Upper Missouri Watershed Alliance

12/02/2025

Today is — a day dedicated to supporting the places and communities we love.

At UMOWA, we’re committed to protecting the Missouri River watershed through science-based water quality monitoring, restoration partnerships, and community education. This work only happens because people like you believe in healthy rivers, strong communities, and a future where both can thrive.

If you’re able, please consider making a Giving Tuesday contribution to support our decade-long monitoring program and the expanded capacity we’re building with our new Executive Director.

Learn more at UMOWA.org

Every gift makes a difference for the river. Thank you for standing with us.

11/20/2025

Many thanks to our friends at Freestone Vintage Tackle (freestonevintagetackle) for making UMOWA their featured nonprofit for November! If you’re thinking about holiday presents — especially for the angler who already has everything — take a look at their heirloom-quality gifts. And if you make a purchase this month, one percent of gross sales will be donated to UMOWA!

10/24/2025

Recent visual redd counts on Little Prickly Pear Creek, a vital tributary below Holter Dam and several side channels show that brown trout are in their spawning, redd-building mode. These redds are often found just below natural or man-made impediments in the creek or the narrowing of side channels— spots where clean gravel collects and the current slows. While wade fishing on the upper Missouri, or on these smaller tributaries, please watch your step and avoid walking through these noticeable ‘cleaned off’ spawning areas. Protecting these redds helps ensure healthy trout populations for years to come!

08/26/2025

National Wildlife Federation’s program recently expanded to cover much of central and western Montana.

08/17/2025

We have ourselves a winner! Meet Sara Roholt. Sara works at Head Hunters, is a local, and has been a big supporter of UMOWA through the years. Congrats on your new RO drift boat Sara! Thank you to everyone who participated. This was a record year in raffle ticket sales.

08/15/2025

Tickets will be drawn Saturday. Last chance to buy!!!

Purchase your tickets today at www.umowa.org

08/07/2025

Our river has lost a friend. Alan Shaw, a loving husband, a doctor, Crimson Tide Fan, fly fishermen, Dad, Grandpa, community advocate, a fierce river guardian, a gardener, a true bearer of the positive spirit….. and honestly, I can’t tell you which of those titles should come
first. For me, it’s probably friend, and probably the same for ‘Woodrow” his golden retriever he was seldom without. Alan lived life to its fullest. He and his wife Marlyn had homes in multiple locations, always next to a river to fish or mountain to ski on. In each place he visited, he took each community’s needs to heart. In the mountains, he was an active ski
patrol member. In Fort Smith, he was the driving force that brought in a new sewer system to the town, which helped both the town and protected the beautiful Bighorn River he loved. I met Alan in Craig Montana, where he fished and helped grow the Upper Missouri Watershed Alliance, raising money and planting trees, advocating, whatever it took. Serving
on UMOWA board was a man that didn’t tip toe around an issue, he was direct, simply asking ‘How can we do this’, ‘what’s it going to take’ and finish by stating ‘ lets get it done’. For him, then the planning was over. He would latch on and move forward, relentlessly pursuing the final result. He knew not to take the things he loved for granted. Knowing our rivers and streams is worth protecting.
I admire and respect, if not envy, the life of a man who works for the good of others, can cook a great pizza on the acorn grill, maybe enjoy a sip of good Irish whiskey on the bank of a river while daydreaming only of the chance to battle fish in its waters. We will miss you,Alan Shaw. Thanks from all of us, both myself and the Upper Missouri Watershed Alliance.
Your friend Bil