Upper Missouri Waterkeeper®

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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

Wealth Before Health: State Regulators Ignoring Big Sky’s Big Pollution Problem

July 26, 2021July 27, 2021

Wealthy Developers Get Categorical Exclusions; Ignoring Cumulative Impacts Polluting Gallatin River Watershed BOZEMAN, MT – Breaking reporting by the HuffPost exposes the growing and unaddressed pollution and nutrient problems degrading Montana’s signature blue-ribbon waterway – the Gallatin River – caused…

Coalition Calls on Governor Gianforte to Form Cold Water Fisheries Task Force

July 21, 2021July 21, 2021

Today, Upper Missouri Waterkeeper submitted a formal letter signed by a broad coalition of Montana fly fishing, outfitters, and lodges, international fly fishing businesses Orvis and Patagonia, and conservation groups requesting Governor Gianforte immediately create a Cold Water Fisheries Task…

Conservation Organizations Challenge Unlawful Big Sky Pollution Permit

July 19, 2021July 19, 2021

Upper Missouri Waterkeeper and Montana Environmental Information Center File Suit Against DEQ’s Issuance of Septic Pollution Permit in Big Sky FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, July 19, 2021 CONTACT: Quincey Johnson, Upper Missouri Waterkeeper (406) 624-9261 BOZEMAN, MT – Upper Missouri Waterkeeper and…

Missouri River Headwaters Sub-Basin Report – Summer 2021

June 30, 2021June 30, 2021

Executive Summary: Waterways across Southwest Montana are facing troubling conditions and unprecedented challenges. From an early June heat wave and drought conditions, to historically low fish counts, to our State repealing numeric nutrient standards and allowing reckless pollution into our…

Fact Sheet: Petition Filed with State of Montana to Address Gallatin County Stormwater Pollution

June 29, 2021June 29, 2021

Stormwater Runoff Threatens Clean Water, Human Health, and Aquatic Life When it rains or snows, runoff from roads, commercial and industrial spaces, and housing development frequently washes harmful pollutants into nearby rivers, streams, and lakes because their surfaces are impervious,…

Biden EPA Pushes to Repeal Trump Administration’s Dirty Water Rule

June 11, 2021June 16, 2021

The EPA announced its intent to revise ‘Waters of the United States,’ restoring protections to more than half of Montana’s waterways. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced their intent to revise the definition of “waters of the United States”…

State of Montana Moves Forward on Sham Water Quality Rulemaking

June 11, 2021June 11, 2021

DEQ Public Listening Session Turns a Blind Eye to the Illegitimacy of Repealing Science-Based Pollution Control Standards This week, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) hosted a sham listening session regarding Montana’s unlawful backslide from strong, science-based numeric nutrient…

UMW and 300+ Organizations Endorse National 30×30 Goal With Sign-On Letter

April 22, 2021May 24, 2021

On Tuesday, Upper Missouri Waterkeeper joined a coalition of 342 organizations across the country in sending a letter to President Biden supporting the 30×30 goal of conserving 30% of U.S. lands, ocean, and water by 2030. The ambitious conservation goal…

UMW Joins Letter to Interior Dept. Seeking Reforms on Public Lands Oil and Gas Leasing

April 20, 2021May 24, 2021

Upper Missouri Waterkeeper joined nearly 40 other conservation organizations to push the Department of Interior to reform the antiquated federal onshore oil and gas leasing program that directly threatens Montana’s Big Hole and Beaverhead river valleys in a letter sent…

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.