Missoula Conservation District and Lolo Watershed Group awarded DNRC grant to develop Lolo Creek Watershed Drought Management Plan

The Missoula Conservation District (MCD), in partnership with the Lolo Watershed Group (LWG), has been awarded $49,347 through the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) Reclamation and Development Grants (RDG) Program to complete the Lolo Creek Watershed Drought Management Plan. The Public Kickoff Meeting will be held on March 30th from 6 – 7:30 pm at the Holt Heritage Center, 6800 US Highway 12, Lolo, MT 59847.

The project responds to increasing drought impacts in the Lolo Creek watershed, including chronic low flows and dewatering in the lower creek and highly visible fish mortality during the summer of 2025. The planning process will bring together landowners, irrigators, residents, agency partners, and local organizations to develop a practical, locally led drought management strategy that supports stream health, fisheries, and the long-term resilience of the watershed.

“This grant gives our community a real opportunity to come together, identify workable solutions, and build shared commitment to keeping Lolo Creek connected and healthy during the toughest parts of the year,” said Radley Watkins, Executive Director of the Missoula Conservation District.

“The drought plan is premised on community conservation and a ridgetop-to-ridgetop view of watershed health. It’s an opportunity to collectively improve a water resource that we all depend upon. The drought plan is good for Lolo Creek, the Bitterroot and Clark for River fisheries, and everyone who cares about the health of these stream systems.” said Ron Pierce, Fisheries Biologist and Lolo Watershed Group board member.

What the plan will do

Over the course of the grant period (January 2026–December 2027), MCD and LWG will:

• Host 6–8 public community meetings to gather input, share information, and build support (tentatively planned at Traveler’s Rest State Park).
• Conduct targeted outreach with landowners and irrigators to identify voluntary drought response actions and mitigation projects.
• Use local and partner expertise to refine plan recommendations, including strategies to improve drought resilience and reduce the severity of low-flow impacts.
• Improve public access to drought and streamflow information by refining LWG’s River Conditions Tool for real-time conditions, where available.
• Finalize a watershed-wide, “ridgetop-to-ridgetop” plan that includes prioritized drought mitigation projects and pathways toward voluntary implementation.

Potential project concepts to be evaluated through the plan include improving riparian function and shading, identifying habitat and groundwater storage opportunities, supporting fish-friendly irrigation practices, and exploring tools that protect water rights while enabling short-term instream flow benefits during drought.

Community participation

The first public meeting will be held on Monday, March 30 from 6 – 7:30 at the Holt Heritage Center, 6800 US Highway 12, Lolo, MT 59847. Community members, including landowners, irrigators, and residents, are encouraged to participate and help shape the plan. Subsequent meetings will be announced on Lolo Watershed Group’s Facebook and Instagram pages, and via fliers.

Project partners include the Lolo Watershed Group, Missoula Conservation District, and collaborating organizations and agencies involved in watershed restoration and fisheries health. The Clark Fork Coalition will be involved in providing additional technical and legal expertise. Agencies such as Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Montana DNRC, and the U.S. Forest Service will also be consulted as the plan is developed.

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MCD Funds Lolo Watershed Education Series (Education Cost Share Grant ECS-04-26)

MCD has also awarded LWG an Education Cost Share Grant to support the Lolo Watershed Education Series. The District’s grant award is $4,240, to host an education series, which will increase community awareness of the multi-dimensional nature of the Lolo Creek watershed and build practical stewardship skills for both youth and adults. The project includes:

• Four public speaker events at Traveler’s Rest State Park, each focused on a different aspect of the watershed (e.g., wildlife, water, fishery, and restoration) and facilitated by local experts.
• Watershed education programming for students at Lolo School and Woodman School during the 2025–26 school year, including multiple classroom visits.
• A spring tree planting activity at Earl Tennant Campground.

“This education series is an investment in long-term watershed conservation, and a really great volunteer group that loves the Creek and is rolling up their sleeves to get things done.” said Watkins. “By reaching both students and adults with practical, locally relevant information, the LWG will build a stronger stewardship ethic, invest in the conservation leaders of tomorrow, and a community that’s ready to take action for Lolo Creek.”

Photo: Megan Strickland Sacry