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Boulder River Watershed Association
Sub-Major Basin: Upper Yellowstone
Affected Watershed: Boulder
Watershed Description: The Boulder River originates in the Absaroka Mountain Range near Sheepherder & Monument Peaks and flows nearly 70 miles north to the confluence with the Yellowstone River near Big Timber, Montana.
The confluence site is the historic "Rivers Across" as recorded by the Lewis & Clark Exploration, which camped there more than 200 years ago.
They were noting their camp site on the Yellowstone, had two rivers joining across from one another. One being the Big Timber Creek and the other the Boulder River.
Major tributaries to the Boulder River include the West Boulder River and the East Boulder River, which both join the main river, about a mile a part from each other, just south of the town of McLeod.
The Boulder River drainage flows from south to north and begins near the border of Yellowstone Park at the south, originating at altitudes of nearly 11,000 feet. As the river flows north, it drops over a mile in elevation by the time it travels to the Natural Bridge area about 25 miles south of Big Timber and halfway through it's navigational flow.
The Boulder River Watershed covers both public and private lands and flows through both Sweet Grass and Park Counties.
The Upper Boulder River Valley is almost completely within the Gallatin National Forest land. This part of the Watershed also has dozens of recreational mountain cabins and four major church camps.
The East and West Boulder River watershed areas originate in the National Forest lands and flow through recreational and agricultural lands before joining into the main Boulder River.
The lower Boulder River flows primarily through traditional ranch lands and supports irrigation, fishing, hunting and recreation.
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Why was a watershed effort begun? To meet the demands for a collaborative organization that would encompass the interests of the agricultural community, the Stillwater Mining Company, the Conservation District and a local environmental activist group wanting to maintain the integrity of the Boulder River and the entire Watershed.
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Group Accomplishments: Major accomplishments in our brief history, include a River Riparian Assessment by the Montana NRCS, an Irrigation Efficiencies Study by the Montana DNRC and TMDL by Montana DEQ. The Association has spent more than a million dollars in organization and on the ground resource projects. This past Summer 2008, the Association sponsored a very successful workshop at the historic Main Boulder Ranger Station that targeted small acreage landowners and cabin owners, presenting them with educational resources on how to control and manage "Weeds", "Water" Quality education for water well and proper septic tank maintenance, protecting your property from "Wildfire", how to alleviate human - bear encounters with "Wildlife" management specialists. It was called the "4-W's" Workshop. Future efforts to target small acreage landowners and cabin owners with resources for assisting them with those 4 - W's will be included in an upcoming newsletter as well as more educational presentations in the future.
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Group Plans: Implementation of river assessment study recommendations, off-stream watering projects and irrigation efficiency projects. Addressing the resource issues and concerns that are important to it's members and the Watershed. Educational programs and resources that apply to the mission of the five committees of the Association. Those committees are: Wildlife - Weeds - Water - Riparian - Forest. We will continue to offer educational assistance to Watershed residents on important matters of resource conservation and management.
Biggest Challenge: Communication. Our mailing list consists of more than 200 residents and owners. Many residents are part-time recreational residents. Getting the Watershed Association message out to all owners remains a challenge.
Additional Comments: Mission Statement:
The Boulder River Watershed Association is a group of landowners that reside within the drainage basin of the Boulder River working to maintain and/or improve the health of their land and water resources.
The group was formed with the vision of: 1- identifying/researching resource issues and concerns within the watershed; 2- helping willing landowners/land managers to plan and implement innovative solutions; and 3- educating the general public about the efforts of landowners in the valley to care for the resources that provide for their way of life.
The group seeks concensus regarding all issues in the watershed and seeks management action on a voluntary basis.
The group stresses the importance of maintaining agriculture as the primary use in the area. Ranchers settled the area, and the vision of the Boulder River Watershed Association is to perpetuate this lifestyle and maintain the values that make this area what it is!
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Contact Information:
Dan Rostad, Coordinator
Boulder River Watershed Association
PO Box 749, Big Timber, MT, 59011
Phone: (406)932-5160; Ext. 106
Email: dan.rostad@mt.nacdnet.net
Guelda Halverson, Administrator
Sweet Grass County Conservation District
P.O. Box 749; Big Timber, MT 59011
Phone: 406-932-5160; Ext. 3
Email: guelda.halverson@mt.nacdnet.net
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| This information was last updated on: 7/20/2009 11:57:08 AM |
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DID YOU KNOW:
Montana is one of four headwater states in the Rocky Mountain region that provides drinking water for over 60 million US Citizens in 11 states.
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PO Box 17106
Missoula, MT 59808
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