Bitterroot Water Partnership

10/13/2026

The community has spoken on the Sheep Creek Proposal and we hope the Bitterroot National Forest will hear us!

https://youtu.be/LZH1OdCZ5A4

The Forest received 6,000+ comments from the public on the Sheep Creek Exploration Proposal - 95% of comments urge the Forest to require an Environmental Assessment (EA). We feel positive they will make the right decision and deny USCM's attempt to earn a permit through a Categorical Exclusion, the lowest level of review possible.

Dan weighs in on why the Bitterroot is so united in this position.

"I'm a rancher here in the Bitterroot Valley, as well as a real estate broker and a father. We're talking about the headwaters of the Bitterroot River... The public is very much against the Sheep Creek Mine and pushing it through without any oversight or Environmental Assessment." - Dan Kerslake

Community concern around this poorly prepared proposal for industrial exploration in headwaters of the Bitterroot River is HIGH! Why?? Because SO much of our downstream economies, livelihoods, traditions, and community well-being depends on those waters staying clean and plentiful.

Share the message with your friends and neighbors.

Learn more about what the public had to say at DontPolluteTheRoot.com/Updates

A rare earth mine is proposed for the headwaters of the Bitterroot ...

10/09/2026

These plants aren't gonna plant themselves! 🌱Join Bitterroot Water Partnership volunteers in restoration of 1/2 mile of Cameron Creek by harvesting and transplanting 2,000 willows.

60% of our volunteer team has already signed up! Lunch is provided for volunteers on Oct 23 and Oct 24 - plus you'll get to spend the day on a beautiful Bitterroot ranch in Sula.

Since fall of 2025, volunteers have already transplanted ~6,000 willows to Cameron Creek. The goal is ~10,000 !!! Help make it happen !! Fish, wildlife, and ranch managers will be grateful for the benefit to water recharge and habitat quality. 👏👏👏🦆🌊🌱🦌

Sign up online at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B45AFAF23A2F5C34-65569978-fall #/

10/06/2026

Support wildlife! Save water! You can do ALL this from your front yard with a Water-Wise landscape.

Bring your yard to life!!!! 🐝🦋🐦‍⬛

Sign up for our October 15 Water-Wise Landscaping Workshop co-hosted with Great Bear Native Plants to learn about site prep and maintenance, expert design, lawn removal, plant selection, and other hot tips.

Then, get moving on your native plant, low-water, wildlife-friendly garden in the Spring. 🤘🏼🌊🌻

WATER-WISE LANDSCAPING WORKSHOP
📅 Thursday, October 15
🕰️ 5:30-7:30 pm
📍Corvallis, MT - Teller Wildlife Refuge

Register for the Workshop through the LINK in our BIO or at bitterrootwater.org/waterwise

PS all these plants live in just ONE yard! You can get them too for just $2.46 a plant in one of our 32-plant Water-Wise Plant Packs. 🍀PRE ORDER NOW!

09/29/2026

Phew... that was a big 30 days! In total, ~6,600 public comments were submitted for the Sheep Creek Exploration Project. 👏👏👏

We read a sample of 125 comments. When it comes to USCM's Plan of Operations for Exploration for Sheep Creek the public comment is clear:

⭐ 95% of comments urged the Forest Service to review the proposal under an Environmental Assessment rather than a Categorical Exclusion

~88% of comments describe concerns related to water
~70% describe concerns about impacts to wildlife
Roughly half explicitly mention a lack of assurance about the geochemistry, or concentration of toxins inherently present in the rock at the Sheep Creek site

📝 Read a fuller summary of comments at: https://dontpollutetheroot.com/2026/09/23/what-does-the-public-have-to-say-on-the-sheep-creek-exploration-plan/

Congratulations on mounting an impressive showing during the public comment and for your commitment to speaking up on behalf of our Bitterroot water, wildlife, and robust resource-based economies.

09/24/2026

Want to see conservation impact from your own front porch?? Join the Water-Wise Workshop on Thursday, October 15, co-hosted with Great Bear Native Plants 🌱🌻🌊

Then, you're ready to install a native plant garden that saves water and wildlife! (You could have all the flowers you see here - and more!) 🐟

We host this 2-hour workshop in the Fall, so you can bring your new native plant landscaping skills to your garden in the spring.

In this workshop you'll learn about garden prep and maintenance, plant selection and expert landscape design principles, effective care, and other hot tips. Plus, you can connect with other enthusiastic local gardeners!

