulatory information, a reference guide to databases and stakeholder research and studies, data ranges to note, threats to water quality in the river system, and stakeholder priorities.
- Shared the results of this effort with community members and the public through presentations, social media posts, press releases, monthly newsletters, and on their website, flatheadrivers.org.