Cottonwood-Baggs Fish Passage In the late fall of 2019, the Coalition finished a stream reconnection project on Baggs Creek and Cottonwood Creek in the upper Clark Fork. Eight miles of stream was opened to… Stream Restoration Water Management Wildlife Coexistence Adequate Flow Ecosystem Health Vulnerable Wildlife Upper Clark Fork
Valiton Ditch Split Season Lease Three landowners are working with us to reduce late season water use on the mainstem Clark Fork. They lease CFC their water right from mid-July through August and cease irrigation if flows reach… Water Management Water Monitoring Adequate Flow Flood and Drought Climate Change Ecosystem Health Vulnerable Wildlife Upper Clark Fork
Broken Circle Diversion Upgrade Historically, Broken Circle Ranch rebuilt their irrigation diversion every summer using broken concrete and streambed material, which resulted in passage issues for fish and recreationists. In 2023, the ranch worked with the Coalition to install an innovative floating fish screen and river pump that requires minimal structure in the river… Stream Restoration Water Management Adequate Flow Climate Change Ecosystem Health Vulnerable Wildlife Recreation Upper Clark Fork
Helen-Johnson Ditch Project The Helen Johnson project reduced irrigation withdrawals from the mainstem of the Upper Clark Fork by over 15 cfs on three ranches. It removed a… Stream Restoration Water Management Adequate Flow Ecosystem Health Upper Clark Fork
Grant Creek Restoration With new, intensive development happening along its lower reaches, the future of Grant Creek depends on community investment in the creek’s rich cultural and ecological functions before it’s too late. Right now, we have an amazing opportunity for holistic, headwaters-to-… Advocacy Stream Restoration Water Monitoring Adequate Flow Ecosystem Health Growth and Sprawl Middle Clark Fork
Exempt Wells Loophole In 1973, the Montana Legislature passed the Water Use Act, which created a process for permitting new water rights. To reduce permitting burdens on small, individual users, it exempted groundwater use for “domestic, agricultural, or livestock purposes.” This meant applicants did not have to prove that the water was physically… Advocacy Adequate Flow Ecosystem Health Growth and Sprawl Upper Clark Fork Bitterroot Middle Clark Fork Blackfoot Flathead Lower Clark Fork
Keep Cool Creek We permanently acquired 5 cfs of water rights that reconnect Keep Cool Creek to the Blackfoot River year round. Water Management Water Monitoring Wildlife Coexistence Adequate Flow Climate Change Flood and Drought Ecosystem Health Vulnerable Wildlife Blackfoot
Lost Horse Creek Monitoring The Clark Fork Coalition is currently working with the irrigation districts on Lost Horse Creek to monitor flows in the ditches to better understand the water balance on the creek. We are also conducting synoptic flow studies on 3 of the major ditches to assess seepage losses. CFC is also… Water Monitoring Water Management Adequate Flow Climate Change Vulnerable Wildlife Ecosystem Health Bitterroot
Lolo Ditch Fish Screen In 2020, CFC completed installation of a fish screen on Lolo Ditch, which, before this project, had trapped 10,000 fish each year, greatly impacting native and wild fish populations. Stream Restoration Wildlife Coexistence Ecosystem Health Vulnerable Wildlife Bitterroot
