Today, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System protects 13,396 miles of 226 rivers across the country, including five rivers in Montana. The upper Missouri River and three forks of the Flathead River were protected in 1976, while East Rosebud Creek won protection in 2018. But that represents less than one-half of one percent of the nation’s, and Montana’s rivers that are protected. We can and we must do better.
How we (literally) get to the Gallatin impacts the health and sustainability of riparian areas, streamside habitat, vegetation, and the river in general. Well-worn, and sometimes rogue, access points are prevalent within publicly accessible forest lands along the Gallatin, creating the need for a host of restoration options.
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...
The Gallatin River Festival, held on June 29th and 30th, celebrated all that our watershed has to offer and brought in nearly $150,000 to support conservation and stewardship, as well as an additional $60,000 to complete the Gallatin River Forever campaign. A record number of river-lovers flocked to the rebranded, three-day event to enjoy food, music, spirits, and children’s activities at the outdoor fair on Saturday and bid big at the casually classy banquet on Sunday.
Big Sky Shuttle (BSS) owner Tracie Pabst donated $4,000 to the Gallatin River Task Force through the “Save the Canyon…Ride the Coach” campaign. The umbrella campaign, “Buck a Sale for Big Sky”, encourages businesses in Big Sky to support their favorite local non-profits. BSS collected money for the Task Force by donating one dollar for every luxury airport shuttle seat booked during the 2019 winter season.
The rebranded Gallatin River Festival will make a splash in Big Sky from June 28th to 30th, 2019 to promote conservation and stewardship of the Gallatin River watershed.
The Gallatin River Forever capital campaign has generated just over 1.1 million dollar to date including campaign costs, announced the Gallatin River Task Force.
The Gallatin River Forever public phase was launched in June 2018 with leading support coming from Madison County, Yellowstone Club, and Eric & Wendy Schmidt, as well as tremendous support from hundreds of local community members, businesses and foundations. The campaign is set to raise over 1.2 million dollars to conserve and protect the Gallatin River watershed by June 30th, 2019.
