'Citizen science' volunteers measure a streams morphing 

"The goal of the group, assembled by Watershed Education Network, was to take measurements of Rattlesnake Creek at four cross sections where the Rattlesnake Dam was removed two years ago. As part of the 2020 dam removal, aimed at improving the habitat, the site was crafted into a human-made analog of a natural stream corridor. WEN, and the "citizen science" volunteers the nonprofit rallies, collect vital data that tracks how the stream morphs over time."

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-Josh Murdock (Missoulian)

Photo by: Ben Allan Smith 

Recreational pressure a threat to Rattlesnake restoration area

"The restoration area around Rattlesnake Dam is starting to fill in, but some are worried that inconsiderate activity could damage the work that's been done.

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The Watershed Education Network and the Missoula City Parks and Recreation Department this week held a tour of the former Rattlesnake Dam site to allow Missoulians to see what has transpired in the year since the dam was removed."

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-Laura Lundquist (Missoula Current)

Photo by: Laura Lundquist

Arlee and Ronan middle schools place in competition

"On April 21, 2021, nearly 50 Western Montana middle and high school students from Arlee Middle School, Aspire Middle and High School, Missoula Online Academy, and Ronan Middle School competed for $3000 in prize money by presenting actionable projects to strengthen their community’s resilience to natural disasters during the RISE challenge Big Sky Summer event."

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-Liz Dempsey (Char-Koosta News)

Photo by: Liz Dempsey

Sustainable Missoula: Discovering the river magic

"On that January day, I was headed to meet my son, Ben, and my grandchildren, Hana and Anders, at the Clark Fork River just below Bernice’s Bakery and west along the Riverfront Trail. They wanted to try the family science project that Watershed Education Network (WEN) is piloting this winter as an option for getting kids of all ages out exploring river and creek spots."

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-Deb Fassnacht (WEN)

Photo by: Ben Fassnacht

WestSlope Chapter Trout Unlimited Members Jump into Citizen Science

"You may have seen a group of people in waders, with nets and stadia rods, wandering in Rattlesnake Creek over the last two years. That would be the Watershed Education Network’s (WEN’s) volunteer citizen science group, Stream Team. WEN has been fortunate to team up with Trout Unlimited to assist with the monitoring of Rattlesnake Creek before, during, and after the Rattlesnake Dam removal."

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-Deb Fassnacht and Aissa Wise (WEN)

Rattlesnake Creek Dam Removal, Restoration Will Be a National Model

"The Watershed Education Network’s activities have caught attention of the University of California-Davis, which has decided to use Rattlesnake Creek as a model for future citizen-science projects throughout the West."

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-An Excerpt from Laura Lundquist. Missoula Current - Missoula's News Journal

Photo by: Laura Lundquist (Missoula Current)

Hall Passages: Washington Middle Schoolers Put on Waders to Learn About River Health

"Healthy rivers mean healthy fish.

That was the take-home concept for a class of seventh-graders from Washington Middle School who visited Bancroft Pond to learn about river health and ecology on Monday.

Students pulled on waders and splashed through chilly water during their trip, which marked the beginning of “Fish Week,” when the Watershed Education Network and WestSlope Chapter Trout Unlimited partner to teach students hands-on lessons about the fish and organisms living in Missoula’s watershed."

-An Excerpt from Cameron Evans' Missoulian Article

Photo by: Tom Bauer (Missoulian)

St. Joseph's and Volunteers Test River Health

"In addition to working with the University, Watershed partners with many local businesses and organizations, including the Missoula Water Quality District, the Missoula Conservation District, West Slope Trout Unlimited and the Missoula Wastewater Treatment Plant, as well as numerous volunteers and donors. On weekends, other community members who are part of the “stream team” visit other nearby rivers to collect data.

Fassnacht said working with the community is foundational to Watershed, as they rely on volunteers and donors to help promote river stewardship."

-Excerpt from Cameron Evans' Missoulian Article

Photo by: Parker Seibold (Missoulian)

Kids Studying the River: Missoula Community Foundation Aims to Help Nonprofits Grow

“In an ordinary bucket of water from Lolo Creek, all it takes is a close look to reveal a dizzying array of life: fishing spiders, stone flies and all kinds of bizarre aquatic insects that usually escape the attention of humans.” Written by: David Erickson (Missoulian)

WEN has proven itself to be an important educator for kids across Montana. WEN provides field trips for schools in the Missoula area, where it teaches children of all ages the importance of healthy rivers, streams and lakes. This year WEN was one of the three local non-profits to receive the Non-profit Excellence capacity building grant from the Missoula Community Foundation. WEN has been an important business in the Missoula community and this grant gives it the possibility for growth.

Photo by: Tom Bauer (Missoulian)

Local Company Partners With City to Test Floating Wetland Islands to Combat Water Pollution

“A local watershed consulting company and a nonprofit education network are working with the city of Missoula and local high school science students on a pilot project to test how well floating wetland islands work in improving water quality.” Written by: David Erickson (Missoulian)

As a member of this team, WEN has helped to create and set afloat three Biohaven Floating Islands. The goal here to use recycled materials to create sustainable habitats that can help to improve water quality. These islands have to potential to mitigate the effects of pesticides and waste as well as create a living environment for macro invertebrates and other species.

Photo by: Tommy Martino (Missoulian)

Paxson Fourth-Graders Learn River Ecology From UM Students

“It was a case of students teaching students Monday as undergraduates from the University of Montana led a field trip on river ecology for a fourth-grade class from Paxson Elementary School.” Written by: Dillon Kato (Missoulian)

University of Montana undergraduates joined up with Watershed Education Network as part of their “Adopt-A-Class” campaign. UM students spent the day teaching a group of fourth graders from Paxson Elementary School and leading activities such as identifying different insect species. 

