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

FAQs: Eliminating Numeric Water Quality Standards Lets Big Polluters Off the Hook

June 7, 2021June 11, 2021

What’s the big deal with Senate Bill 358 (2021) and Upper Missouri Waterkeeper’s Petition to the EPA?Senate Bill 358 represents the first time in our nation’s history that a state eliminated strong, science-based nutrient standards protecting rivers from harmful algae…

UMW Waterway Watch Bulletin: June 2021

June 4, 2021June 11, 2021

A Word From Your Waterway Watchdogs Watch Bulletin: June 2021 Welcome to the Upper Missouri Waterkeeper’s Waterway Watch Bulletin! This summer we’ll be patrolling the waterways of the Upper Missouri River Basin – from the Missouri, to Ten Mile Creek,…

Upper Missouri Waterkeeper Petitions EPA to Disapprove Montana’s Changes to Water Quality Standards

May 24, 2021May 24, 2021

Today, Upper Missouri Waterkeeper filed a legal petition to Michael Regan, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The petition requests the agency exercise its oversight authority under the federal Clean Water Act to determine that changes to Montana’s…

Another Blow to Montana’s Rivers, Clean Water, and Fish – Gianforte’s FWP Drifts Away From Science

May 20, 2021May 24, 2021

Governor Gianforte’s Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) Director Hank Worsech has announced a shift in the direction the agency will take in the coming years, including moving away from long-term scientific research and inexplicably putting important fish restoration projects…

Governor Gianforte Sold Montana Down the River, Signing SB 358 Into Law

May 4, 2021May 24, 2021

On April 30, 2021 Governor Gianforte signed the most egregious dirty water bill from this year’s Legislative Session, Senate Bill 358, into law, selling Montana and clean water down the river. SB 358 revises Montana’s water quality standards in two…

Opposing A New Pollution Permit to the Upper Gallatin

April 15, 2021April 15, 2021

DEQ recently proposed a new pollution permit that would allow up to 20,000 gpd of poorly treated wastewater from new development in Big Sky’s Canyon Area, despite the fact that local groundwater and the Gallatin River are experiencing nutrient degradation…

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.