MMW - Funded Groups

2023 Funded Groups

Big Hole River Foundation

Big Hole river foundation is conducting long-term water quality monitoring of the Big Hole River. This is their 3rd year of funding with MMW. In 2023 we are supporting half of all the laboratory analyses of water samples collected by BHRF and helped BHRF expand their monitoring efforts to include new analytes.
Clearwater Resource Council

The Clearwater Resource Council (CRC) facilitates efforts to enhance, conserve, sustain, and protect the aquatic resources of the Clearwater Valley. In 2008 CRC initiated community-based lake monitoring and in 2013 they began facilitating stream monitoring in collaboration with the Southwest Crown Collaborative. Funding assistance from MMW in 2023 is supporting and expanding the analysis of multiple parameters in streams and lakes from the Clearwater Basin.
Flathead Lakers Swim Guide

MMW is supporting the efforts of the Flathead Lakers who are continuing sampling efforts for the yearly swim guide. This work ensures that recreation opportunities are safe for everyone. Funding will support laboratory analyses of water quality samples collected at swimming beaches around Flathead Lake.
Little Bitterroot Lake Association

Little Bitterroot Lake Association received funding in 2023 for a DO/Temperature meter in order to collect more data around The Little Bitterroot Lake, and understand the effects of eutrophication on the lake.

Rock Creek Watershed Group and Carbon County Resource Council

MMW is Supporting Rock Creek Watershed Group and the Carbon county Resource Council in their efforts to monitor the Rock Creek watershed. The group is collecting baseline data to understand the effects of increased development and agriculture use on the water quality of the stream. 2023 funding is supporting the costs of laboratory analyses.
Bitterroot River Protection Association

Bitterroot Protection Association’s Mission is to protect, preserve and enhance the water quality and quantity in the Bitterroot River Watershed. As a part of that effort, they are the lead organization in a community-based water quality monitoring cooperative. Funding from MMW in 2023 is supporting the continued monitoring efforts that are part of their Sapphire Front project.
Kootenai Watershed Allies

Kootenai Watershed Allies formed in 2022 and is continuing monitoring efforts in 2023. This group is focused on monitoring Selenium and nutrients on tributaries of the Kootenai River and Koocanusa Reservoir. MMW is supporting the group by providing laboratory funding for the parameters being measured.
Flathead River Allies

Flathead River Alliance was formed in 2019 to support and enhance the Three Forks of the Flathead River. FRA is newly funded by MMW in 2023 and they will be collecting nutrient samples from throughout the Three Forks.
Missoula Valley Water Quality District

The Missoula Valley Water Quality district works with a group of volunteers to monitor the water quality of tributaries near Missoula. Past efforts have been directed at streams that were identified as impaired. Funding from MMW in 2023 is allowing the group to gather more water quality data.
Yaak Valley Forest Council

The Yaak Valley Forest Council has continued to be funded by MMW in 2023 to continue implementing a water quality monitoring program. This program addresses several threats to regional waterways: increased development, a rise in didymo and algae blooms, selenium runoff, and the overarching threats of climate change. The group’s aim is to collect baseline data on various water quality parameters in the Yaak.

2022 Funded Groups

Big Hole River Foundation

One of the Big Hole River Foundation's goals is to conduct long-term water quality monitoring on the Big Hole River. 2022 funding from MMW is supporting half of all the laboratory analyses of water samples collected by the BHRF.
Bitterroot River Protection Association

Bitterroot River Protection Association’s (BRPA) mission is to protect, preserve and enhance the water quality and quantity in the entire Bitterroot River Watershed. As part of that effort, they are the lead organization in a community-based water quality monitoring cooperative. Funding from MMW in 2022 is supporting the continued monitoring efforts that are part of their Sapphire Front Project.
Clearwater Resource Council

The Clearwater Resource Council (CRC) facilitates efforts to enhance, conserve, sustain, and protect the aquatic resources of the Clearwater Valley for present and future generations. In 2008 CRC initiated community-based lake monitoring and in 2013 they began facilitating stream monitoring in collaboration with the Southwest Crown Collaborative. Funding assistance from MMW in 2022 is supporting and expanding the analysis of multiple parameters in streams and lakes of the Clearwater Basin. Click here to visit the CRC website.
Kootenai Watershed Allies