Sign up today at bitterrootwater.org/get-involved/water-wise-landscape-program/

09/17/2026

River Rooted was all we knew it would be ... and more! There's just no better way to spend a beautiful late-summer evening down by the River than with 230 of your friends and partners in conservation. 😁

Good food, perfect weather, beautiful scenery, a spread of sweet auction items donated by local businesses, and music from the Bear Creek Boys brought it all together!

Advancing conservation through the Bitterroot Water Partnership means you're protecting clean water and healthy habitat - all the way from residential Water-Wise Landscapes to restored wetland habitat in the headwaters of the East Fork of the Bitterroot River. Every year, we look forward to gathering at River Rooted to celebrate these accomplishments together. 🦆🌊🏅

If this sounds like a community you'd like to be a part of, make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter at bitterrootwater.org/subscribe

⭐⭐⭐ MAJOR THANK YOU to our guests, partners, and business sponsors who raised thousands of dollars for conservation through River Rooted. We're ready to turn your gift into impact!

Business Sponsors include Bob Miller with Morgan Stanley, Debbie Gantz with Edward Jones, Roger Gantz Realty at Windermere, Bitterroot Drug, Mainstreet Toys, Clearwater Credit Union, Geum Environmental Consulting, Farmers State Bank, Valley Irrigation, TrailWest Bank, and First Security Bank.

Thanks to Nathan with Wide Angle Art for helping us capture some scenes from the evening and Westslope Distillery for hosting the bar.

09/10/2026

The Comment Period for Sheep Creek Mine Exploration Proposal closes September 12 at midnight - Have you submitted yours?

Public Comment CAN change the trajectory of a poor proposal like this one. Let's wrap this comment period knowing we gave it our best.

Already, 5,570+ comments have been submitted. Outstanding job.
(Comments submitted by email are not appearing in the USFS Reading Room)

If you want to speak out to protect the Bitterroot, NOW is the time to do that.
Make sure you've submitted your comment TODAY!

You can find guidance for a unique & meaningful public comment through DontPolluteTheRoot.com/Take-Action/


Or, navigate directly to the Bitterroot National Forest comment portal if you have already prepared a meaningful public comment.
https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?Project=370721

09/08/2026

Ok, Bitterroot! One FINAL Comment Writing Event in DARBY - this Thursday, September 10 at 5:30 - 7:30 pm. The Comment period for the Sheep Creek Exploration Plan closes midnight, September 12.

👏👏👏Get those comments in!!!

Whether you've submitted your comment yet or not - you're invited to this special event! This event doubles as a closing ceremony to recognize the commendable effort and power you have given to this critical process and to reflect on the things we love most about the Bitterroot - the things we're working so hard to protect.

We'll be there with guidance and information to help folks submit a quality comment on the Sheep Creek Exploration Plan. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

⭐ Oh and yes... this is the soft opening for our new *Don't Pollute the Root Community Information Center*. More on that SOON!!! 😁 The office features our 2024 exhibit, 'Our Waters, Our Ways of Life'. Come check it out!

Get your comments in TODAY! Join us on the 10th!

LEARN MORE: https://dontpollutetheroot.com/take-action/

09/02/2026

I don't know about you, but our ducks are REALLY excited for River Rooted on September 12. 🦆🌊⭐

Get your ticket today and join 196 ducks - and just as many human friends - at Hamilton River Park for River Rooted. 🎟

🏅🦆🏅 Can't make it? You can still adopt a duck for $20 and enter it in the grand duck race for a chance to win up to $500.

Tickets include a Bitterroot-made dinner, plus we'll have b**r, w**e, cocktails, and a collection of awesome silent-auction prizes.

Grab your ticket at bitterrootwater.org/RiverRooted to celebrate community and conservation with the Bitterroot Water Partnership!

09/02/2026

We're still at it... 12 days left to comment on the Sheep Creek Mine Exploration Proposal! Join us ⭐THIS FRIDAY⭐ @ Bitter Root Brewing for another Comment Writing Night.

We'll be there with the Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association to get you quality information, encouragement, guidance and tips on how to submit a powerful & personal public comment to the Forest Service about the Sheep Creek Mine Exploration Proposal.

Enjoy a pint from our friends at while you craft your comment!

Learn more at DontPolluteTheRoot.com/Take-Action/