Bitterroot Water Partnership

05/28/2026

If you like to be a part of conservation by getting your hands dirty... this one's for you! 🌟Volunteer with us to spruce up two Water-Wise demonstration gardens with new native plants, fresh mulch, and weeding on Saturday, June 6. 🌟

🌱 Gardening will be led by one of BWP’s River Ambassadors and native plant expert, Christine, so bring your native plant gardening questions & curiosities. Then, take home some insider tips and tricks to your own Water-Wise Landscape!

🌾 Snacks, drinks, and a complementary native plant 🌼will be provided for volunteers.

🌊 Sign Up Online: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B45AFAF23A2F5C34-64195576-waterwise #/

🐦Gardens are located at the City of Hamilton Parks Office and the Ravalli County Fairgrounds. City of Hamilton, MT

Ravalli County W**d District

05/26/2026

Five years ago Water Partnership volunteers restored 11,000 plants to Skalkaho Bend Park in Hamilton. Today, the restoration area is thriving! Last week, we got to show off project success on a community tour with
Western Montana Conservation Commission.

05/21/2026

Volunteers have been BUSY restoring Bitterroot streams & wildlife habitat 🍀🤘🌱- and the season has only just begun!

1,000 plants restored here... 200 restored there... we're losing count but we know we're having fun! Restoration work continues for 🌟 North Burnt Fork Creek(Stevensville), 🌟Cameron Creek, and 🌟 Tolan Creek this year. It doesn't happen without volunteers!

If you want to improve habitat and sustain our waters in the Bitterroot by getting your hands dirty, sign up to volunteer at bitterrootwater.org/volunteer/

OR subscribe to our newsletter at bitterrootwater.org/subscribe to get inbox notifications about upcoming volunteer opportunities.

04/29/2026

It's almost time... We're glad to take part in Bitterroot Gives, a community-wide day of giving that starts Thursday, April 30! You're invited to donate to the many impact organizations who serve our Bitterroot community.

This year, the Bitterroot Water Partnership is asking for your help raising funds to address a developing, serious threat to our waters: a FAST-Tracked rare earth mine proposed in the headwaters of the West Fork.

🌟Gifts of $25, $250, and $2,500 add up to make a great difference. 🌟
You can donate between now and May 1 at https://www.missoulagives.org/organizations/bitterrootwater

🌊 Be sure you're subscribed to our e-newsletter to receive updates about how your donation is converted to action.

As we rise to meet this emerging concern, the Water Partnership remains as committed as ever to delivering on long-term conservation projects and programs — like restoration expansion at Tolan Creek and Water-Wise Landscaping throughout Hamilton.

🍀None of this work happens without you! Thanks for being a part of our awesome community and advancing local impact through Bitterroot Gives.

04/09/2026

Protect the Bitterroot River from a mine in it's headwaters. **NEW** Community Information Hub for the proposed mine at Sheep Creek. Learn more & subscribe for email updates at DontPolluteTheRoot.com

🌱Visit - Learn - Subscribe - Share 🌱

Since the proposed Sheep Creek mine site is in the headwaters of the Bitterroot River, it's critical our community can 🌟access and understand information and 🌟know how and when to participate in the permitting process.

This project remains in the Federal FAST-Track permitting program so it’s critical that our community has access to new information as soon as it’s available. The community info hub can help people participate in what we hope will be a rigorous and responsible process.

There are dozens of organizations and local leaders working to understand the complexity of this proposal and prepare a strong community response that protects our community resources from poorly planned activities. Their expertise and perspectives will be shared on the info hub where it can be easily accessed.

Sign up to receive updates about the proposed Sheep Creek Mine straight to your email inbox. You'll receive information on upcoming events and opportunities for community input, critical science, news and media, and more.

03/25/2026

If you’re ready to replace at least 250 square feet of water-intensive lawn with a drought tolerant landscape – we’ll remove your lawn for free! 🌱🦅👏 APPLY by April 6 at bitterrootwater.org/waterwise

🌱Have a plan for a Water-Wise landscape
🐛Submit an application online for lawn removal
🐟Stay in communication with program staff!
🍀If approved, we removed your lawn with a sod cutter and haul it off to be composted.
🪻Make sure your site is prepped for planting
🌾Install your Water-Wise landscape!

🌊Your design might include native plant starts, drought tolerant plants, a seed mix, a flowering lawn, a native tree, or drought tolerant lawn.

