Watershed Profile: Jennifer Abbott
Jennifer Abbott has resided in the Gallatin Valley for nearly 35 years and fell in love with Montana when passing through Bozeman at the tail end of a cross country venture to see the natural wonders of America. Many decades ago, she took a leave-of-absence from her job, bought a small, old motor home and she and a friend explored National Wildlife Refuges, National and State parks, BLM lands, and National Forests from coast to coast for nearly 9 months and has lived here ever since. She feels extraordinarily fortunate to live in such a healthy environment, with clean air, fresh water and breathtaking mountain views, and she is committed to protecting them. She and her husband have enjoyed extensive world travels but always feel a sense of gratitude when returning home, knowing that visitors from around the world come here for brief vacations, but they have the good fortune to live here year round. We are so thankful for Jennifer’s passion for the area and her time spent volunteering as an IAWP Busy Beaver! Read the Q&A below to find out more about our Steward of the Month!
Q&A:
1. What is your favorite thing to do within the watershed?
I live in the Horseshoe Hills north of Manhattan and cross the Nixon Gulch bridge at the confluence of the east and west Gallatin Rivers whenever I leave and return home. Every time I cross the bridge, I pause to appreciate the beauty of the river, the riparian habitat, the happy people recreating on the river and the stunning view of the Bridger Mountains where much of our water originates. It is a simple but profoundly grounding experience.
2. What excites you most about GWC's mission?
I am very much in tune with GWC’s mission to raise awareness of the need to treasure the water quality we enjoy here and to protect it in perpetuity so that coming generations will also be able to enjoy what we have.
3. What ongoing restoration projects/stewardship activities are you most excited about?
The establishment of Indreland Audubon Wetland Preserve is exciting because of the opportunity for everyone to learn about and enjoy the biodiversity of wetlands right in the heart of Bozeman. What an awesome place! And I love being a part of its restoration and protection by being a Busy Beaver.
4. What's your favorite book or poem?
Of course, it is an impossible task for me to name just one favorite book, but I especially enjoyed reading Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter by Ben Goldfarb because I learned how fundamental wetlands are to having cool, clean water in our rivers, as well as preventing or ameliorating floods and droughts. I have a much better appreciation now of what a bad rap beavers have suffered from.
5. What do you want the Lower Gallatin Watershed to look like within 5 years?
I’d like to see the expansion of wetlands around the valley and a wider public recognition of the benefits of actively protecting the water quality of our rivers and riparian habitats. With all the new construction and growing population, I'm hoping for the establishment of mitigation banks within the Gallatin Valley to offset the ecological impact of new development by compensating for wetland losses through preservation and restoration of other local areas to ensure there is a no further net loss of wetlands, such as we have been experiencing.