Montana Freshwater Partners

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Montana Freshwater Partners

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Celebrating 15 years of protecting and enhancing Montana’s water resources
💧

10/30/2026

What goes bump in the night? 🎃👀

Check out these game camera photos from Teton Spring Creek in Choteau, MT! After decades of heavy overgrazing, this stream finally got a much-needed rest. We partnered with a local rancher on an off-channel water and riparian fencing project to limit cattle access across roughly 0.8 miles of Teton Spring Creek - and within a short timeframe, native willows, cottonwoods, and water birch are already rebounding dramatically! 🌱🪵💧

This project was a true team effort: grant funding from the Montana DEQ 319 Program covered water infrastructure and fencing materials, while the landowner matched it with funding and hands-on labor.

🛠️👏 The rancher will still use the riparian corridor for limited grazing when necessary, but taking the daily pressure off the creek ensures this ecosystem can heal for the long haul. 🌾🐟

10/28/2026

Here is a quick snapshot of what we accomplished across Montana this season!

💪 Checking In: We checked in on 9 wetland and stream projects across the state (completing annual monitoring on 4 active sites and annual checks on 5 established sites) to make sure they are fully functioning, thriving, and staying healthy.

🌱 Hands-On Care: On 3 sites, we stepped in with hands-on care - planting native seeds, building natural log jams to guide stream flow, and removing invasive weeds.

💧 Scouting & Building: We surveyed 1 new site and finished major construction on our Viking Creek Project - a 30-acre restoration along Viking Creek near Whitefish. By filling old drainage ditches, adding log jams, and planting native trees and shrubs, our team re-established healthy wetlands. These natural systems filter water flowing into Whitefish Lake and provide vital habitat for local wildlife.

Our restoration projects bring back natural stream flows and native plant communities to restore the essential ecological functions of our rivers and wetlands. These restored stream and wetland sites filter out pollution, create sanctuaries for fish and wildlife, and act as natural sponges - absorbing spring floods and keeping water flowing during summer droughts. 🐟🦌

Thank you for helping us protect Montana’s waters!

📸 Viking Creek

10/20/2026

Goodest job little guy 🥹

But really, we get SUPER excited when drone flights go smoothly! We routinely use our drone to capture high-resolution aerial photos of our project sites. Using the imagery, we can see where riparian vegetation is expanding, create high-quality elevation models, and more!

Shoutout to our drone ❤

10/11/2026

Come celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day with us tomorrow!

This year’s theme is Good Neighbor: sharing cultural ways, language, and community projects. Join us at Peet’s Hill (Burke Park) for an outdoor gathering.

Bundle up. Wear your warmest layers and come ready to celebrate together!

🗓️ Monday, October 12th
⏰ 5 - 7 PM
📍Peet’s Hill (Burke Park)

In partnership with

10/06/2026

On October 1st, 42 community members, landowners, and conservation partners joined us and the Park County Water Initiative for our 3rd Annual Watershed Tour across the Shields Valley.

Participants got an up-close look at active restoration projects, including riparian fencing and stream habitat work at Bangtail Creek, as well as streambank restoration and instream flow initiatives on Brackett Creek.

Over lunch, attendees learned about innovative virtual fencing technology from MSU and Halter, before wrapping up the tour at Highland Harmony Farms to highlight local stewardship in action.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our incredible co-presenters, funders, and partners who helped make the day such a success!

10/02/2026

This summer, our River Ambassadors helped folks inflate their tubes and paddleboard, get onto the water a little faster and keep busy launch sites moving.

As our first Ambassador season comes to a close, were grateful to everyone who stopped by, asked questions, shared feedback and helped make this pilot program such a success.
The pumps may be headed into storage soon - but don't worry. We've got you next river season!

Until then, have a great rest of your river season, recreate responsibly and keep giving back to the Yellowstone!

09/30/2026

Think friendly faces, practical resources and a little extra help caring for the Yellowstone. Throughout July and August, our River Ambassadors have been meeting recreators at busy Fishing Access Sites to share information about river etiquette, Leave No Trace, fish handling, bear awareness, aquatic invasive species, respecting private property - and even a little "petiquette."

They've also been helping keep boat ramps moving, offering electronic pumps for inflatables, handing out reusable cleanup bags and gathering valuable information about recreational use. The goal is simple: give everyone who enjoys the Yellowstone the knowledge and tools to help protect it for generations to come.

To learn more about our ambassador program, click the link in our bio.

09/28/2026

Leave No Trace! Help protect our beloved Yellowstone River by following Leave No Trace principles.

This means:
- Always picking up your trash, and micro trash if you see it
- Always picking up dog p**p
- Using restrooms at Fishing Access Sites, or a wag-bag, if necessary
- Not cutting trees or harvesting firewood using live trees
- Not building rock-rings or cairns
- Leaving the river better than you found it!

Practicing Leave No Trace principles will help protect the Yellowstone River and improve recreation experiences for all.

09/24/2026

This week’s We Will feature is Montana Freshwater Partners 🛶 Dedicated to preserving and restoring streams and wetlands throughout the state, Montana Freshwater Partners is the featured recipient in our Landscapes and Natural Amenities priority area.

PCCF awarded a 2026 We Will grant to support their Give Back to the Yellowstone Program, working to improve habitat and help ecosystems thrive, as well as enhance the resilience of communities and people living near the Yellowstone River. Learn more about this project here: https://freshwaterpartners.org/get-involved/protecttheyellowstone/

In May, PCCF announced its 2026 We Will recipients, granting over $440,000 to 31 local nonprofit organizations that are working to solve the greatest challenges facing Park County across five areas prioritized by county residents.

Learn more about our We Will grant program and see the full list of 2026 grantees on our news page (link in bio).

09/23/2026

Join us on Thursday, October 1st as we tour several restoration project locations in the Shields River Watershed.

The Tour will will focus on ongoing restoration work, livestock fencing options, Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the Shields, and more!

Presenters will include Trout Unlimited, Montana Freshwater Partners, Highland Harmony Farms, Montana FWP, MSU Extension, and more.

Registration is required and spots are limited!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdRcR8RxaBGzhKg7Sq6ZV3BAL922wbMKN8IdhpjFeyOOY8d7g/viewform?utm_name=sked&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=sked_6ab3e1bcd29d5dcb52847306

Address

215 East Lewis, Room 207
Livingston, MT
59047

Website

http://freshwaterpartners.org/

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