Upper Missouri Waterkeeper® – Defending Montana's Clean Water

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Strong Science, Community Action, and the Law

Upper Missouri Waterkeeper, Inc. leverages a combination of strong science, community action, and the law to defend fishable, swimmable, drinkable water throughout the 25,000 square miles of Montana’s Upper Missouri River Basin.

Transparency, Accountability, Enforcement

We actively engage with citizens, stakeholders and decisionmakers, utilize best-available science and, when necessary to protect waterways and communities, insist on compliance with the law.

Healthy waterways go hand-in-hand with strong communities

Fishable, swimmable, drinkable water – your right, our mission.

Exclusively focused on protecting and improving waterways and community health throughout Montana’s Upper Missouri River Basin. Join us.

MAJOR ISSUES

Roadway De-Icer: Rubbing Salt in the Wounds

February 3, 2021February 3, 2021

Yes, Montana salts its roads It’s a common misconception that Montana does not use salt on its roadways. In actuality, salt compound deicers have been used statewide since 1996, with an increase in tonnage applied each year. Before a winter…

Glampground on the Gallatin: New development in the floodplain is bad for the river

January 8, 2021January 8, 2021

A Gallatin Gateway landowner is asking Gallatin County permission to build a glamorous campground (“Glampground”) retreat facility on the bank of the Gallatin River with 63 sites that will include running water, sewage, power and gas utilities, as well as…

Limited Time Upcycled Patagonia Waders to Benefit Clean Water

November 24, 2020November 24, 2020

Patagonia wants to crush fly fishing’s barriers to entry, empower our community and keep fishable waders out of landfills. For a limited time, Fins & Feathers of Bozeman is selling upcycled Patagonia waders (valued at $500) for only $200….

Federal Court Reverses Rollback of MT Nutrient Pollution Standard

November 16, 2020November 16, 2020

On October 30, 2020 the Federal District Court of Montana Issued An Order In Our (Second) Nutrient Pollution Exemption Lawsuit Holding EPA & MT Accountable to Improve Wastewater Pollution Controls For Most of MT’s Largest Polluters In response to our…

Update: “Waters of the United States” Rule in Montana

November 12, 2020November 13, 2020

For the past 5 years Upper Missouri Waterkeeper has defended the scope of legal protections for headwater streams in Montana, arguing science – not politics – is the lawful baseline. The federal Clean Water Act is a crucial piece of…

Looking Ahead: River Protection in Montana 2021 & Beyond

November 8, 2020November 13, 2020

The Upcoming Biden Presidency Offers An Opportunity to Increase Protections for Montana’s Rivers and the Businesses & Communities They Support, But, There Is No Guarantee At the same time, Montana just elected an unprecedented number of state public officials –…

Legislative Session Update

February 11, 2021February 12, 2021

Montana’s biannual Legislative Session is fully underway and we’re seeing an unprecedented volume of bills, many of which aim to undermine important environmental and public health protections. Upper Missouri Waterkeeper is a non-partisan 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that does not lobby….

Conservation in the West Poll 2021

February 9, 2021February 12, 2021

Colorado College’s ‘State of the Rockies’ Project just released data from the 11th annual Conservation in the West Poll, indicating strong bipartisan support for conservation and a heightened concern for the future of our land, water, air, and wildlife. The…

We’re Hiring – Join Our Waterkeeper Team!

June 12, 2020November 10, 2020

Job Announcement: Outreach Director The Organization Upper Missouri Waterkeeper (UMW) is a grassroots-based, regional nonprofit organization that serves as a public advocate for clean water and healthy communities in Southwest and West-Central Montana. We investigate pollution issues, patrol landscapes…

Working to Protect Waterways, Now and for Future Generations

Our Approach: We use a combination of strong science, community action, and legal expertise to defend the Upper Missouri River, its tributaries, and communities against threats to clean water and healthy rivers.

PROGRAMS

We work with communities and citizens to take a strong stance on the hard issues – to defend our waterways and communities from projects that would do harm, and to fight for and secure new regulations and protections that will provide critical defense and progress in the future.