INDRELAND AUDUBON WETLAND PRESERVE UPDATE: MARCH 2025

World Wetlands Day (WWD) is celebrated on February 2nd each year to mark the anniversary of the 1971 adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands as an international treaty. It is the goal of the IAWP to use World Wetland Day to highlight all the wonderful wetland and riparian projects in Montana, especially right here in southwest Montana and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

This year celebrations kicked off with a special presentation on January 30th: “Why Wetlands Matter: The Codes That Save Us All.”  Thanks to Ronan Donovan—a National Geographic Fellow, wildlife biologist, and conservation photographer whose work seeks to mend the rift between modern humans and the more-than-human world—for his beaver & wetlands presentation. Also, a big thank you to the panelists—all of whom are involved with preserving, protecting, and mitigating our wetland impacts as we grow in this community and across the landscape: Gallatin County Commissioner Jennifer Boyer (the event moderator) and panelists Nathan Green (USACE), Nick Ross (City of Bozeman), and Jeannette Blank (Montana Freshwater Partners). 

You can watch a video featuring our wetland partners and the WWD presentation at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/2523040981166768557 

On February 2nd, nearly 70 people gathered for hot cocoa, a campfire, and a snowshoe tour of the IAWP.

Thank you to our partner exhibitors for their work protecting wetland and riparian areas:

  • Trout Unlimited: Lower Mandeville Creek Restoration Project restoring 1.2 miles of Mandeville Creek and turning .23 miles of the Farmers Canal into a wetland.
  • World Wildlife Fund: Numerous prairie stream restoration projects as part of their Sustainable Ranching initiative at WWF supporting ranchers in their efforts to protect and restore critical stream habitats in central and eastern Montana.
  • Confluence Consulting Inc: Expertise in feasibility assessments, delineations, permitting, and monitoring to promote wise stewardship of our natural environment. Restoring and creating wetlands comprises a large part of what Confluence does day-to-day. 
  • City of Bozeman: The City of Bozeman is focusing efforts on wetland regulation and stormwater management.
  • Montana Freshwater Partners (MFP): Dedicated to preserving and restoring streams and wetlands throughout the state. Their mission is innovatively met through their Give Back to the Yellowstone River Stewardship Program and their Wetland and Stream Mitigation Program.
  • Gallatin Local Water Quality District: Working to protect, preserve, and improve groundwater and surface water quality within the District.
  • Gallatin Watershed Council: Working on creating a wetland to treat the high-nutrient discharge from Manhattan’s wastewater treatment plant that currently empties into the Gallatin River. 
  • USFS Custer Gallatin National Forest Watershed Program:  Manages over 4,300 miles of streams and rivers, more than 300 high mountain lakes, and several prairie reservoirs supplying three municipal water supplies and numerous recreational activities.
  • Gallatin River Task Force: A nonprofit based in Big Sky, Montana that focuses on the health and resilience of the Upper Gallatin Watershed.
  • National Wildlife Federation: Spearheaded and formed the Montana Beaver Working Group, a collaborative with representatives of numerous organizations. 
  • Indreland Audubon Wetland Preserve Busy Beaver Volunteer Program: People taking action for the protection, enhancement, and restoration of wetlands and watersheds. Visit https://bozemanwetlands.org/WP/2025/02/05/become-a-busy-beaver/ Thank you to the Busy Beavers on the World Wetland Day Committee: Hillary-Anne Crosby, Jennifer Heiss, Frank Marchak, Emma Narotzky, Loreene Reid, Cathy Stamm, Janet Winnie, and Diane Winters.