Central Montana Resource Council (CMRC) is a new group being funded by the Monitoring Montana Waters (MMW) program in 2024. CMRC is a community organization of concerned citizens who are dedicated to the sustainability of water, land, and food productions for future generations. Based in Fergus, Judith Basin, and Wheatland counties, CMRC focuses on protecting family ranches, building a vibrant localized food system, increasing accessibility of clean energy, and protecting water resources.  

After many months of developing a Sampling and Analysis Plan with the guidance of MMW personnel and MT DEQ, CMRC is ready to begin monitoring the Ross Fork Creek! Ross Fork Creek is a tributary of the Judith River and consists of 64.23 river miles running from its headwaters in the Big Snowy Mountains through Fergus and Judith Basin Counties. This area supports a variety of land use and management practices, including traditional ranching and farming operations, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), recreation, and fish and wildlife habitat. Ross Fork Creek is currently listed as a Category 5 impaired stream by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in its 2020 Integrated Report, for alterations in stream-side/littoral vegetative covers, excessive nitrate-nitrite concentrations, physical substrate habitat alterations, and sedimentation (Final Water Quality Integrated Report, MT DEQ, Feb. 2021). 

At the end of June, Big Sky Watershed Corps members Brianna Elizondo and Jared Glass traveled to Lewistown, MT to meet the members of CMRC in person for on-the-ground training. Members were shown where to sample within the stream, standard operating procedures for unfiltered and filtered grab samples, and handheld meter operation. Members had a chance to get their feet wet and get their questions answered. It was a beautiful sunny day and a great opportunity to spend quality time with one another. To read more about CMRC’s training day check out the article that was published in Lewistown News Argus!