Did you know that 15 of our 23 streams don’t meet water quality standards? Removing trash and waste from our rivers, wetlands and roadsides brings people together and improves the quality of water, soil, and habitat for the people and critters in our watershed.
The Gallatin River Task Force and Gallatin Watershed Council will once again join forces to host the annual Gallatin Watershed Cleanup with volunteer slots open from Friday through Sunday, September 20th–22nd.
During the event, teams of volunteers will be cleaning the watershed in the Gallatin Canyon and Big Sky, as well as along the lower watershed. The cleanup is a great opportunity to work together as a community to clean our beautiful Gallatin after the busy summer season on the river. Sign up for a volunteer slot as an individual or team through the Task Force website, or visit the Watershed Council site for volunteer opportunities on the lower watershed on Saturday, Sept. 21st from 2–4pm.
Last year, hundreds of volunteers between both organizations collected thousands of pounds of trash across the entire Gallatin Watershed. To celebrate this year’s collection, head to Bozeman’s Lindley Park Pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 21st at 5pm following an afternoon of cleanup for a celebration sponsored by the Watershed Council with ice cream sundaes, refreshments, prizes and more!
Over the past century, the Gallatin River has become a famous hub for recreation. Even if you’ve never fished the Gallatin or rafted the Mad Mile, you’ve probably seen it. Since playing the role of the Blackfoot River in Robert Redford’s adaptation of A River Runs Through It, the Gallatin River has become a world-class brand. The iconic final scene of the film, which won the 1992 Academy Award for best cinematography, is a shot of Storm Castle Peak towering over the river. Despite its fame, the story of the Gallatin River cannot be distilled to a single image. Instead, it must be told as a series of snapshots, which capture its resilience and capacity for change.
Gallatin River Task Force is a locally led nonprofit watershed group headquartered along the famous Gallatin River in Big Sky. Learn about how the Gallatin River Task Force is maintaining a healthy watershed for future generations at www.gallatinrivertaskforce.org.
Gallatin Watershed Council is a Bozeman-based nonprofit that works with local volunteers, landowners and community partners to bring water quality monitoring, stream restoration, and watershed education to the Gallatin Valley with the goal of improving water quality for all. Learn more at www.gallatinwatershedcouncil.org. •
