Events
11/9: Celebrating 20 Years of the Gallatin Watershed Council, 5:30-8:30 pm, Emerson Ballroom, Bozeman
GWC turns 20 this year! Celebrate the work of your local watershed group with an evening of food, drink, and family-friendly contra dancing. Mingle from 5:30-6:00 p.m., learn about our story from 6:00-6:30 p.m., and enjoy contra dancing, food, and drinks from 6:30-8:30 p.m. RSVP and more details below.
12/5: Wastewater Treatment Plant and Wetland Treatment Tour, 1:00-2:30 pm, Bozeman Reclamation Facility
The Bozeman Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) treats the City’s domestic, commercial and industrial wastewater. Over 98% of conventional pollutants are removed in the treatment process before being discharged into the East Gallatin River.
Join GWC in a walking tour of the WRF led by City staff and wastewater treatment wetland experts for two important perspectives on wastewater treatment.
Past Events
10/3: Watershed Interpretive Signage Bike Tour, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Hop on your bike to tour the watershed interpretive signs! This 6-mile bike loop will stop at several signs installed around Bozeman's city parks. Topics include wetlands, stream function, hydrology, canals and ditches, and watershed 101. We’ll have local experts share more about what these systems look like in our watershed, the impacts of nonpoint source pollution, and stewardship opportunities. Plus, we'll have an optional gathering afterward at Lockhorn Cider. Cheers!
The United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Montana Association of Conservation Districts have funded this tour. The signage project is a partnership between GWC and the City of Bozeman.
9/27-29: Apple Picking for the Backyard Blend, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday afternoon.
Lockhorn Cider presses and crafts neighborhood apples into a specialty local hard cider, the "Bozeman Backyard Blend." This delightful cider, made from a diverse blend of hardy local crabapple and heirloom varieties captures the majestic flavor and community spirit of our beautiful Big Sky Country, and a portion of the proceeds from the Backyard Blend benefit the Gallatin Watershed Council! Please contact Anna with Lockhorn Cider at anna@lockhorncider.com to pick apples at a beautiful old orchard up Sypes Canyon.
June-September: Tree watering at Gallatin County Regional Park or Lewis and Bark Dog Park, weekly
Want buff biceps without the pricy gym membership? Your help watering is essential to the survival of newly planted trees and shrubs, AND you can do it on your own schedule. Locations include Gallatin County Regional Park, Mandeville Creek at Bozeman High School, and Lewis and Bark Dog Park. Got a group? Great! Many hands make light work.
Volunteers' hard work pays off: Thanks to dedicated volunteers, all 58 trees and shrubs planted at Gallatin County Regional in 2023 survived a hot and dry summer.
9/21: Fall Gallatin Watershed Cleanup, 2:00-4:00 pm, and a volunteer season celebration.
Join us in cleaning up trash across the entire Lower Gallatin Watershed! Volunteer from 2 to 4 p.m. and celebrate at Lindley Park with ice cream sundaes, drinks, and prizes afterward. Announcements and raffles will begin at 5 p.m. You can sign up as a team leader or team member across the valley. See you there!
This cleanup event is hosted with the Gallatin River Task Force, who stewards the Upper Gallatin Watershed.
9/10: Tree Wrapping along the East Gallatin River, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Wrap trees with GWC and the National Wildlife Federation to protect large cottonwoods from beavers at a future wetland restoration site. Although beavers play an invaluable role in our streams and rivers as ecosystem engineers, sometimes beavers and humans don't always get along. This way, beavers can live peacefully with landowners and still perform their vital role in the ecosystem, creating fish habitat, slowing and spreading flood waters, and improving water quality.
The future restoration project is located 10 minutes from Bozeman and will create or enhance over two acres of wetlands designed to improve the water quality, contribute to cool, late-season flows, and improve wildlife habitat.
8/14: Lakeshore Cleanup, Friends of Hyalite x Gallatin Watershed Council, 6:00-9:00 pm, Hyalite Lake
Friends of Hyalite and the Gallatin Watershed Council are partnering to host a summer Lakeshore Cleanup in Hyalite Recreation Area as a part of the Friends’ Summer Stewardship Series. This beautiful recreation area is the most heavily visited recreation area in Montana! Volunteers do not need to sign up and will meet in the main lot at the Hyalite day-use boat ramp (Hyalite Day Use Boat Ramp, NF-62, Bozeman, MT 59718). The Forest Service will provide gloves, trash bags, and magnet sweepers. There will be cold beverages to enjoy after cleaning up. See you there!
