Gallatin River Task Force

Conservation is a value in and of itself. As conservationists, we can set an example of how to live in better harmony with nature, not to restrict or impair, but rather to give and preserve. At the Gallatin River Task Force, it is our goal to give the gift of the Gallatin to future generations. Driving that goal are a set of values upon which we base our work. In addition to our own organizational values, the Task Force adheres to the Watershed
Approach to conservation. We believe that taken together, these ethics will produce lasting, long-term solutions to the challenges facing the Gallatin River Watershed. THE TASK FORCE VALUES: Scientific Credibility: We are guided by science and best practices. Collaboration: We value partnerships in our work on water issues. Watershed Integrity: We work to ensure the integrity of a healthy river through protection and restoration. Conservation: We promote sustainable management of our water resources. Education: We believe in the power of education
and engagement to build river stewardship.

THE WATERSHED APPROACH: IS TIED TO A DISTINCT LAND AREA OR HYDROLOGIC BOUNDARY,
ENSURES BROAD STAKEHOLDER, INVOLVEMENT AND INCLUSIVITY IS COMMUNITY-BASED AND
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN, RELIES ON LOCAL LEADERSHIP, ENCOURAGES COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS,
STRIVES FOR CONSENSUS, SEEKS TO AVOID LITIGATION AS A CONSERVATION STRATEGY

GUIDED BY SCIENCE: AS IT HAS SINCE OUR FOUNDING, DATA WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE OUR WORK, HELPING US: PLAN FOR THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, MITIGATE NUISANCE ALGAE GROWTH, IMPROVE WATER QUALITY & CONSERVE WATER SUPPLY, RESTORE DEGRADED HABITAT AND MONITOR EVOLVING CONDITIONS

Our success is contingent on expanding our monitoring network to reveal unfavorable conditions and how we can improve them.

INSPIRED BY NATURE - DECADES OF DISTURBANCE HAVE LEFT OUR WATERWAYS FLOODED WITH POLLUTANTS.
BY ADOPTING A RESTORE, REDUCE, AND REUSE ETHIC, WE WILL IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY IN THE GALLATIN RIVER TRIBUTARIES BY: SUSTAINABLY MANAGING RIVER-BASED RECREATION BY COMPLETING 100
RESTORATION PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS IN THE GALLATIN CORRIDOR; RESTORING THE WEST FORK, SOUTH FORK, AND MIDDLE FORK TO STATE WATER QUALITY STANDARDS; EXPANDING WASTEWATER REUSE AND
RECYCLING OPTIONS THAT BENEFIT THE GALLATIN; UPGRADING WASTEWATER TREATMENT IN GALLATIN CANYON AND OTHER AREAS ON SEPTIC SYSTEMS; REDUCING CONSUMPTIVE WATER USE BY 33 MILLION GALLONS BY 2025
AND DECREASING STORMWATER RUNOFF THROUGH IMPROVED LAND MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND INCREASED
COMMUNITY EDUCATION

Because the Gallatin is such a special place, we must take every consideration to live sustainably in this headwaters ecosystem. DEVELOP AN ADVOCACY PLATFORM TO TAKE ACTION FOR THE RIVER, CREATE AN AMBASSADOR
NETWORK TO AMPLIFY OUR CONSERVATION MESSAGE, CREATE AND DISTRIBUTE INSPIRING COMMUNICATIONS AND CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE GALLATIN THROUGH HOSTED OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.

The Task Force is committed to leading. MORE GOALS ARE DETAILED IN REPORT...

1) Watershed Monitoring: Keep up to date and collaborate on other water research/data collection that is occurring in the Upper Gallatin Watershed. Develop and disseminate an annual water report assessing water data collected over the year and comparing the data to historical data.

2) Conservation: Build diverse partnerships to develop restoration projects with common goals. Facilitate on the ground restoration projects guided by sound science. Host an annual river clean ups in the Upper Gallatin. Partner with Montanans for Healthy Rivers to promote the designation of the Upper Gallatin River, Taylor Fork, and Porcupine Creek as Wild and Scenic.

