What is eutrophication?“Eutrophication” is the fancy scientific word describing the over-saturation of a waterbody with nutrients, including nitrogen and phosphorus, resulting in unhealthy ecological conditions. Excess nutrients can fuel algae and plant growth, which reduces oxygen and creates conditions harmful…
One exception to rule them all, One exception to find them, One exception to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. Montana Water Policy Interim Committee Update Nearing the end of the interim, Montana’s Water Policy Interim Committee (WPIC)…
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking public comments on the Draft Eutrophication Assessment Method for Wadeable Streams and Medium Rivers. “Eutrophication” is the fancy scientific word describing the over-saturation of a waterbody with nutrients, including nitrogen and…
Upper Missouri Waterkeeper recently took legal action against the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to protect the Big Hole River from new mining activities at the Calvert Tungsten Mine. DEQ approved a Small Miner Exclusion Statement (SMES) to Mithril…
Montana’s Water Quality Integrated Report remains under federal review as politics override science On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Upper Missouri Waterkeeper filed a 60-day Notice of Intent to Sue to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its failure to take…
Waterkeeper’s Science and Advocacy Lead DEQ to Long-Overdue Big Hole River Protections; Concerns About Pollutants Driving Algal Blooms Remain At a Big Hole River Open House last night in Divide, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) shared that it…
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is now accepting public comment on its draft programmatic Environmental Assessment (EA) for the construction and operation of subsurface wastewater treatment systems (SWTS). A coalition of conservation groups, including Upper Missouri Waterkeeper, Montana…
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is accepting public comment on its draft programmatic Environmental Assessment (EA) for the construction and operation of subsurface wastewater treatment systems (SWTS). Here are the top five issues with the EA as proposed:…
What is DEQ proposing? The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has released a Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (EA) for the construction and operation of subsurface wastewater treatment systems (SWTS), aka septic systems. The department is currently accepting public comment on…
The 2025 Legislative Session unfortunately led to the enactment of several “dirty water bills.” These new laws have undermined Montana’s science-based water quality standards and are now failing to adequately protect our waterways, fisheries, recreational opportunities, and valued public trust…
