Enhancing Riparian Habitat and Improving Water Quality of Mandeville Creek through a Community Urban Tree Initiative

This project supported Bozeman’s urban forestry initiative, Branch out Bozeman, which aims to protect urban waterways from stormwater runoff as part of its vision of an urban forest that promotes a healthy, resilient and equitable future for the watershed, wildlife, and people of the greater Bozeman area. This stretch of Mandeville Creek runs through the grounds of Bozeman High School – a highly visible location that offered the opportunity to engage students and teachers not only with the project itself, but also with monitoring and maintaining it into the future. Kori developed a five-page, site-specific Riparian Maintenance and Stewardship manual for the school, which several teachers have incorporated into their curricula. Working with Trout Unlimited, the Gallatin Local Water Quality District, the City of Bozeman Forestry Division, teachers, and both high school and middle school students, Kori planted 75 trees and shrubs along 500 feet of Mandeville Creek. The project also will serve as a permanent educational resource for teachers and students.