3) Community Partnerships: Build diverse partnerships with watershed stakeholders. Work with partners to develop growth strategies that protect water quality and quantity. Facilitate water management/drought resiliency planning for the Big Sky Community. Actively participate in the Big Sky Conservation Partnership and Big Sky Natural Resource Council.

4) Education and Outreach: Work with local teachers to develop and implement curriculum on watershed science. Build community participation in Task Force events (monitoring, fly fishing festival, river clean up). Host booth at the Big Sky Farmer's market. Develop and facilitate two or more educational workshops annually on watershed topics as the needs arise. Develop informational brochures on watershed-wise land management to be distributed to new homeowners and renters. Communicate the value of the Task Force works in ways that are clear, consistent, and compelling.

5) Increase Organizational Capacity and Maintain a Sustainable Organization: Maintain an active and engaged board. Develop and implement annual budgets, fundraising plans, and work plans. Plan and implement the Gallatin River Forever campaign to meet staffing and project needs as described in this strategic plan. Develop a Volunteer Leader program to expand capacity of outreach and fundraising programs. Expand volunteer base to assist with monitoring, outreach, and other tasks

1) Watershed Monitoring: A team of Task Force staff, Board members, and volunteers routinely collect samples at the 16 water quality monitoring sites along the mainstem of the Gallatin River and its tributaries.

2) Conservation: The Task Force works closely with the Custer-Gallatin National Forest, private landholders, donors, and volunteers to restore and protect the Gallatin River.

3) Community Partnerships: The Task Force has partnered with a diverse group of stakeholders, including land conservationists, federal agencies, businesses, developers, volunteers, and others to help the community accomplish the organization's mission.

4) Education and Outreach: The Task Force hosts community outreach events such as the Gallatin River Fly Fishing Festival, workshops such as Stormwater Best Management Practices and Trout Friendly Landscaping, and in-service learning programs in the local schools.

5) Increase Organizational Capacity and Maintain a Sustainable Organization:

Between 2005-2010, the primary focus of the Task Force were activities related to the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) assessments funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and administered by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Once the TMDL assessments were completed in late 2010, the Task Force began to develop a watershed restoration plan for the Upper Gallatin to address issues identified in the TMDL assessments. A new program was developed to encompass and guide this planned restoration project work.

With the completion of the Upper Gallatin Watershed Restoration Plan in 2012, the Task Force began developing restoration projects guided by scientific data collected for the TMDL assessments and the Task Force monitoring program over the past 15 years. In the spring of 2015, the Task Force received funding for its first large-scale restoration project on the West Fork of the Gallatin River.

The Gallatin River Task Force's Strategic Plan, 2016 – 2020 built on 15 years of experience and success working to characterize, protect, and restore the waters of the Gallatin River Watershed. Now at 20 years in 2021 and with a new strategic plan through 2025, the Task Force protects this headwaters river which is part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The Gallatin is internationally recognized for its Class I fisheries, exhilarating Class III and IV rapids, and breathtaking scenery, making it one of the primary filming locations for the movie A River Runs Through It.

As the Task Force moves toward its third decade as the voice of the Upper Gallatin, we are seeing a convergence of threats that put our waters at risk in ways that are unprecedented. These include a shifting climate, lingering pollution problems, and a rapidly growing community with increasing demand for water supply and wastewater disposal with ecological damage along the riverbanks and riparian areas. The Task Force is responding to these challenges with the actions outlined in this Strategic Plan that we believe will restore and protect conditions of waterways within the Upper Gallatin Watershed. We remain alert to new opportunities and threats that emerge within the basin, and will respond appropriately.

In 2019, we closed our Gallatin River Forever capital campaign and in 2020 we celebrate 20 years of our work, looking to the next 20 years.. We’ve laid the foundation for organizational growth of water monitoring, restoration and conservation and allowing us to sustain our work. Through the support of hundreds of donors, notable foundations and local support: over $900,000 will or has gone go towards river conservation and restoration projects, water-quality monitoring, and expanded educational work and water conservation for a threatened watershed. The remaining sum ensures our ability to diversify funding across the region, expand our impact and reach, and launch the full implementation of the Big Sky Sustainable Watershed Plan.