7/11: Lindley Park Tree Planting, 9:00-11:00 am, Lindley Park
Plant trees at Bozeman’s favorite park with GWC and the City of Bozeman Forestry Division! These 15 trees will be planted under the Canopy of Branch Out Bozeman. Tree species include red and white oak, and black locusts to increase canopy and shade within the park. The new trees will bring age and species diversity and replace recent tree removals. Want to learn more about managing urban forests? Alex Nordquest, City Forester, will share at the beginning of the event.
7/8: Mandeville Creek Maintenance Day #2, 9:00 am-12:00 pm, Bozeman High School
Mandeville Creek is a small urban stream that flows through Bozeman, passing through Montana State University and Bozeman High School (BHS) campuses. As an urban stream, Mandeville Creek faces various water quality challenges. In Fall 2024, volunteers planted native shrubs and trees on a section of the creek to provide erosion control, shade, water quality improvements, and fish and wildlife habitat. We will be mulching, pulling weeds, and adjusting cages so these plants can be successful. Last Tuesday, BHS and GWC staff maintained half of the stretch, and we will complete it Monday, July 8. See you there!
6/27: Farmer’s Canal Tour, 5:30-7:00 pm, Bozeman
Ditches and canals play a defining role in the hydrology of the Gallatin Watershed. Take a tour of Farmer's Canal with GWC, led by Susan Duncan from the Association of Gallatin Agricultural Irrigators (AGAI). Learn about the fundamentals of water rights, what it means to live in a “closed basin” that has been “over appropriated,” why our irrigation network is so important, and how Farmer's Canal impacts the welfare of City of Bozeman residents.
6/26: Tree Planting on W. Oak St. Median, 1:00-4:00 pm, near Gallatin County Regional Park
Let’s beautify a road median! Plant trees in the W. Oak St. median under the canopy of Branch Out Bozeman in partnership with GWC and the City of Bozeman Forestry Division. These trees will shade pavement to reduce the urban heat island effect. We’re looking for 6-8 folks to help out.
6/20-21: Riparian Planting (Phase 2), 4:30-8:00 pm, Gallatin County Regional Park
We’ve got 65 plants to get in the ground and are looking for 15-30 volunteers—it will be a party! Join the Gallatin Watershed Council, Craighead Institute, and Sacajawea Audubon Society to enhance wildlife habitat, improve water quality, and increase shade along the small creek that runs through the Gallatin County Regional Park. These 65 plants will join 58 shrubs and trees planted in 2023.
6/12-13: Gallatin Stream Teams Volunteer Training
Learn about water quality, get involved in your community, gain technical skills, and get outside! Participate as a Stream Teams volunteer and join a group of citizen scientists who sample water quality across the watershed. Data collected by Stream Teams helps maintain a long-term dataset used to track watershed health, ask research questions, and inform management decisions. The two training dates are Wednesday, June 12th, 4:30-7:30 pm and Thursday, June 13th, 1:00-4:00 pm. Spots are full for 2024.
6/7: Plant Harvesting at Thompson Mine, 1:00-5:00 pm, Bozeman Pass
Help restore a small stream that runs through 30,000 cubic yards of old coal mine tailings by harvesting 75-100 shrubs at the Thompson Mine Reclamation Site. These plants will be used to revegetate a section of a stream on Bozeman Pass. The stream flows into Rocky Creek, which is impaired for sediment. This property provides critical habitat for elk and beautiful views. We’re looking for 10-15 volunteers.
5/30: Water Treatment Plant Tour, 1:00-2:30 pm, Bozeman
The Water Treatment Plant provides the citizens of Bozeman with a safe and dependable drinking water supply. The City of Bozeman has been supplying water to city residents since 1889.
Ever wonder where your drinking water comes from, and how it gets treated? Well, fill up your water bottles and join the Gallatin Watershed Council on a tour of Bozeman's Water Treatment Plant. If you missed the event last year, check out our recap here!
5/22: Lewis and Bark Tree Planting, 3:00-5:00 pm, Lewis and Bark Dog Park
Plant four trees at the Lewis and Bark Dog Park under the canopy of Branch Out Bozeman in partnership with GWC, the City of Bozeman Forestry Division and a fellow community member who fundraised for the trees. The goals of BOB are to protect and enhance areas of Bozeman’s urban forest that have the greatest impact on water quality, social equity, and the urban heat island effect. These trees will provide much needed shade and pretty spring flowers to the dog park. We’re looking for 6-8 folks to help us get these trees in the ground!
5/20: Mulch & Maintenance Day at the Gallatin County Regional Park, 5:00-6:30 pm, Gallatin County Regional Park
The 58 trees and shrubs planted last year need some TLC before they face their second summer at the Gallatin County Regional Park. Help GWC, the Sacajawea Audubon Society, and the Craighead Institute spread mulch to prevent weeds choking out the new plants. We’re looking for 4-5 folks to lend a hand to get it done!
