Article by Emily Casey, Big Sky Watershed Corps member, Gallatin River Task Force
Images by Rich Addicks, Photojournalist and Gallatin River Task Force board member

Did you know, the average person in Big Sky consumes about 125 gallons of water per day in winter and use triples during the summer with irrigation use? Currently, Big Sky lacks a community-wide water conservation program but with a future forecasting drought conditions and a 2044 buildout projection: it’s time to start thinking about how much water we use every day.

The Task Force is working to develop a water conservation plan for Big Sky to ensure our community has an adequate drinking water supply in the face of future drought conditions and climate change.  Big Sky community members are important stakeholders moving forward with this effort and we want your voice to be heard.  

Take our Water Conservation Awareness Survey and help determine which water conservation programs should be implemented in Big Sky in the near future. If you have any questions about this initiative, please contact Emily Casey, our Big Sky Watershed Corps Member, at emily@gallatinrivertaskforce.org.

Water is a beautiful and vital resource. Help us to determine how best to care for the Gallatin River Watershed now and forever.

On a smaller but still significant scale, the you can take the following measures everyday to conserve water in your home, office, or school:

• Turn off the tap while lathering hands for hand washing and while brushing teeth
• Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket
• Reuse your towels
• Only run the dishwasher and clothes washer at full loads
• Use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic for your drinking water

For 100 tips on how you can conserve water, visit: Water Use it Wisely.

Let’s work together to ensure clean and abundant water in our taps and in the Gallatin forever.