Ryen Neudecker Receives Montana Watershed Stewardship Award 

Ryen Neudecker’s visionary restoration work has helped transform  the Blackfoot River and its tributaries. During her 21 years with the Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited (BBCTU), she has partnered with more than 150 landowners and dozens of public and private partners to restore or enhance 120 miles of stream, 200 miles of streamside habitat, and 3,000 acres of wetlands. As part of BBCTU’s “ridge top to ridge top” approach, Ryen also works on upland watershed conservation priorities related to grazing, historic mining activities, road sediment, invasive species, undersized culverts, and improving irrigation practices.

Ryen and her many conservation partners have meshed landowner, community, and biological needs to complete an astounding amount of work in service of watershed health in the Blackfoot:

• Habitat restoration projects completed on 88 different tributary streams in the Blackfoot watershed
• 25 fish screens installed to facilitate fish passage and prevent native fish species from becoming trapped
• Grazing management systems to support watershed health established on 55,000 acres
• 40 cubic feet per second of water flow conserved
• Native Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Bull Trout populations substantially increased throughout the watershed between 1989 and 2022
• On Nevada Creek alone, Ryen’s work has prevented between 3,000 and 4,000 tons of sediment from entering the creek and the Blackfoot River each year

Building Understanding

Just as important as Ryen’s on-the-ground restoration accomplishments is the holistic, community-based approach she takes to the work. Partnerships are the key to BBCTU’s conservation efforts, and she has forged important relationships with landowners, state and federal agencies, nonprofits, municipal governments, private donors, and others. Each year, Ryen organizes and leads youth field tours for local students. She also leads BBCTU’s volunteer program, engaging members in service opportunities that benefit streams and riparian areas. Ryen serves as an ambassador for the Blackfoot River, speaking with high-level government and elected officials, academic institutions and non-profit conservation organizations to gain support for BBCTU’s work. 

Ryen believes that the key to a successful restoration program is collaborating with a diverse team of partners. She also believes that sound science must guide her habitat conservation priorities. This approach helps ensure that projects meet multiple objectives for landowners and natural resources.  In the end, this contributes to watershed resiliency in a “working lands” landscape. 

Recognizing a Holistic Approach

In recognition of her successful, innovative, and inclusive conservation work, the Montana Watershed Coordination Council (MWCC) has selected Ryen as a 2023 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 co-hosted by MWCC and MWC on Wednesday, April 26 at the Holter Museum in Helena. The ceremony will be part of the 2023 MWCC Annual Meeting.