5/18: Spring Gallatin Watershed Cleanup, 2:00-4:00 pm followed by a celebration at Bozeman Pond Park Pavilion.
It is time for the official kickoff of volunteer season! Join a team and remove trash from our local rivers, streams, and wetlands across the entire Gallatin Valley. Celebrate afterward with tasty food, cold drinks, and prizes from event sponsors! This event is friendly to people of all ages. More details to come. If you have a location in need of spring cleaning, submit it here!
5/2-3: Give Big Gallatin Valley, 6:00 pm-6:00 pm, 24-hour period, online and in-person
Give Big Fest is an in-person event hosted by the One Valley Community Foundation that provides an opportunity for folks to meet many nonprofits serving the Gallatin Valley! Come say hello Thursday, May 2nd at 5:00 pm at Ferguson Farm.
Online giving: 2024 marks GWC's 20th year of showing up as a voice for water in the Gallatin Valley. We're kicking off a campaign to raise $20,000 for our 20th year with Give Big! Giving starts at 6:00 pm this Thursday. Thank you for supporting collaborative watershed stewardship.
4/26: Arbor Day Tree Planting at North Meadows Park, 12:00-3:00 pm, Bozeman
Plant trees under the canopy of Branch Out Bozeman in partnership with GWC and the City of Bozeman Forestry Division at North Park Meadows. The goals of BOB are to protect and enhance areas of Bozeman’s urban forest that have the greatest impact on water quality, social equity, and the urban heat island effect. We have more upcoming tree planting events— we will see you then!
4/20: Tree Giveaway at the Gallatin Valley Earth Day Festival, 10:00 am-3:00 pm, & “Get to Know the City’s Forestry Division”, 2:00-3:00 pm, Gallatin County Fairground
If you want more native plants around town, stop by our table at the Festival and take home a seedling Ponderosa Pine or Big Sagebrush! These small but mighty seedlings will one day add shade and habitat to your backyard.
The City of Bozeman’s forester, Alex Nordquest, and GWC’s Lilly McLane partner up to explain the responsibilities of the City’s Forestry Division in maintaining our urban forest and how the community can help.
4/17: Pint Night for the Gallatin County Regional Park Riparian Plantings, 6:00-8:00 pm, Last Best Place Brewing
Support the riparian planting events at the Gallatin County Regional Park this summer by drinking a beer at Last Best Place Brewing! The project is a partnership between the Craighead Institute, Sacajawea Audubon Society, and Gallatin Watershed Council. This is the second phase where we’ll plant 65 native species to enhance wildlife habitat, improve water quality, and increase shade for park users in addition to the 58 planted in 2023. Additionally, there will be a raffle to support the project.
4/4: Earth to Beer Release Party, 5:30-7:30 pm, MAP Brewing Co.
Join us for the release party of MAP’s collaboration beer with Earth To Beer. The Hoppy Blonde Ale supports clean water and producers in the Lower Gallatin Watershed with locally sourced malt and donations to GWC. This beer is part of a national Earth Day campaign that raises funds for environmental organizations across the country. We'll have raffles and giveaways at 7 pm. A portion of the proceeds will be going to the Gallatin Watershed Council. Cheers!
Bozeman Dog Poop Cleanup, 3:00-5:00 pm, greater Bozeman area
This event is postponed due to snow. Please reach out to TrailAmbassador@gvlt.org with any questions.
Join us in cleaning our furry friends’ #2 across the Lower Gallatin Watershed before our favorite trails get busy and May showers wash harmful nutrients into our rivers and streams. This event is hosted in partnership with Outside Kind and the Gallatin Valley Land Trust. We are looking for 45-60 volunteers to grab a scooper and a bucket. Plus, volunteers can get a free beer token because good beer = clean water!
3/28: Trout, Drought, and Floods: How Trees Impact the Gallatin Watershed, 6:30-8:00 pm, Bozeman Public Library
From forested mountain slopes to hilly draws and ribbons of streams across our valley, trees follow water on its journey to the Gallatin River and beyond. Trees are one of the most impactful components of watershed health from their canopy down to their roots. Restoration Director Lilly McLane will tell us why during a speaker series leading up to Gallatin Valley Earth Day: Under On Canopy - Celebrating Trees and Forests. While touching on other ecosystems, this talk will primarily focus on riparian areas, what they do for us, and a shared vision for streamside management that can help ensure a sustainable future in the Gallatin Valley.
Watershed Community Calendar
This calendar has events from the Gallatin Watershed Council and partner organizations. These events are located across the Lower Gallatin Watershed in Bozeman, Belgrade, Manhattan, Gallatin Gateway and beyond.