Watershed Community Profile: Daria Alladio

This month we would like to highlight Daria Alladio through our Watershed Profile! Daria is a Busy Beaver and actively attends educational workshops and volunteer events. Her enthusiasm for making a positive impact in her community is contagious. Thank you for volunteering, Daria! 

Daria collecting water quality samples!

Get-to-know Daria: Daria first came to Bozeman in 2015 to climb Skyline Arete in the Gallatin Canyon while on an open-ended rock climbing/road trip out west.  She finally made the move from Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2019 with the goal of spending more time in the mountains.  

While living in the Boston area, Daria volunteered for over 5 years with the Mystic River Watershed Association and for 2.5 years with the Charles River Watershed Association.  As a year-round water quality monitor for both watersheds, Daria collected monthly water samples at various sites, and also recorded river and weather conditions.  Daria frequently participated in both river and park cleanups, native plantings, and both land- and water-based invasive species removal.  

Daria discovered the GWC's Busy Beaver program in 2021 and was excited to become involved with more watershed activities.  By way of the Busy Beavers, Daria has also become a volunteer for the Valley of the Flowers Project.  Daria is passionate about minimizing human impact and tries to be a model for reducing and reusing.

Read the Q&A below to continue learning more about Daria:

Q&A:

1. What is your favorite thing to do within the watershed? 

My favorite activity within the watershed is an afternoon of rock climbing in the Gallatin Canyon.  The adventure begins by walking along the Gallatin River until we break off and upwards.  After a long day on the rock, it is always so refreshing to stop to wash the dirt off my hands and face in the cool water.

2. What excites you most about GWC's mission? 

I appreciate that GWC's mission reinforces individual empowerment.  People often tell me that it doesn't matter what they do because one person can't make a difference in the grand scheme of things.  The truth is: we can!  Most people do care about the environment but they don't have the tools to affect change.  By acting as an example and sharing information, we can inspire our community.  Every little bit helps and it starts with the belief that things can and will improve.

3. What ongoing restoration projects/stewardship activities are you most excited about? 

A GWC email last winter caught my eye, "Are you passionate about compost and recycling"?  I knew the job was for me!  I was connected with Valley of the Flowers Project to help run the composting and recycling stations at the Bozeman Farmer's Market every Tuesday from June through September.  I loved teaching fellow community members and tourists about zero waste, and made some great friends who are also passionate about the earth.  Who knew digging through the trash could be so fun?!  I'm looking forward to going back this summer.

4. What's your favorite book or poem? 

I'm not much of a reader, but thoroughly enjoyed Memoirs of an Ex-Prom Queen.  It was one of the first and best pieces of fiction born of the women's liberation movement, raising America's consciousness.  I had never read a book in which I felt that that author put into words my exact feelings and experiences.  My favorite band is easy:  Watchhouse (formerly Mandolin Orange).  Spotify told me that I'm in their top .05% of listeners!!

5. What do you want the Lower Gallatin Watershed to look like within 5 years? 

In the next 5 years, I hope to see more members of our community becoming involved in the protection of the watershed that we all depend on.  I hope that we are able to find a sustainable path forward for supporting this constantly growing community.

Thank you for your stewardship, Daria!