Chapter 9: Education and Citizen Involvement

"A river, though, has so many things to say that it is hard to know what it says to each of us."

- Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It

We are told that the quantity of the Earth’s water is roughly unchanged from the time the earth was formed. As a chemical it is unique. A solvent of remarkable versatility, it is nonetheless one of the most stable compounds known. Repellent to most organic compounds, it binds tightly to metals, and most tightly to itself. Water pours through every crevice of our daily lives like, well, water! And while the importance of water to human life is paramount, we often assume that abundant supplies of clean water will always be available. This assumption is increasingly challenged by the reality of rising demands for supply (global water demand has tripled since 1950) and diversifying threats of pollution. Locally, it is the responsibility of each of us to do our part to ensure that we pass on the legacy of abundant, clean water to subsequent generations in our watershed and those downstream. Fortunately, many groups have organized in recent years to remind us of the values of our water and educate us about its role in shaping the landscape and the life dependent on it. Following are some local groups interested in water and issues in our watershed.

Simple Ways to Involve Yourself

• Call one of the organizations listed and ask how you can find out more about their projects and when they meet.
• Attend subdivision review and related planning and zoning hearings…most jurisdictions publish notice of meetings. Get involved in the planning stages and voice your opinions on development along streams and wetlands. The Gallatin County and Bozeman City-County Planning Boards meet the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month at 7:00 p.m.
• Write letters to city and county officials about your concerns.
• Attend Conservation District meetings.
• Vote.

Remember that storm drains carry water to streams with little or no treatment. Help spread the word about storm drain pollution prevention. Contact the Surfrider Foundation at 581-4379.

Educational Groups

Bridger Outdoor Science School - provides summer programs for children, adult education and teacher training in natural sciences
(406) 582-0526

Gallatin Conservation District - public outreach and educational mini-grants
(406) 587-6929

Montana Watercourse - facilitates formation of local watershed education groups; develops water information seminars and field trips through “Know Your Watershed” forums; operates the Montana Volunteer Water Monitoring Project
(406) 994-6671

Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) - facilitates and promotes awareness of water resources through the development and dissemination of classroom-ready teaching aids and programs
(406) 994-6425

Montana Water Resources Center - supports water research; provides education and training for water professionals; promotes problem-solving partnerships among higher education, government and the private sector; and serves as a clearinghouse for Montana water information
(406) 994-6690

Montana State University Extension Service - extension specialists design and deliver water education curriculums and conduct applied research, provide water publications and water education programs, including the Montana Pollution Prevention Program, Drinking Water and Septic System Programs and other information
(406) 994-3451

Gallatin County Extension Service - sponsors local 4-H programs, technical assistance to county residents, weed control and management, farm and home management
(406) 582-3280

Montana Rural Water Systems - provides technical assistance, education, training to operators of small water and wastewater systems
(406) 454-1151

Yellowstone Center for Mountain Environments - MSU-based center participates in basic research on ecosystem management, riparian impact and watershed assessment
(406) 994-5178

Whirling Disease Foundation - coordinates funding for scientific research on whirling disease
(406) 585-0860

Citizens Groups

Alternative Energy Resources Organization - agriculture and water quality, planning
(406) 443-7272

American Rivers - river conservation
(202) 347-7550

American Wildlands - water quality and federal lands
(406) 586-8175

Bozeman Watershed Council - watershed planning group focusing on the Bozeman Creek watershed and water supply planning for Bozeman; CONTACT Rich Morse
(406) 586-1203

Corporation for the Northern Rockies - regional planning, riparian protection
(406) 222-0730

Ducks Unlimited - wildfowl habitat; local chapter CONTACT Art Barbich
(406) 587-4254

Federation of Flyfishers
(406) 585-7592

Gallatin Valley Land Trust - conservation easements, trails
(406) 587-8404

Greater Yellowstone Coalition - advocacy regarding land use planning and water quality and quantity
(406) 586-1593

League of Women Voters - legislation and policy; Local Chapter CONTACT Judy Mathre
(406) 587-8666

Madison/Gallatin Alliance - SW Chapter of the Montana Wilderness Association
(406) 582-8600

Montana Environmental Information Center - water quality and mining, water quality and land use regulation
(406) 443-2520

Montana Farm Bureau - agriculture
(406) 587-3153

Montana Farmers Union - agriculture
(406) 452-6406

Montana Land Reliance - conservation easements
(406) 443-7027

Montana Nature Conservancy - conservation easements
(406) 443-0303

Montana River Action Network - advocates for stream flows and water quality; local chapter, CONTACT Robin Cunningham
(406) 763-4642

Montana Water Resources Association - dam safety, water planning, protection of water rights
(406) 458-6487

Montana Wildlife Federation - wildlife conservation
(406) 449-7604

Mountain Surf Chapter - water pollution prevention; local chapter, Surfrider Foundation
(406) 581-4379

River Network - river conservation
(406) 442-4777

Sacajawea Audubon Society -wildlife conservation; local chapter,
CONTACT Valerie Harms
(406) 587-3356

Save Open Space - planning, watershed protection in Gallatin County;
CONTACT Terry Lonner
(406) 587-3583

Trout Unlimited - fish habitat; local chapter, CONTACT Thomas Anacker
(406) 586-9111

Learn more about education and information programs at the Montana Water Center web site.

Local education programs have curricula designed to explore the world of water. (Photo by Bobbi Geise.)

Montana's TMDL Process

The EPA requires the MDEQ to classify surface waters as "impaired" if they fail to meet certain criteria for supporting beneficial uses. In 1997 the Montana legislature directed the MDEQ to begin efforts to set limits on the discharge of pollutants to these waters. The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Process is meant to provide an opportunity for local citizens to provide leadership in development of water quality plans to bring these waters up to the standards necessary to remove them from the impaired list. For more information see the Montana Department of Environmental Quality web site.

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