Bighorn River Alliance

Bighorn River Alliance The Bighorn River Alliance is a non-profit organization that works to protect Montana's Bighorn River Numbers matter in conservation.

Montana's Bighorn River is the largest tributary to the free-flowing Yellowstone River and contains both a blue ribbon trout fishery located within the Crow Tribal reservation boundaries, and a warm water fishery downstream from the city of Hardin. Conservation challenges of the river are complicated with the path of the river which flows through two states, a sovereign nation and a national recre

ational area, and scientific monitoring and research on the system are limited. The Bighorn River Alliance recognizes that the Bighorn River is one of the least monitored river systems in the state of Montana, and works to fill that void through scientific investigations, monitoring and enhancement projects that benefit the fisheries and the river ecosystem. From long term monitoring projects pertaining to aquatic insects and water quality, flow management negotiations and advocacy, side channel reconnection projects and intensive mapping, BHRA is taking the lead in collecting data that will aid in the protection and enhancement of the River. If you fish the Bighorn River, please consider giving back to the resource by becoming a member of the Bighorn River Alliance (BHRA).

04/20/2026

Oh “Dam.” If you were on the river today you probably experienced flows increase to between 2,000 and 2,500 cfs for a brief period. The unexpected bump in flow was related to USBR switching from the sluicegates to radial gates at Afterbay dam. During the switch, one of the gage height sensors in the gage house got stuck which made the Casper control center keep increasing flows from Afterbay, when it shouldn’t have been. Crews have fixed the problem and flows are almost back down to their correct release of 1,580 cfs.

How can we be advanced enough to travel to the moon 🌖 , yet still struggle to predict tomorrow’s weather and river flows...
04/16/2026

How can we be advanced enough to travel to the moon 🌖 , yet still struggle to predict tomorrow’s weather and river flows? BHRA director Anne Marie Emery addressed these questions with the Magic City Fly Fishers of Trout Unlimited in Billings, when she and local FWP biologists were invited to speak on the “State of the Bighorn.” Emery highlighted the realities of forecast error and variable water years while sharing the ways BHRA works to strengthen the Bighorn River’s resilience in the face of such unpredictability.

04/16/2026

BHRA met with NPS today to discuss access roads and boat ramps, and areas we can work to help each other amidst the ongoing federal NPS hiring freeze - a freeze that has left them without an operator to help with services like road grading and access site mowing. The good news is that an outside contractor has been hired to smooth out the Three Mile Access road this spring- which we are hoping occurs sooner rather than later! In the meantime, drive slow and know that we are working hard to find solutions. ❤️

Bighorn River flows will decrease to 1,580 cfs today at 4pm, in response to dryer than average basin conditions, lower t...
04/16/2026

Bighorn River flows will decrease to 1,580 cfs today at 4pm, in response to dryer than average basin conditions, lower than average snowpack and low inflows. Like most of the west- it continues to be a low water year.

Local Bighorn Guides- you can now apply for your AIS station “fast pass” at the link below!
04/14/2026

Local Bighorn Guides- you can now apply for your AIS station “fast pass” at the link below!

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The Bighorn River Alliance is looking for a Membership & Office Assistant (Part-Time) to help strengthen the relationshi...
04/06/2026

The Bighorn River Alliance is looking for a Membership & Office Assistant (Part-Time) to help strengthen the relationships that make our work possible. This role is about more than administration—it’s about making sure every member feels valued, every donor is thanked, and every connection to the river is strengthened.
If you are organized, reliable, comfortable on the phone, and motivated to take initiative, we’d love to hear from you.

Job Title: Membership & Office AssistantOrganization: Bighorn River AllianceLocation: Billings, MontanaSchedule: Part-time (3 days/week, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; occasional additional hours may be required)Compensation: $20–22/hour, depending on experienceStart Date: April 2026This is a part-time hour...

03/30/2026

FWP will perform their annual population sampling of the upper Bighorn River earlier than in years past in consideration of below average river flows, and recreational anglers. Today and tomorrow the agency will perform their annual”marking run” of wild trout populations below Three Mile. They will return to perform their recapture runs on April 13 and 14th.

03/24/2026

River flows will ⬇️ to 1750 cfs today in response to continued dry ☀️ forecasts and climate prediction models. While we still have our 🌧️ wettest months ahead, the rate of snowmelt at high elevation sites coupled with storage needs of upstream dam projects an April-July inflow forecast (into Bighorn Lake) of just 612 kaf (49% of average). Commence the rain dances for the West!

03/10/2026

Time to start doing those rain/snow dances. Bighorn River flows below Afterbay decreased to 2,000cfs yesterday in response to actual and projected inflows & forecasts. We are hoping to see some 🌨️ moisture (especially up high) with the next system that rolls in, before temperatures continue their “☀️above normal” trend, next week.

A reminder that dry conditions persist along the Bighorn River and that much caution should be taken to prevent fires. T...
02/27/2026

A reminder that dry conditions persist along the Bighorn River and that much caution should be taken to prevent fires. This AM local community members saw a fire between the Afterbay and Three Mile Access. As of now BIA crews are working to keep it contained.
Photo courtesy of Denice Garrison

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Billings, MT

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+14065342915

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