🌟We can’t wait to see what you do!🌟

Since we've been helping residents transition to low-water, River-friendly home landscapes one point is clear: Lawn removal can be a pain in the grass!

Don't let that stop you from building a home landscape that conserves water, keeps our River clean and flowing, and supports wildlife.

03/17/2026

FISH WEEK 2026 was one for the books! 👏👏👏 Shout out to all who came to learn about and celebrate our fisheries with the Bitterroot Water Partnership - either at the Feature Presentation or International Fly Fishing Film Festival.

We all know our community loves our Bitterroot fisheries - and y'all proved it again with an incredible showing. We were so grateful to gather with 200 of our fishiest friends and can't wait to make our next moves in habitat restoration together!

🪱🌊🦅🌱

Don't miss our next event - make sure you're subscribed to our e-newsletter to get updates. And, you'll be first to know about habitat improvements that keep our waters cool, clean, and flowing for the fish we love to fish for.

SUBSCRIBE: bitterrootwater.org/subscribe

03/17/2026

Heck yeah, friends!!!

Almost 200 people attended the International Fly Fishing Film Festival (IF4) in Hamilton, which according to organizers, is the largest turnout they have seen for the event.

02/23/2026

Calling all Fish Fanatics... Join us 🐟Tuesday, March 3 🐟 for our annual Community Conservation Presentation. This year we'll explore: The 'Tail' of Two Headwaters.

Please RSVP (free event) at bitterrootwater.org/FISHWEEK

🦅 First, we'll share an update on the proposed Sheep Creek Mine, in West Fork Headwaters, and how you can help protect our River from this threat.

🌱 Then, we'll take a deep dive into past & upcoming habitat restoration successes for the East Fork of the Bitterroot. All projects that YOU have made possible, so you won't want to miss this opportunity to stay updated - and get excited!

Find us from 5:30 - 6:45 pm at the Education Room at Teller Wildlife Refuge - 1180 Chaffin Ln, Corvallis, MT 59828

Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.

🌟Support a fish near you by getting involved with local conservation through the Bitterroot Water Partnership. 🌟

Thanks to Farmers State Bank for sponsoring this important conservation learning event for our community.

Teller Wildlife Refuge Hamilton Downtown Freestone Fly Shop Bitterroot Fly Company IFlyFishMontana Eddie Olwell

02/20/2026

$17 tickets are on sale NOW for the 2026 screening of the International Fly Fishing Film Festival, Friday March 6 in Hamilton, Montana. Reserve yours today and join us by 7:00 pm to enjoy 11 incredible short films. 🐟

Popcorn, movie candies, beer, and other refreshments will be for sale at the event. Doors open at 6:15 pm.

🎟🎟 Tickets can be purchased at bitterrootwater.org/fishweek

You won't want to miss this fun night to connect with old and new friends and swap your best stories - and win cool prizes, including a full day Bitterroot River Float with Eddie Olwell.

Visit bitterrootwater.org/fishweek to see the FULL schedule for our 3/3 - 3/6 FISH WEEK, including a Community Conservation Presentation on Tuesday 3/3.

Each film and raffle ticket purchase supports habitat restoration & protection through the Bitterroot Water Partnership. Tickets are $22 after Thursday, 3/5.

Tell us about yourself

02/19/2026

It's time to plan for your Water-Wise Landscape - 🌟Plant Packs are on SALE NOW!🌟 Order yours today, pick up in May. These pre-planned native plant gardens come with 10 species and 32 plant starts that are native and drought tolerant.

Order yours online at🌱 bitterrootwater.org/WaterWise🌱while supplies last.

Each Pack is $79 or $2.46 per plant. (*Hot Pocket comes in a SMALL 16-plant size*).

You'll find Packs with plants that thrive in full sun, prefer shaded areas, or attract beautiful butterflies! We're also offering a native lawn seed mix that includes 5 grass species adapted to low water conditions in the Bitterroot.

Each Pack includes detailed care and watering instructions + tips on landscaping design.

Not only do our Plant Packs make it incredibly easy to have a beautiful, native, and diverse garden this summer, they will help you save water! Because these plants naturally grow in Montana, they thrive in our natural conditions and don't require such high volumes of water or fertilizer! How COOL is that?!

All plants are grown locally by our friends at Great Bear Native Plants