Students Spearhead Stream Restoration Project

Shirley Harrison, earth science teacher at the H.E. Robinson Vo-Ag Center in Kalispell, recognized a potential water quality problem and took steps to find a solution. Harrison had observed the continual erosion of the Flathead River bank near the school, was concerned about runoff from the nearby hog barn, and recruited help to improve the stream’s quality.

Harrison turned to the Flathead Conservation District and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for more information about the condition of the stream and how to make improvements. From this point, the effort snowballed.

Students in Harrison’s classes at the Ag Center began developing options for stabilizing the streambank. They learned about stream dynamics and watershed health. Then, the students made a presentation to a team of NRCS conservationists hoping to get support for enrolling the project in the agency’s Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP).

Their hard work paid off. The application was accepted. In fact, the student involvement earned the application extra points when ranked against other WHIP applications because of an initiative called Youth for Wildlife.

Youth for Wildlife is designed to expose Montana's youth to natural resource concerns for fish and wildlife and their habitat needs. The project developed by the Ag Center fit the initiative perfectly.

Not only have Ag Center students been involved in developing a conservation plan and applying for WHIP funds, they have also begun implementing their plan and will monitor the project upon completion.

“The students know this is their project, so they are anxious to see how it turns out,” said Harrison. “They will be able to see if it actually works.”

The restoration project developed by Harrison’s students, with input from NRCS conservation planners and engineers, involved several steps. First, the previously undercut bank was graded back to a gentler slope and terraced. Then, erosion control mat (a woven mesh of natural, biodegradable fibers) was laid along the length of the slope and stapled into place. Finally, native plants such as willows, cottonwood, chokecherry, snowberry, Wood’s rose, redosier dogwood, and native wheatgrasses were planted.

“This couldn’t have happened without the focus that NRCS and the conservation district brought to it,” said Harrison.

Additionally, the Flathead County Commissioners have agreed to exchange five acres further from the river for the area where the hog barn, other school outbuildings, and a county building are currently located. The outdated barn and outbuildings will be torn down and new facilities built in a new location. This solution will remove the danger of animal waste being discharged into the river. In addition, the Flathead County Weed, Parks, and Recreation Building Maintenance Department will be able to expand their facilities, which are currently located adjacent to the hog barn.

Through WHIP, the NRCS is providing 90 percent of the project costs and the Ag Center is providing the remaining 10 percent. The time students spend digging trenches; planting native trees, shrubs, and grasses; and laying down erosion control mat is counted as an in-kind contribution.

There are also several cooperators helping to fund the project, including the Flathead Lakers and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Many others have contributed technical assistance, including the National Park Service, Federated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, and the Flathead County Weed, Parks, and Recreation Building Maintenance Department.

Local support is clearly shown by Doug Siderius’ construction company. Siderius has done all of the work that required heavy equipment and is donating the money back to the Ag Center.

“I think this project has turned into a model partnership between government agencies, private businesses, and the school,” said Harrison.

The Flathead River system south of Kalispell is important habitat for neotropical birds, bald eagles, bears, waterfowl, and fish species including bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout. According to Larry Van Rinsum, Flathead Conservation District, an important bull trout spawning area is only one-half mile downstream from the Ag Center.

Thanks to a progressive school, conscientious teachers and students, and many conservation-minded partners, this stretch of the Flathead River will see decreased sediments and improved wildlife habitat.

Bank of the Flathead River after grading, terracing, and application of erosion control fabric.	H.E. Robinson Ag Center students planting native shrubs.
NRCS and Flathead Conservation District employees lay down erosion control fabric and pound in staples to hold it in place.	Ag Center students help with the erosion control fabric.

Last Modified: 06/26/2007