2008-2009 Big Sky Resort Tax funds were critical to the success of each of the Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) three main programs: 1) community water quality monitoring, 2) watershed resource assessment (which includes the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program), and 3) community education. Under the community water quality monitoring program, BWTF conducted quarterly water quality sampling events and biannual macroinvertebrate sampling events (stream bugs) on the Gallatin River and its tributaries. BWTF has been collecting long-term water quality and stream bug data on the Gallatin River and its tributaries since 2000. The stream bug report and stream water quality data can be found on the BWTF website (www.bluewatertaskforce.org). Over 2008-2009, BWTF and Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology completed a second year of a three year groundwater monitoring program, which will provide the Big Sky area with its first extensive overview of its groundwater system.
Under the watershed resource assessment program, BWTF completed extensive water quality monitoring for pathogens, streamflow, nutrients, and sediment in 2009-2009. The following reports were completed: 2008 West Fork Gallatin Streamflow Study, Streambank Erosion Source Assessment, Base Parameter Assessment, and Upper Gallatin River TMDL Planning Area Sediment Monitoring. In June 2009, we began working on a synopsis of the TMDL studies for the general public, which will be completed by August 2009. To develop strategies which address water quality problems discovered through the TMDL studies, BWTF received a Watershed Restoration Planning grant from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality in May 2009. Over the past year, BWTF continued to: 1) participate in the Wastewater Solutions Forum, which is a group of community leaders, developers, and conservationist, who have been working together to develop viable options for future wastewater disposal in the Big Sky area, and 2) work closely with the Gallatin Local Water Quality District to expand the District boundary to Big Sky.
Finally, under the community education program, BWTF participated in the following events: Big Sky Country Fair (Educational Activity Booth), Big Sky Institute Mountains and Minds lecture series, Big Sky Owners Association Annual Meeting, (Informational Booth), TMDL Project Open House (Planning and Hosting Organization/ Presenter), Ophir School 4th grade yearlong watershed education program, and Lone Peak High School climate study. In the fall of 2009, BWTF placed signs on 4 community trail bridges, which cross streams that BWTF collects data and restructured the BWTF website to include an interactive map for easy access to water quality information in the Big Sky area. This past winter, Blue Water Task Force and Big Sky Resort partnered to develop a towel re-use program in over 1000 of the resort’s guest bathrooms to promote water conservation. Thank you for your continued support Big Sky Resort Tax!!
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