Dog Waste Cleanup Event - #2 was our #1 Priority!

On April 16th, 2021 in partnership with Run Dog Run, Republic Services, and the Bozeman Library, GWC hosted a Dog Waste Cleanup Event to address the issue of dog waste entering our waterways.

Over 30 volunteers participated covering 7 different sites around Bozeman, with a total collection of around 700 pounds of dog poop. This translates into the prevention of 147 pounds of nitrogen, 168 pounds of phosphorus, and 7 trillion colony-forming units of fecal coliform from entering our local streams.

Unlike the wildlife that occupies our watershed, our dogs eat nutrient-rich food produced by factories that leave behind phosphorus, nitrogen, e.coli, and various forms of bacteria when excreted. As the poo is carried to our local streams via stormwater runoff, we see the results in the Lower Gallatin Watershed - algal blooms from excess nutrients, the presence of e.coli in our water and soil, and the possibility for disease transmission amongst humans and pets.

Where does 700 pounds of poo go? After the waste is collected, it eventually ends its life cycle in a landfill - away from the water resources that we rely on for drinking, native habitat, and recreation!

Please remember that when you are out for a stroll with your pup to do your duty and pick up the doodie - and to remember to dispose of the bags once it is collected!

A big thank you to our partners for their supplies and support in making this event possible! We are also extremely grateful to the volunteers to came out and dedicated their time to protecting our watershed!

For more information on the impacts of dog waste on our watershed, click here.