Missoula River Ambassador Program

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Missoula River Ambassador Program

The Missoula River Ambassador program promotes safe, responsible river recreation and watershed stewardship.

Housed by Clark Fork Coalition, it’s a partnership with Missoula County, City of Missoula, FWP, Missoula Conservation District, and CFC. The Missoula River Ambassador program is focused on improving public recreation experiences and protecting conservation investments in Missoula Valley rivers. It is housed by Clark Fork Coalition and is a collaboration between Missoula County, the City of Missoul

a, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the Missoula Conservation District and Clark Fork Coalition. These agencies all recognize the value of public engagement and the link between community vitality and watershed health. Missoula River Ambassadors are a seasonal team that promote river stewardship by bringing awareness to ecological concerns impacting our watershed and what river recreators can do to help conservation efforts. They engage with the public to provide information and resources that encourage safe and responsible river recreation and ensure an exceptional experience is had by all with minimal impact to our treasured river ecosystem. With help from volunteers, they collect river usage data and conduct user surveys at access sites along the Bitterroot and Clark Fork rivers that inform watershed management efforts. River Ambassadors deliver on-the-ground public outreach and work collaboratively with partner agencies to build an informed and engaged community who will advocate for and support sustainable river recreation in the Missoula Valley.

04/16/2026

Historic satellite imagery shows one of the biggest restoration victories in our watershed's history: the removal of the Milltown Dam and subsequent transformation of the site into a State Park.

This superfund-site turned beloved recreation area is the result of decades of tireless advocacy spearheaded by . For over a century, the confluence of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers was dammed and the surrounding land submerged in highly contaminated water - the consequence of upstream copper mining.

More than 6.6 Million cubic yards of mining waste - much of it carcinogenic arsenic and other toxic heavy metals - had been trapped behind the dam, poisoning the waterway and local residents for years. And the dam wasn't just creating a Superfund site; it was blocking a critical migration corridor for native bull trout and other species.

Remediation and cleanup efforts began in 2006, and since the dam's full removal in 2008, efforts have been underway to restore the river's natural channels, vegetation, and floodplain.

1995: The Milltown Dam backs up contaminated water more than a mile up the Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers.

2006: Last satellite image of the Milltown Reservoir before drawdown begins in preparation for restoration and dam removal.

2009: The dam is removed. Water from the Clark Fork River is artificially side-channeled and straightened to allow for removal of toxic heavy metals elsewhere in the path of the river.

2013: The Clark Fork begins to regain its natural channeling. Revegetation of the drained reservoir is in its beginning stages.

2025: Present day. The Clark Fork meanders naturally and vegetation has begun to thrive in the floodplain along the river. Milltown State Park is now one of the area's most popular sites for recreation.

04/07/2026

We're hiring River Ambassadors for the 2026 season! 🚣

Applications are open now through Sunday, April 19th. 📂

View the full job description and learn how to apply at clarkfork.org/about/careers .

09/06/2025

As we round the corner into fall, the River Ambassador team has wrapped up their time in the field.
Thank you to everyone for such a great season! Every river trash bag filled and conservation license bought doesn’t go unnoticed. We appreciate all your stewardship and care for our rivers!! 💙🦦🏞️

See you on the rivers next season!

08/27/2025

⚠️IMPORTANT RIVER CLOSURE INFORMATION⚠️

Here’s all the details from :
“There is a temporary construction closure in effect from Weigh Station FAS to where the Blackfoot River crosses underneath I-90… The closure [began] on 8/22/25 and will remain in place until the department determines there are no public safety risks. This closure will allow BNSF to perform work on their railroad bridge in the Milltown area, while also providing for the safety of recreators. The Blackfoot River will remain open upstream of Weigh Station FAS and downstream of the I-90 bridge.”

Stay safe out there!

08/15/2025

Swipe to the end for a fun surprise‼️

⚠️⚠️⚠️As water levels in the Clark Fork continue to drop, water flow has changed and with that, new obstacles along the river have begun to present themselves. Here’s some river lingo and tips for reading the river to impress all your friends the next time you’re on the river and make sure you have a safe and fun float. 👏👏👏

08/08/2025

Hey Missoula! The free UDash Shuttle ends this Sunday, August 10th. If you want to still use the bus as a shuttle for your float, you can take Route 4 on the Mountain Line to Sha-Ron!

08/07/2025

A message from our friends at : The Milltown State Park Confluence Area will be closed to vehicles from Monday, Aug. 11 through an estimated October 31, 2025, while BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) repairs the railroad bridge located just downstream of the state park on the Clark Fork River.

The road to the Milltown Confluence Area will be impacted by the BNSF construction work, blocking access to the main parking lot and prompting the temporary closure to vehicles. Public access to the area will be walk-in only through the overflow parking on Juniper Road.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks encourages floaters to consider going to a different area while construction is underway. The first public access site downstream from the construction area on the Clark Fork River is Sha-Ron Fishing Access Site (FAS), and it will not be impacted by the project. FWP encourages floaters to put in at Sha-Ron and float downstream, avoiding the Milltown railroad bridge construction area.

Upstream on the Blackfoot River, Weigh Station FAS is the last takeout above the Milltown area, and Turah FAS is the last takeout upstream on the Clark Fork.

FWP says it will work with BNSF to assess the need for temporary river closures for floaters in the Milltown area when construction begins. If closures are needed, FWP will put signs at river access sites upstream and post updates in the news, social media and website. Find the latest restriction and closure information here: fwp.mt.gov/news/current-closures-restrictions

08/04/2025

We’re here for the float vibes, not the frat vibes

We love good tunes and good times on the river, but be mindful of your volume so others can enjoy their river time as well!

07/27/2025

Do you know the ONE SIMPLE SECRET to keeping our waterways free of invasive species? 🤫

Well, it shouldn't really be a secret by now.

🐚 Zebra and Quagga mussels are just a few of the invasive species posing a major threat to Montana's precious water resources. These mini mollusks are a major problem. The UM's Flathead Lake Biological Station estimates that if these mussels were to colonize Montana's waterways, it would cost Montanans nearly $800 MILLION in mitigation expenses, sinking property value, and lost revenue. 😳 They would cover your favorite beaches and docks with razor sharp shells, clog irrigation lines, and easily outcompete native species for precious resources.

These tiny terrors are expert hitchhikers, sneaking into the littlest cracks and crevices of your motor boat, kayak, or paddleboard. When your craft moves between bodies of water, so do they.

Thankfully, prevention is simple, and experts are working hard to make sure these invaders don't have a chance. Every summer, you'll find Watercraft Inspection Stations along highways all over the state.
Pull over for a few minutes, let the fine folks of do a quick and thorough of inspection of your boat, and be on your way to your next adventure. 🛶

07/26/2025

Have questions about your float? Want to talk about riparian ecosystems? Need a trash bag to store your cans while on the river? Find a River Ambassador at sites along the Clark Fork and Bitterroot Rivers!

07/25/2025

Our volunteers counted 1,183 people floating past Sha-Ron in 3 hours! It’s not just your impact on the river, it’s you and everyone else!

Address

140 S 4th Street W # 1
Missoula, MT
59801

Telephone

+14063566476

Website

https://clarkfork.org/our-work/what-we-do/engage-our-communities/riverambassador/

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