ScholarWorks at University of Montana

Bitter Root Water Forum's Watershed Restoration Plan

The Bitter Root Water Forum, as the non-profit watershed group of the Bitterroot Valley, is the Valley’s resource on any water related topics. By providing environmental education and participating in ‘on the ground’ restoration projects, BRWF is able to meet community members wherever their uses intersect with the resource. Restoration and education priorities are informed by BRWF’s Watershed Restoration Plan (WRP), which identified priority streams based on non-point source (NPS) pollution issues as well as landowner and partner involvement in an area. Non-point source pollution is often addressed in terms of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) documents, and specific pollutants addressed in Bitterroot watershed TMDLs include nutrients, sediment, and temperature. In order to systematically address NPS pollution in the Bitterroot watershed, BRWF uses the WRP to explore how the TMDLs of tributaries affect the main stem of the Bitterroot River, and to prioritize streams for restoration based on their impairment and impact on the rest of the watershed. From this prioritized list, BRWF is able to implement restoration efforts that can have a lasting impact on the overall health of the Bitterroot Watershed. The list also defines ways in which BRWF can offer education to community members on the importance of maintaining and improving the health of the Bitterroot watershed.