Based on a review of best available science from the past 10 years, and data collected by the Gallatin River Task Force, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued a preliminary determination that the middle segment Gallatin River is impaired.
If you have spent time along the Gallatin, you have undoubtedly seen for yourself or heard the chatter about long, stringy green algae growing on rocks throughout the river. This is an algae called Cladophora glomerata (Cladophora). Cladophora is naturally occurring...
The indigenous Shoshone people that first called this area home, called the Gallatin, the “Cut-tuh-o’gwa” (swift water) while conservationist and future President Teddy Roosevelt camped and enjoyed the Gallatin at Beaver Creek in 1888, along today’s 191. This history...
As you’ve likely noticed, a wide-spread, bright green algae bloom yet again took over our backyard waterway. From the upper reaches of the Taylor Fork to downstream of Portal Creek, filamentous vegetation covered the river-bottom rocks. At first glance, the algae is...
A majority of residential and commercial developments in Big Sky operate on septic systems, posing a significant threat to Gallatin River health. Credit: Chris Kamman A healthy Gallatin River begins in your home. On its way to the Gallatin River, water from rain and...
The 2018 algae bloom was the talk of the town this summer. While we wait for our results and analysis, we wanted to answer some of the questions that we’ve heard around town. We developed a webpage with answers to 21 common questions about algae and water quality.