Kootenai Watershed Allies is a newly formed group in 2022. This group is focused on monitoring Selenium and nutrients on tributaries of the Kootenai River and Lake Koocanusa. MMW is supporting the group by providing laboratory funding for the parameters being measured. Click here to see a Story Map about monitoring in the Kootenai Watershed.
Bitter Root Water Forum

The Bitterroot Water Forum is a non profit organization dedicated to protecting, enhancing, and restoring the Bitterroot Watershed. In 2022 the organization is supplementing previous monitoring efforts on Skalkaho Creek. MMW is providing gear funding for the group to collect temperature and flow measurements throughout the creek.
Missoula Valley Water Quality District

The Missoula Valley Water Quality District works with a group of volunteers to monitor the water quality of tributaries near Missoula. Past efforts have been directed at streams that were identified as impaired. Funding from MMW in 2022 is allowing the group to gather more baseline water quality data.
Rock Creek Watershed Group and Carbon County Resource Council

MMW is supporting the newly formed Rock Creek Watershed Group and the Carbon County Resource Council in their efforts in monitoring the Rock Creek watershed. The groups are interested in collecting baseline data to understand how increasing development and agriculture use are impacting the water quality of the stream. 2022 funding is supporting the costs of laboratory analysis for the groups.
Yaak Valley Forest Council

The Yaak Valley Forest Council has been funded by MMW in 2022 to continue implementing a water quality monitoring program. This program addresses several threats to regional waterways including: increased home building, a rise in didymo and algae blooms over the last two decades, and the overarching and compounding threat of climate change. The group's aim is to collect baseline data on various water quality parameters in the Yaak Valley watershed.
Students in Action

Students in Action is a group of volunteers from the Seely-Swan high school who plan to monitor water quality in Morrell Creek. The group will collect data to understand how population growth and increased septic tank density impacts the water quality at the site.11 years of water quality data has been recorded at Morrell Creek. Laboratory funding from MMW in 2022 will support the efforts of the SIA to continue monitoring efforts at this location. Click here for a Story-Map about SIA.

2021 Funded Groups

Big Hole River Foundation

One of the Big Hole River Foundation's goals is to conduct long-term water quality monitoring on the Big Hole River. 2021 funding from MMW is supporting half of all the laboratory analyses of water samples collected by the BHRF and helped them expand monitoring efforts to add two new sampling sites this year. Click to see a Story Map about Monitoring on the Big Hole.
Big Hole Watershed Committee

Established in 1995, the Big Hole Watershed Committee is a watershed group dedicated to the conservation of the Big Hole River and surrounding watershed. One of their monitoring efforts includes water quality sampling for the Elkhorn Mine & Mill Restoration Project. MMW is supporting BHWC in 2021 by providing gear funding. Click to visit the BHWC website.
Yaak Valley Forest Council

The Yaak Valley Forest Council has been funded by MMW in 2021 to begin implementing a water quality monitoring program. This program addresses several threats to regional waterways including: increased home building, a rise in didymo and algae blooms over the last two decades, and the overarching and compounding threat of climate change. Click here to visit a Story Map about monitoring in the Yaak.
Bitterroot River Protection Association

Bitterroot River Protection Association’s (BRPA) mission is to protect, preserve and enhance the water quality and quantity in the entire Bitterroot River Watershed. As part of that effort, they are the lead organization in a community-based water quality monitoring cooperative. Funding from MMW in 2021 is supporting monitoring efforts that are part of their Sapphire Front Project.
Swim Guide

MMW is supporting the efforts of the FLOW Swimmers and their Swim Guide. Funding will support laboratory analyses of water quality samples collected at swimming beaches on Flathead Lake during the summer of 2021. Click to visit the FLOW Swimmers website.
Missoula Valley Water Quality District

The Missoula Valley Water Quality District works with a group of volunteers to monitor the water quality of tributaries near Missoula. Past efforts have been directed at streams that were identified as impaired. Funding from MMW is allowing more streams to be sampled in 2021 and will help the group gather more baseline water quality data.

Clearwater Resource Council

The Clearwater Resource Council (CRC) facilitates efforts to enhance, conserve, sustain, and protect the aquatic resources of the Clearwater Valley for present and future generations. In 2008 CRC initiated community-based lake monitoring and in 2013 they began facilitating stream monitoring in collaboration with the Southwest Crown Collaborative. Funding assistance from MMW in 2021 is supporting the analysis of multiple parameters in streams and lakes of the Clearwater Basin and also assisted with the purchase of a new sonde. Click here to visit the CRC website.
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