The gallatin river task force will develop restoration-focused planning and project designs for the upper gallatin river watershed in southwest montana, near bozeman

The Gallatin River Task Force received a $290,014 Project Grant from the Bureau of Reclamation's Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CWMP, CFDA 15.554) awarded on June 9, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2028. The grant supports the development of restoration-focused planning and project designs for the Upper Gallatin River Watershed in southwest Montana. Primary deliverables include field data collection, drone aerial mapping of stream conditions and tributaries, identification of restoration projects, development of best management practices, and stakeholder engagement activities. The Task Force will complete the West Fork Master Restoration Plan and advance 3-5 prioritized project designs that address critical watershed management challenges including sediment reduction, pollutant filtration, groundwater infiltration enhancement, expansion of wetland and riparian buffers, and fish passage improvement.

The award leverages a collaborative stakeholder model that brings together nonprofit organizations, private entities, local governments, state agencies, and federal partners to address the impacts of climatic variability, drought, and land use on the Upper Gallatin River system. By combining technical assessment activities with multi-sector stakeholder coordination, this grant supports the development of implementable restoration solutions designed to improve water reliability and ecosystem health in the region.

Because of climatic variability, drought, and impacts from land use, projects are needed that reduce sediment inputs, filter pollutants, slow the flow of water through the system to encourage groundwater infiltration to support late season baseflows, expand wetland and riparian buffers along streams, and support fish passage. The task force will do this through field data collection, drone aerial mapping of existing conditions along prominent streams and their tributaries, identification of restoration projects, development of best management practices, and stakeholder engagement. The task force brings together nonprofit, private, local, state, and federal entities with an interest in water management to complete the west fork master restoration plan and advance 3-5 project designs prioritized through previous planning efforts.