The big hole watershed committee will update their watershed restoration plan centered on enhancing the hydrologic resilience and improving water quality within the big hole watershed in western…

The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a $297,831 Project Grant under the Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CFDA 15.554) to the Big Hole Watershed Committee, a non-profit organization in Montana. The grant will fund the committee's efforts to update their watershed restoration plan for the Big Hole watershed, which is critical habitat for the last fluvial population of Arctic grayling in the lower 48 states. Key activities include digitizing and consolidating existing water data, analyzing and mapping the watershed to identify potential restoration projects, and engaging stakeholders to finalize the updated restoration plan. The plan will provide a list of projects to increase natural water storage and promote watershed resilience in the face of drought and water quantity variability. This collaborative, stakeholder-driven watershed management initiative aligns with the program's focus on developing local solutions to complex water resource challenges.

The big hole watershed committee will update their watershed restoration plan centered on enhancing the hydrologic resilience and improving water quality within the big hole watershed in western montana. The big hole watershed, which is impacted by drought and wide variability in water quantity, is a stronghold for the last fluvial population of arctic grayling in the lower 48. Through this project, the committee will digitize and consolidate existing water data, analyze and map the watershed to characterize potential watershed restoration projects by type and anticipated benefits, and engage with stakeholders to write a final updated watershed restoration plan. The restoration plan will provide a list of projects to be pursued throughout the big hole watershed to increase natural storage and promote watershed resiliency. The committee represents ranching, sportsmen, conservation groups, recreation interests, outfitters, local governments and utilities, local businesses, and landowners.