Bitter Root Water Forum Inc

Programs: Watershed education-in 2017, watershed education programs and services reached more than 600 youth and 250 adults. Programs included "earth stewardship program", a partnership with local schools that reaches 7th graders in five local schools throughout the duration of the school year, providing both in classroom lessons and field trips; "future irrigators of the bitterroot", a field trip of irrigation infrastructure and restoration project sites for adults; "bitterroot river clean up" an annual event and educational tool that brings the community togeth- er to better understand the importance of watershed health and vitality and provide direct stewardship opportunities; presentations to civic clubs; and leading watershed education stations at area events including conservation days, youth expo, farmers market and other community events.

on the ground restoration-the water forum partnered with a fifth- generation ranching family to complete a restoration project to improve water quality in the east fork of the bitterroot river. The project helped rebuild a healthy riparian area and improve the health of this headwater stream by adding native shrubs and willows to the streambank, providing shade and habitat, and installing one-half mile riparian fencing, keeping cattle out of the stream and protecting plants. In 2017 the water fo

project maintenance and monitoring-to ensure project effectiveness, projects are monitored and maintained for at least three years after implementation. The largest project monitored in 2017 was the water- shed improvement project, a partnership project with the bitterroot national forest to restore abandoned and deteriorating roads, returning them to productive landscape; monitoring and modeling determined that this project will result in the reduction of sediment delivery to sleeping child and

landowner outreach, project and program development to continue building on successes for community driven restoration, time is spent developing quality relationships with landowners, visiting potential rest- restoration, time is spent developing quality relationships with landowners, visiting potential rest- restoration, time is spent developing quality relationships with landowners, visiting potential rest- restoration, time is spent developing quality relationships with landowners, visiting p