Last spring and fall, many hardworking volunteers and a Montana Conservation Corps field crew got their hands dirty at Spring Creek Farms. We planted, 160 quaking aspens and chokecherries 3,700 willows along a half-mile stretch of Spring Creek near Manhattan. Volunteers and MCC crew members also did their best beaver impressions and built 20 post-assisted log structures (PALs).

On May 16th, over 130 volunteers gathered at 12 local parks, trails and roads in the Lower Gallatin Watershed to pick up 1,212 lbs of trash at our Spring Watershed Cleanup, a GWC tradition. This event brought people of all ages together over a common goal of protecting the watershed from pollution in our beloved public spaces.

The Gallatin Watershed Council is excited to be working with Tim and Nick Venhuizen to restore almost 3 miles of creek on their family-owned and operated farm, just south of Manhattan. Spring Creek Farms is our biggest restoration project to date!

During the 2025 Legislative Session, Montana House Bill 664 revised the state’s water quality standards by repealing “numeric” nutrient criteria and requiring the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to return to enforcing “narrative” standards in Montana’s rivers and streams.

Significant progress is underway to update maps of the interconnected network of streams and ditches that feed the Gallatin Valley. 

The Gallatin Watershed Council is excited to be working with Tim and Nick Venhuizen to restore almost 3 miles of creek on their family-owned and operated farm, just south of Manhattan. Spring Creek Farms is our biggest restoration project to date!

When I think of a healthy stream, I think of a meandering one, shaped continuously by the landscape it moves through. Its banks, floodplain, soils, rooted plants, and other living communities all influence how the channel adjusts over time. In a healthy system, a stream's connection to its floodplain is maintained through periodic flooding, which supports a diversity of habitats and opportunities for life.

Take a deep dive into one of Bozeman’s core local businesses! Lockhorn Cider prioritizes local ingredients and community engagement each step of the way. Read on to learn more about their commitment to the Lower Gallatin Watershed!

September’s Watershed Spotlight is Russell Conti, a graduate student at Montana State University and a River R.A.T. rockstar! Read on to learn about his passion and vision for the Lower Gallatin Watershed.

Wild Joe*s and Paridae truly do it all — from protecting local water, to supporting clean energy, and to reducing waste. See how these small businesses are giving back in big ways in the blog!

In July, GWC is highlighting Gallatin Stream Teams volunteer Kim Fauls! Read on to learn why Kim loves living and volunteering in the Gallatin Valley.

GWC and our volunteers have been busy planting at our restoration sites this spring. Much of this work has been possible because of our new volunteer program, the River R.A.T.s (Restoration Action Team). This year, 45 community members committed to showing up throughout the season and were trained to plant trees, cut willow stakes, and build beaver mimicry structures. Their familiarity with these restoration techniques has helped us get more done, improve the quality of our work, and bring added leadership to planting and maintenance events. They were joined by seven businesses and organizations and many individual volunteers. Together, this dedicated group contributed over 1,000 hours of work along our streams and city parks, planting over 450 trees and shrubs and harvesting and staking 10,000 willow cuttings. 

So why are we spending so much time on revegetation?

From planting over 6.5 million trees worldwide to leading as a certified B Corp, Oboz truly walks the talk. Want to learn more about Oboz’s sustainability initiatives? Check out the blog!

May’s Watershed Profile features volunteer and River R.A.T. Jessie Thompson! Find out what inspires Jessie to volunteer and what she loves about the Lower Gallatin Watershed.

Jared Trilling, Project Manager and Ecologist, shares the full circle story of the Thompson Mine.

Katherine Berry, Water Policy Manager, toured irrigation ditches with Kevin Haggerty, longtime Gallatin Valley resident. Read Katherine’s story and how ditch infrastructure serves more than the agricultural producers of our watershed.

Read the first-hand account of an Eagle Scout who just wrapped up her planting project with GWC at McLeod Park.

Learn about the story behind the Lewis and Bark tree planting! This blog is written by Nancy Harris, a volunteer who is stewarding the trees.

January’s Watershed Profile features volunteer London Bernier! Learn more about London and how she plays, works, and volunteers in the Lower Gallatin Watershed.

October’s Watershed Profile features volunteer Nate Heili! Learn more about Nate’s engagement with GWC and love for water through his blog.