Learn about GWC’s activities and accomplishments in 2020.

The Gallatin Watershed Council’s 2021 Annual Meeting took place in late January and left us with warm hearts and appreciation for our watershed community. In lieu of the in-person gathering and connection that would typically take place, the community came together virtually.

We are happy to announce that the Western Cafe has been selected as the 2020 Super Business Steward of the Year!

Send in a video giving thanks to the Watershed!

GWC was recently granted $30,000 from the Bridger Foothills Fire Relief Fund to assist landowners in implementing postfire resource conservation best management practices. These funds will go a long way in rehabilitating areas that are most susceptible to erosion, sediment loading and weed infestation, however, requests for post-fire rehabilitation from landowners are more than three times the funding that is available.

As the year begins to come to a close, we're reflecting on the resilience we've witnessed throughout our community. The last eight months have allowed us the time and space to consider what is truly important. Here at GWC, cold, clean, abundant water continues to rise to the top of the "truly important" list. Whether for drinking, for irrigating local food, for recreating, or simply for providing solace from a crazy world, our rivers and streams continue to provide for us.

Last Friday, volunteers met up at the East Gallatin Preserve and wrapped 800 feet of wire around 160 trees to protect from beavers!

GWS for Business equips businesses with the tools necessary to be good watershed stewards. Learn more about our new program!

GWC has had a busy September! Thanks to new grant funding we were able to hire Lilly Deford and Holly Hill on as staff. Holly is transitioning from contracted Watershed Coordinator to Executive Director and Lilly is transitioning from Board Vice Chair to Director of Restoration.

This past weekend, the Gallatin Watershed Council and the Gallatin River Task Force teamed up to host the second annual collaborative Gallatin River Clean Up! In the Lower Gallatin Watershed, we had over 110 community members participate in the clean up, cleaned up 13 sites in the greater Bozeman area and collected a total of 900 pounds of trash! This equates to 20 river miles that are now clean and clear thanks to YOU!! We are so proud of our community for coming together and working to protect the watershed we all love.

You can help improve the health of the Gallatin River and ensure that Highway 191 provides safe passage for people, wildlife and fish!

GWC staff recently visited the site of our April 2020 Earth Day willow planting volunteer event and were delighted to see the banks holding! The over 4,000 willows planted by volunteers are rooting extremely well.

The Gallatin Watershed Council launched our Steward Passport program on Saturday through a community art project along Bozeman Creek. Our new Steward Passports aim to connect families with local watershed stewardship opportunities.

The Gallatin Watershed Council celebrated Earth Day by safely planting 4,000 willows alongside the East Gallatin on Wednesday! With the help of a handful of wonderful community volunteers, we were able to enhance the riparian corridor and floodplain capacity of two vulnerable stream banks on a private landowner's property.