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Careless
Creek Watershed Project was exceptional for many reasons,
but in particular, the project's long-standing service to
area resources and landowners (since 1992). Careless Creek
demonstrated an over-all effectiveness in reducing sediment
delivered to the Musselshell River by 25 percent. Their implementation
of a collaborative partnership among landowners and agencies
includes an effective monitoring program and comprehensive
education and outreach program integrating all aspects of
the community.
An example of severe erosion on Careless
Creek.
The Careless Creek steering committee has
been working to restore such streambanks and stabilize the
stream by reducing flows from Deadman's Basin Reservoir. The
process has included sloping, revetments, and replanting vegetation.
On old oxbow has also been restored to add approximately a
half-mile of meander to Careless Creek.
Tree planting along banks that have
been sloped with pine tree revetments and reseeded with native
grasses.
Restoration of Careless Creek has been an
important tool for educational outreach. An Annual Outdoor
Classroom has been held on the banks for the last three years,
hosting 5th and 6th graders from area schools in Harlowton,
Broadview, Shawmut, Roundup and Judith Gap. The field day
consists of planting seedlings interspersed with teaching
sessions of riparian vegetation, macroinverterate and fish
monitoring, and range health.
The Careless Creek watershed was the 2000
recipient of the CF Industries National Watershed Award.
Click
here to view the news release from CF Industries.
Click
here to view the local write-up from "Conservation
News" - the newsletter of the Lower Musselshell Conservation
District. |
The Green Mountain Conservation District is recognized as a catalyst and supporter of six watershed councils in the Lower Clark Fork Watershed beginning in 1995. These six watershed councils demonstrate a comprehensive approach for watershed health relying on a 'stakeholder' process for forming councils. The success of the groups has relied on technical assistance guiding restoration and conservation efforts as well as local citizens identifying watershed concerns and formulating effective strategies to address these concerns.
Before treatment: Unstable banks on Elk Creek were prone to accelerated erosion, produced addtional sediment, and provided little habitat for aquatic life.
After treatment: Treatment technologies installed by landowners on Elk Creek used natural matierals to create interim stability thereby allowing establishment of woody plantings and natural vegetation. The resulting conditions improve stream function by increasing erosion resisitance and enhancing aquatic and riparian habitat.
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The Sage Creek Watershed Alliance has proved
to be an effective force through a person-to- person approach.
The Alliance has addressed serious water quality concerns
in northern Montana by establishing clear objectives through
an Area Wide Conservation Plan and Water Restoration Action
Strategy. These objectives are pursued through a comprehensive
and aggressive public outreach program.
A rapid spring flush of water, capped
with 3-4 feet of foam came down Sage Creek in early 1996.
The water contaminated several reservoirs
and degraded at least one large reservoir to the point it
was no longer safe for livestock or wildlife use, forcing
the producer to immediately remove his cattle from the adjoining
pasture. The City of Havre experienced difficulty maintaining
treatment standards for their water supply due to the influx
of high nutrients and salinity (below) into the Havre system.
Local producers contacted the Conservation Districts for assistance
in addressing the concerns they set forth. 
The effects of salinity: The
white crust is evaporated salts, and the red is red glasswort,
a plant that tolerates the extreme salinity of the soil.
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Updated:
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
