Last month we said farewell to our amazing 2025 Big Sky Watershed Corps members, Leigh Lyter and Jeremy Wood. We’re so proud and grateful for the meaningful contributions they made to the Task Force, from water monitoring to coordinating community events like the Gallatin River Cleanup and Fly Camp. Before they left we asked them to reflect on their term. Read their Q&As below.Â
Don’t be afraid to try new things! Serving with GRTF pushed me outside my comfort zone in the best ways, and those experiences led to growth, confidence, and meaningful connections.
GRTF: What inspired you to work with GRTF as a Big Sky Watershed Corps Member?
Leigh Lyter: I was inspired to serve with the Gallatin River Task Force as a Big Sky Watershed Corps member because I value working within a close-knit community that is deeply connected to its local watershed. Big Sky’s strong sense of place and collaboration stood out to me, and I believe contributing to conservation efforts in a community where people care deeply about their environment would be both meaningful and rewarding. Also, the task force staff is a small and mighty team, I was grateful and proud to work alongside them.
GRTF: Was there a favorite / memorable / watershed moment or experience during your internship? List as many as you’d like.
Leigh Lyter: Throughout my term with the Task Force, I experienced many memorable watershed moments. One of my favorites was leading the Runoff Cleanoff Event, where the community removed 185 pounds of dog waste over three days to prevent pollution in the Gallatin River. I also enjoyed educating boaters along the Gallatin Canyon on Clean, Drain, Dry practices to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species. Additionally, the algae monitoring efforts throughout the Summer were especially memorable, allowing me to collect important data while working in some of the most beautiful areas of the watershed.
GRTF: How will you take your experiences w/ GRTF with you to the next phase of your career?
Leigh Lyter: Serving with a six-person nonprofit in one of Montana’s most tourist-heavy towns taught me invaluable lessons about community, stewardship, and grit. Through hands-on work in water quality monitoring, algae sampling, trash cleanups, and community outreach, I saw how the Gallatin River Task Force champions protection of the Gallatin River. I will carry forward the importance of collaboration, adaptability, and community driven conservation as I move into the next phase of my career.
GRTF: Is there a Gallatin River creature or feature you’re especially drawn to? Why?
Leigh Lyter: I love the drive along the canyon between Gallatin Gateway and Big Sky. Watching the watershed change through the seasons and knowing that each Task Force event added new memories to that drive made it especially meaningful. Every pullout has a story tied to a place, a project or a moment of stewardship along the Gallatin River.
The Task Force has set me up well for an upcoming master’s degree. I learned a lot about collecting and analyzing data, working with collaborators, and dealing with the unexpected in scientific field work.
GRTF: What inspired you to work with GRTF as a Big Sky Watershed Corps Member?
Jeremy Wood: (I’ll preface this by saying that with BSWC we don’t choose our host sites, so I didn’t really choose GRTF, they placed me here but I was very excited about that placement.) I was inspired to work with GRTF because of their science based watershed conservation work. I saw a great opportunity to give back and help steward the land, while also gaining experience towards a field that I want to pursue. Upon meeting the team for the first time, I knew I was in the right spot.
GRTF: Was there a favorite / memorable / watershed moment or experience during your internship? List as many as you’d like.
Jeremy Wood: My favorite experience was leading the water quality monitoring events. Seeing the whole process through from start to finish gave me so much great experience in how scientific field work is performed, and helped me to better understand a key component of watershed health. Leading volunteers during these events was also great, I felt much more confident in my knowledge and abilities through teaching others, and I loved being able to teach the importance of clean water.
GRTF: How will you take your experiences w/ GRTF with you to the next phase of your career?
Jeremy Wood: GRTF has set me up well for an upcoming masters degree. I have learned a lot about collecting and analyzing data, working with other collaborators, and dealing with the unexpected in scientific field work. It also really helped me figure out the direction that I want to take my career in for the future since I really enjoyed the work that I did, and had many opportunities to volunteer on other projects.
GRTF: Is there a Gallatin River creature or feature you’re especially drawn to? Why?
Jeremy Wood: I’m really drawn to the mad mile on the Gallatin. I grew up whitewater kayaking, but as an adult I didn’t live very close to much whitewater and didn’t have the means to go for a while. The Gallatin was the first river I had paddled in years, and the mad mile during runoff was an exciting section to really get back into it.