Photo by: Tommy Martino (Missoulian)

City, nonprofit move ahead with wilderness dam removal

"Miles downstream of the alpine lakes, dam removal has already shown benefits, according to the Watershed Education Network. The Missoula-based nonprofit engages community volunteers to use "citizen science" in monitoring stream conditions on Lower Rattlesnake Creek. Since 2017, the group has gathered data from above, at and below the dam site from before and after the dam removal."

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-Josh Murdock (Missoulian)

Photo by: Morgan Valliant

Sustainable Missoula: Watershed sustainability and our community 

"As a community we can all make sure that our watersheds remain intact and healthy well into the future. By working together, we can learn what our watersheds need and make sure we are all taking care of the land we live and play on to keep our water resources healthy for years to come. As we begin a new year, let’s set the intention of being watershed stewards and encourage our family and friends to do what we can to minimize our impacts."

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-Deb Fassnacht (WEN) and Brook Bauer (WEN) 

Photo by: Brook Bauer 

Sustainable Missoula: The next generation of environmental problem solvers

"We were on one of many field trips with students from Aspire, an alternative middle and high school. Aspire had just purchased property on McCauley flat in the summer and students jumped right into exploring their outdoor classroom. Part of this exploration included identifying evidence of water to prepare for spring flooding, which would limit their access to the outdoor classroom."

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-Cassie Sevigny (WEN)

Photo by: Cassie Sevigny

Park Side Credit Union announces nonprofit partners

"Park Side Credit Union announced the exclusive group of nonprofit organizations the credit union will be working with for their 2021 Park Side Partner Program. Through these strategic partnerships, each organization will receive cross-promotion, shared advertising and a donation of $5,000 from the credit union."

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-Missoulian Staff

Dam done: Crews begin work restoring Rattlesnake Creek flow

"After the reservoir gets drained and dried out, workers will cut a bypass channel for the creek to run around the old concrete spillway. They will remove that barrier and add a new, curved channel for the creek, which will absorb much of the meltwater energy released every spring."

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-An Excerpt from Rob Chaney's Missoulian Article.

Photo by: Ben Allan Smith (Missoulian)

Native Tech Camp Returns to Flathead Reservation

"This year, campers will have the chance to build and program robots; visit the Flathead Lake Biological Station; use a "maker truck's" traditional and modern tools; and meet with scientists and engineers from Intel, Mission Valley Power, the Watershed Education Network, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ wildlife program and the Washington Corp.

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" -An Excerpt from Patrick Reilly's Missoulian Article

Photo by: Tom Bauer (Missoulian)

Ski In, Ski Out: Cross-Country Hydrology

"It was 14 degrees, not accounting for wind chill, and snow coated the Rattlesnake. As Rattlesnake Creek babbled on, its edges frozen with a few inches of ice, the steady rhythm of skis gracefully sliding over snow broke the silence of an otherwise quiet, cold winter day.

Sawyer Meegan stopped at a cliff 20 feet above the water, jammed his skis into the snow, and scrambled down.

Meegan, a Resource Conservation senior, knelt at the creek's edge, taking the water's temperature. Today, Feb. 24, it was a half-degree above freezing.

Meegan is working to collect these and other measurements as part of his internship with the Watershed Education Network."

-An Excerpt from Eli Imadali's Kaimin Article

Photo by: Eli Imadali (Montana Kaimin)

Paddleboarders Race to Raise Money for Kids' Meals, Watershed

“'It’s a friendly competition, but if the peanut butter wins, the peanut butter wins,' Rebecca Paquette boldly declared, pulling her peanut butter costume over her life jacket. 'Friday was the first day on the boards for a lot of us, and we are surprisingly phenomenal. We are naturals. Look out, banana.'

'We are sworn enemies,' responded Aaron Brock, wearing the banana costume. 'You just wait.'

Paquette and Brock both work at the Missoula Food Bank and Community Center. The two were some of the 60-plus competitors in the Windermere Real Estate stand up paddleboard race to benefit the Food Bank’s EmPower Pack children’s program and the Watershed Education Network. The peanut butter and banana were joined by a couple of pickles and a bottle of ketchup."

-An Excerpt from Eve Byron's Missoulian Article

Photo by: Colter Peterson (Missoulian)

Students Get Taste of Environmental Science Careers on Lolo National Forest

“Nash also said he wants to experience different jobs related to wildlife before he settles on a choice of a career path. He said this summer has opened his eyes to the possibilities of employment in natural resource management.” Written by: David Erickson (Missoulian)

Jasper Nash, a high school senior from Helena was one of the 10 to participate in WEN’s Youth Conservation Corps summer program. WEN partnered up with the Lolo National Forest service to give high school students the opportunity to get a summer job exploring different jobs such as resource management. Students spent five weeks in the field participating in a multitude of jobs.

Photo by: Kurt Wilson (Missoulian)

WildWalk Parade Dances Through Downtown Missoula

“It’s our job to seek out those organizations that can already reach out to (children), and go along with our themes of wildlife, conservation, low waste.” Written by: Chelsea Davis (Missoulian)

As part of the 39th annual International Wildlife Film festival, WEN participated in the WildWalk parade weaving down Higgins. A team from WEN assembled a larger-than-life bull trout costume and “swam” through the streets in Missoula in celebration.

Photo by: Kurt Wilson