The big sky country of the Sun River Watershed covers 1.4 million acres in west central Montana. It is a diversified area of pristine wilderness, critical wildlife habitat, native rangeland and irrigated cropland. Addressing non-point source pollution in an area this size means a lot of teamwork. The watershed partnership was formed to get everyone involved, including numerous conservation groups, agencies, businesses and landowners.
All stakeholders have a vested interest and an equal voice in the process.
Education Community outreach educates the watershed population and is crucial for building trust, especially when you have about 1,000 farmers and ranchers participating through their respective conservation district. Public meetings, newsletters, brochures, television news spots and presentations keep everyone aware of proposed actions and involved the process. Workshops and field tours educate the public on project issues. Teachers use the watershed to help students learn about natural resources and successful techniques and practices to protect it. The watershed s approach has made successful use of a collaborative process that has eliminated the need for regulatory solutions.