Moose Creek

A riverside trail, boat ramp, kayak launch, and stairway protect streamside habitat and provide sustainable river access, an important medium for preserving this incredible river.

Status

Complete

Location

Moose Creek Flats Recreation Area, Gallatin River

Estimated Cost

$300,000

Background: The Task Force has a long-term partnership with the Custer Gallatin National Forest to chart the course for sustainable river use along the Upper Gallatin. Our first project at Moose Creek Flats Recreation Area targeted severe erosion and streamside vegetation damage. Following the Moose Creek, we restored the Upper Deer Creek site in 2021 and we are now focusing on the Porcupine and Beaver Creek area.

Project Description: The Moose Creek project broke ground in fall 2017, restoring a heavily trafficked public day-use area and campground suffering from severe erosion and streamside vegetation damage. We rebuilt a failing streambank, restored native vegetation, and installed designated access points to benefit river health and public safety for generations to come.

Before and After

A large eroding streambank was contributing excess sand, mud, and clay to the river threatening the fishery.

Moose-creek_improvements-web-revised copy

3,700 willow plantings were used to stabilize the streambank.

Results:

Stabilized 145 ft. of streambank using bioengineering (vegetation and natural materials) techniques
Planted 10,939 sq. ft. of floodplain vegetation
Built 1,000 ft of trails, one boat ramp, and one terraced kayak launch
Installed 1,460 ft. of riparian fencing
Three educational interpretive signs installed to educate on river ecology, recreation etiquette, and aquatic invasive species