2026-2029
Strategic Plan
We have a bold plan to protect, restore, and inspire stewardship of the Upper Gallatin River and its associated community water resources. Our program areas of monitoring, restoration, water conservation, and advocacy & outreach work together to create a holistic and nature-based approach to conservation rooted in science, best practices, and community collaboration. Scroll down to read about our four priorities.Â
Make a positive impact on the Gallatin today.
Priority 1
Protect & Restore the Gallatin River
The Gallatin River is the lifeblood of this region, supporting wildlife, clean water, recreation, and the quality of life that draws people here. Right now, it is experiencing pressures from many directions. Increased development and unmanaged recreation are causing riverbank erosion and habit degradation, while the effects of a changing climate—like worsening drought and earlier snowmelt—are contributing to lower flows, warming water, and nuisance algae blooms. To address these issues, we are moving beyond individual projects and into a phase of comprehensive restoration and river protections to ensure the Gallatin remains healthy for generations.
Water Monitoring
What We Will Do
- Finalize and disseminate the results of the nutrient/algae study.
- Complete baseline aquatic insect assessment.
Why It Matters
Utilizing these comprehensive results will directly inform future restoration and advocacy efforts.
Restoration
What We Will Do
- Complete restoration at 21 river access sites between the Yellowstone National Park boundary and Spanish Creek.
- Complete the Porcupine/Beaver Creek Restoration Project.
Why It Matters
Restoring 39 miles of the mainstem Gallatin River and 124 acres of critical streamside habitat strengthens the river’s ability to support fish and wildlife, clean water, and recreation.
Advocacy & Outreach
What We Will Do
- Continue our work on a Wild & Scenic designation for Upper Gallatin River by launching a campaign advocating for the passage of the Greater Yellowstone Recreation Enhancement and Tourism Act.
- Continue to advocate and build support for improved wastewater treatment in Gallatin Canyon.
- Advocate for and support annual fish counts.
Why It Matters
These efforts are critical to the long-term health of the Gallatin River by achieving the highest level of federal permanent protection, improving water quality to reduce algae growth, and reliably tracking fishery health.
Priority 2
Protect & Restore the West Fork
The West Fork of the Gallatin River is a vital tributary that supports cold-water fisheries, clean water supply, and the ecological health of the broader Gallatin system. Like the mainstem, it is experiencing increasing pressures—historic logging, rapid development, and a changing climate have contributed to streambank erosion, sedimentation, and declining water quality and quantity. Three streams within the West Fork system are now recognized by the state of Montana as impaired. We are moving beyond site-specific fixes and toward coordinated, system-wide restoration to restore streamflows, improve water quality, stabilize streambanks, and protect this critical tributary.
Water Monitoring
What We Will Do
- Replace 4 stream gauges in the West Fork watershed to improve the accuracy of streamflow measurement.
- Collect annual water quality data in impaired waterways.
Why It Matters
Improved streamflow and water quality data allows us to precisely target restoration and advocacy efforts and accurately assess the impact of our programs.
Restoration
What We Will Do
- Finalize the comprehensive West Fork Master Restoration Plan (WFMRP).
- Complete at least three restoration projects from the plan.
Why It Matters
Restoring 30 miles of the West Fork tributaries and over 100 acres of critical streamside habitat is essential for improving water quality and ecological health in this vital cold-water tributary.
Advocacy & Outreach
What We Will Do
- Support the effort to connect the Firelight Meadows subdivision to centralized sewer.
- Track and participate in county and state policy development that will impact the health of the West Fork and its tributaries.
Why It Matters
Reducing the impact of septic systems on water quality and nutrient loads, and reducing impacts from development will protect the critical West Fork waterways.
Priority 3
Preserve Our Water Supply
Reliable water supply is essential for the health, safety, and resilience of our community, providing drinking water, supporting wildfire protection, and sustaining daily life. Our water resources are under growing pressure from development and a changing climate, leading to low late-season stream flows and strained drinking water supplies. We are moving beyond short-term solutions toward comprehensive strategies that secure a reliable, resilient water supply for people and rivers.
Water Conservation
What We Will Do
- Increase water conservation services and participation.
- Strengthen collaboration among Big Sky water providers to maximize water conservation outcomes.
Why It Matters
Empowering residents, businesses, and visitors to reduce water use can save between three to five million gallons of water annually.
Advocacy & Outreach
What We Will Do
- Work with new developments and subdivisions to reduce water use.
- Collaborate with Gallatin County on drought planning to strengthen community preparedness.
- Increase and optimize water metering across the community to achieve greater water savings.
- Continue to advocate and build support for water recycling that benefits water supply.
Why It Matters
The community needs a unified, proactive plan in order to manage water scarcity, secure long-term supply, and safeguard public drinking water sources and streamflows.
Priority 4
Engaged River Stewards
An informed and engaged community is essential to protecting the Gallatin River—its health, resilience, and the benefits it provides—and real, lasting change happens when people understand and care for it. Despite the community’s deep connection to the river, there are gaps in awareness and understanding of critical water issues and solutions. When awareness is low, the river is vulnerable to impacts from irresponsible recreation, unchecked sources of pollution, and a lack of unified community support for necessary policy changes. We are working to address these gaps and strengthen river stewardship by educating the public and expanding the network of individuals and organizations invested in safeguarding the Gallatin.
Advocacy & Outreach
What We Will Do
- Annually convene stakeholders to inform and implement action items from the Big Sky Headwaters Plan.
- Reduce pollution from horse manure in collaboration with outfitters and land managers.
- Grow community and youth engagement by utilizing the new Strategic Education & Outreach Plan to prioritize future programming.
- Explore the feasibility of a community septic rebate/education program.
Why It Matters
Empowering community members to build a permanent culture of river stewardship through responsible recreation, sustainable practices at home, and informed engagement in local water decisions is a critical in order to safeguard the Gallatin and our community water resources.Â
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