Big Hole River restoration story

[Ben Lamb]

Creeks divorced decades ago from Big Hole River to be back in the flow

A willing landowner, nonprofits, state agencies and others are working together to give the Big Hole River something it needs in an age of climate change — cold water and

billingsgazette.com

This a pretty cool story. TU, the landowner and the agency working together to restore some tributaries to the Big Hole that were diverted ages ago. This kind of work is absolutely necessary in terms of ensuring cold water, trout and increasing flows during an era of water instability and climate change. Kudos to the landowner and TU for pushing stuff like this forward.

 

[Nameless Range]

Years back I took a work trip to the Big Hole associated with Grayling and I came away impressed and sympathetic. Many of the landowners down there are salt of the earth, and are genuinely doing their best. Hard to think of many other places where landowners are changing their ranching tactics to both help grayling and sage grouse. TU seems like a real effective organization in this state.

 

[Ben Lamb]

TU is incredibly effective both in advocacy and on-the-ground restoration. They're a powerhouse in MT when it comes to bringing diverse groups together and their gov't relations staff are two of the best in the state.

Agree on the landowners down there. They understand what sharing that resource means, and I think when you look at the voluntary cuts in water a large number of them make it's easy to be in a partnership with them. Good folks doing good work! I love that ethic is being forwarded by a newer landowner there with this project.