State of Montana Officially Declares Gallatin River ‘Impaired’

Nutrient pollution levels too high to support aquatic life, recreation Today, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) formally declared the middle segment of the Gallatin River ‘impaired’ by algal blooms under Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA)….

FAQs: Gallatin River Middle Segment Impairment Designation

June 2022 Preliminary Determination of Impairment What’s being proposed? Based on a review of best available science from the past 10 years, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued a preliminary determination that the middle segment Gallatin River…

Conservation Organizations Challenge Unlawful Big Sky Pollution Permit

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…

Opposing A New Pollution Permit to the Upper Gallatin

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…

Protecting the Gallatin in the Face of Big Sky’s Big Growth

At its most basic, the central issue confronting Big Sky is whether growth will protect the very foundation of this community’s success: clean water and healthy landscapes. The question is whether Big Sky will do it right, take responsibility for…

Gallatin River Algal Bloom – August 2018

The Gallatin River is experiencing a large, miles-long neon-green algal bloom for the first time in recent memory. The Algal Bloom: Waterkeeper first became aware of the emerging algal bloom on the Gallatin late July 2018.  A few members shared…