Gallatin Stream Teams

Gallatin Stream Teams is a volunteer stream monitoring program operated in partnership between the Gallatin Local Water Quality District and the Gallatin Watershed Council. Since 2008, citizen scientists have tested water quality on streams across the Lower Gallatin watershed. Stream Teams data are being used by GLWQD, GWC, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the City of Bozeman, and others to assess the health of the watershed.

Please use the buttons below to view local surface water data collected by Gallatin Stream Teams, citizen science data collected statewide, and a blog about the 2025 season.

How to Volunteer:

Participating in Stream Teams is a great way to learn about water quality data, get involved in your community, gain technical skills, and get outside! Stream Team activities include collecting water samples for lab analysis, measuring stream discharge using a flow meter, and taking in-stream measurements of pH, specific conductivity, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen using an electronic meter. No prior experience is necessary to be a volunteer.

We host a mandatory training session for all volunteers in June. The minimum commitment to be a 2024 volunteer will be two shifts. Shifts range from a half-day (4 hours) to a full day (8 hours) and will be Monday through Thursday in the last week of each month. Volunteers add invaluable capacity to Gallatin Local Water Quality District and Gallatin Watershed Council fieldwork and need to fully commit to assigned dates and times.

Due to field conditions, physical ability requirements are required for the safety of volunteers and staff members. Please review the Surface Water Monitoring position description to self-assess whether you can safely volunteer in our local rivers and streams.

The 2025 interest form is open! Applications will be shared in Spring 2025. If you have any questions, reach out to Tess at tess@gallatinwatershedcouncil.org.