2021 IAWP Busy Beavers Program Successes
GWC and the Sacajawea Audubon Society came together in April 2021 and established a 6 month pilot program called the IAWP Busy Beavers. IAWP Busy Beavers is a long term volunteer team that provides community members an opportunity to take care of rivers and streams within the Lower Gallatin Watershed and at the IAWP, meet other community members, receive free educational workshops, deepen their understanding of watershed health, and to get outside. No prior experience is necessary to be a volunteer, and all ages are welcome.
The pilot program proved very successful. Learn more and sign up for next season below!
48 recruited IAWP Busy Beavers as of December 2021
1 volunteer training event
4 educational workshops (Wetlands 101, Beavers & Conservation, IAWP Restoration Plan, and Wastewater in Bozeman)
Weekly piezometer and groundwater monitoring with over 10 volunteers trained
2 invasive weed pulls, 1 burdock removal, 2 watershed-wide cleanups
2 tree planting events (over 300 trees planted)
1 beaver mimicry project
1 volunteer appreciation event
First training in June.
Busy Beaver workshop on wetlands with Lilly McLane.
Busy Beaver workshop on Beaver mimicry with Amy Chadwick.
Weed Pull at the IAWP.
Piezometer monitoring!
Workshop at the IAWP with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Brooke & Heather pose in front of the dumpster after the Annual Gallatin River Cleanup.
More piezometer monitoring.
Heather exploring the wetland during piezometer monitoring.