A Cameron Creek Case Study: 2026 Restoration in Sula, Montana Meeting Diverse Bitterroot Needs Agriculture is a cornerstone of our Bitterroot communities, culture, and economy. Some agriculture practices, like flood irrigation, also play a critical role in water conservation in the Bitterroot. In fact, many farmers and ranchers are conservation-minded and opt for practices that…
North Burnt Fork Creek (NBF) is a beautiful Stevensville creek that flows into the Bitterroot River, and one of the largest tributaries on the east side. The creek originates in the Sapphire Mountains and winds through the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. NBF serves as a critical migratory corridor for fish, birds, and other wildlife…
This July the Bitterroot Water Partnership worked with the Bitterroot National Forest and Two Wolf Foundation to install over 30 ‘beaver dam analogues’ at our 150-acre Tolan Creek Headwaters restoration site. Here’s more on the how and why of all these dam analogues. Extreme fire and unusual floods destroyed hundreds of acres of wetland habitat. This headwaters was left suffocated in rock debris and…
A conversation with Dan Kerslake, Owner and Operator of Kerslake Ranch in Stevensville, MT; Father and Husband; Supervisor with the Bitterroot Conservation District; Friend of the Bitterroot Water Partnership. Photos taken by students from MAPS Media Institute. Alex: How has water shaped your life and experiences in the Bitterroot? Dan: Everything we do, our lifeblood…
Tolan Creek – The Bitterroot Water Partnership Fulfilling Its Mission By Doug Hatchimonji, BWP Board Member All rivers are a sum of their parts and the health of a river depends upon the health of its parts. And so, the Bitterroot River is the sum of her hundreds of tributaries high above the Bitterroot Valley…
Schoolyard Lessons: Growing the Next Generation of Stewards for Darby By: Ellie Ross The leaves are changing, the days are getting cooler, school is back in session and in Darby a new and exciting project has taken root and is growing. Behind Darby School students now find over 350 square feet of garden beds with…
Montana’s rugged history is full of wild stories about the lengths that people have gone to to protect their water rights and claims. In fact, if you were to compare any resource here in the Valley to liquid gold, it would be water! Water is a key part of every aspect of life in the…
It’s real, it’s dirty, and it’s a problem! We’re talking about sediment, those small particles of rock and soil that flow from land to water. Despite the small size of these particles, they contribute to a big problem in the Bitterroot. In fact, sediment pollution is one of the most common challenges faced by priority…
By Ellie Ross For the folks who live here, the value and importance of the Bitterroot may seem obvious. Look around the valley and you can gaze upon the jagged Bitterroot Mountains to the west, the gentler Sapphire Mountains to the east, the over 1.2 million acres of public land surrounding us, the River that…
January 2, 2024 For three decades, the Bitterroot Water Partnership has worked for clean, abundant water and healthy habitats in the Bitterroot Valley. Through active restoration and engaging watershed stewards, our work helps ensure enough cold water and thriving habitats for the people and wildlife in our Valley now, and into the future. Right now,…