Some improvements to Godfrey Creek water will take time, perhaps as many years as it took for the damage to occur in the first place. But the initial steps have been taken. First came awareness that improvements could benefit both landowners along the stream and people downstream. Next, people started to work on those improvements. The landowners have made improvements to the creek bed, stock pens and manure collection an dispersal systems.
Cattle now get water from wells and access to the stream is managed to minimize grazing effects.
In the few places where cows have watering access to Godfrey Creek, its banks have been stabilized. Many of the improvements were cost-shared by producers and the federal government. This was possible because Godfrey Creek was designated one of 37 water projects in 1990, says Gene Surber, who was the Montana State University Extension Agent for Gallatin County as the project was organized. He is now an MSU Extension natural resource specialist. After all, the scene looked both traditional and pastoral to people driving by.