Landowner Betsy, smiles among newly planted vegetation and happy volunteers.
As we wrapped up our project at Rocky Creek, we took time to interview our volunteers. Overwhelmingly, they told us they are looking for community and to get involved in restoration work. “Getting connected with our community and shared resources, and fostering a sense of responsibility has been deeply meaningful and fulfilling. It really doesn’t matter if you’re covered in muck when you’re with such amazing people,” says Ava, a senior at Montana State University in Ecology, a dedicated GWC volunteer and student.
“I really like hanging out with you all,” says Brittany, a long-term GWC volunteer and current Montana Conservation Corps Trail Crew Leader. Brittany says she joined MCC partly to make more friends, and brings her enthusiasm to many community restoration projects.
The generosity our volunteers bring is not limited to the Rocky Creek project. Many of these community members work in or study natural resources, conservation and engineering. With them, they bring knowledge and a commitment to helping us implement restoration, working together to plant trees and improve streams ecosystems. Passionate and knowledgeable volunteers make our local restoration projects possible. In return, volunteers gain community, hands-on experience, and confidence. Our landowners feel a similar sense of gratitude and community.
Betsy, the landowner at the Rocky Creek project expressed gratitude to everyone for helping restore the creek and improve the habitat for wildlife, including beavers, which have recently returned to this section of the watershed. “It’s just really great, having everyone out here,” she said, “This has been a dream of mine for a long time, and I’m really happy.” Her vision 15 years ago was to let the land recover and restore native trees and vegetation along the creek. Over the last 10 years, native vegetation has popped up and the beavers have moved in. These two things have been working together slowly to bring back a historic wetland. With the help of an additional 107 trees and shrubs and 600 willow stakes, we can’t wait to see a photo of this section of the creek in another 10 years. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Betsy and Trout Unlimited to implement this restoration project, and are thankful for our funding partners who made this possible.
The Rocky Creek Restoration Project was funded in partnership with the Montana Watershed Coordination Council (MWCC) Watershed Fund, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Thank you to our funders, volunteers, and community for supporting this work, and helping us continue a legacy of community engagement in impactful local restoration work.
Written by Ingrid Peters