The Watercourse Commons
Scientific guidance for streamside buffers in the Gallatin Watershed that support the common good.
In the Gallatin Watershed, our economy, identity, health, and safety are closely tied to our rivers and streams. When a river has the space to flood, erode, and grow native streamside vegetation, it is able to safely convey high flows with limited damage to property and infrastructure, slow and store water, support a healthy fishery, provide critical wildlife habitat, and maintain clean water.
The Challenge: While riparian areas only make up about 5% of Montana’s land cover, most of our wildlife depend on these limited slivers of land, and our prized trout fishery depends on especially cold, clean, and connected water. Of the over 1,000 miles of streams in the Lower Gallatin Watershed, 40% lack any woody riparian vegetation, and the system is straining.
The Watercourse Commons Report
The Solution: The Watercourse Commons was developed by a team of local water resource professionals as part of the Gallatin Water Collaborative and includes stream buffers based on stream size and ecological importance, the regulated floodplain, channel migration zones, and riparian vegetation associated with watercourses.
This guide was developed to inspire a more unified approach to streamside management. This guide includes scientific recommendations for the space streams need to effectively provide the following benefits to our community:
flood with minimal risk to infrastructure and property,
naturally recharge groundwater,
provide fish and wildlife habitat, and
treat and filter pollution to maintain clean water.
Resources
3D Hydrography Program National States Geographic Information Council Information Hub
3D Hydrography Program Benefits and Applications
3D Hydrography Program Montana Planning Map
Elevation-Derived Hydrography READ Rules
Elevation-Derived Hydrography Data Acquisition Specifications
3D Hydrography Program FAQs: Funding