Building Capacity Around Water Quality Monitoring on the Three Forks of the Flathead Wild and Scenic River
Protecting the outstanding water quality of the Three Forks of the Flathead Wild and Scenic River takes collaboration, ongoing monitoring, and a shared commitment to watershed health.
Through the Building Capacity Around Water Quality Monitoring project, Flathead Rivers Alliance (FRA) worked to strengthen coordination among agency partners, researchers, and community scientists to better understand existing monitoring efforts, identify data gaps, and establish priorities for short- and long-term water-quality monitoring. The project also helped identify opportunities to expand education and outreach around nonpoint source pollution, tailored to the unique needs of the Three Forks watershed.
This work reinforced an important principle: protecting the health of the Three Forks cannot fall to any one organization. It requires collaboration among the agencies, organizations, communities, and individuals who care for and depend on these rivers. Coordinated monitoring and shared knowledge help inform stewardship priorities and support efforts to protect the rivers’ outstanding water quality in alignment with the Comprehensive River Management Plan.
The report is complete, but the work continues. Flathead Rivers Alliance continues to conduct water-quality monitoring across the North, Middle, and South Forks of the Flathead River, working with volunteers and partners to build knowledge, strengthen community science, and support the long-term health of this nationally significant river system.
Funding support for Flathead Rivers Alliance to create Building Capacity Around Water Quality Monitoring and its associated partner workshops was provided through a grant administered by the Montana Watershed Coordination Council, with project support from Flathead National Forest and the National Park Foundation.
Building Capacity Around Water Quality
Healthy rivers depend on understanding and protecting the water that sustains our communities and ecosystems. Explore how Flathead Rivers Alliance is building capacity for water-quality monitoring through community science, volunteer engagement, and partnerships across the Three Forks of the Flathead River.
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Continuing Water Quality Monitoring in 2026
Flathead Rivers Alliance continues to monitor water quality across the North, Middle, and South Forks of the Flathead River, building on the collaborative foundation established through the Building Capacity Around Water Quality Monitoring project.
Our 2026 water-quality monitoring efforts were made possible through a grant from Monitoring Montana Waters, which supported laboratory analysis through the Flathead Lake Biological Research Station and helped provide spring water-quality monitoring training for our volunteers. Additional funding and program support from American Rivers and Flathead Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) grants helped advance this important work.
We extend a special thank you to the landowners who have generously allowed us more direct access to sampling sites along the river corridor. Your willingness to support this work helps our team reach important monitoring locations and strengthens our ability to better understand river health.
We are grateful to our funders, partners, landowners, and dedicated volunteer sampling team for helping us build a better understanding of water quality and support the long-term protection of the Three Forks of the Flathead Wild and Scenic River.
Read the Original Report
Access the original report for a more detailed look at the project, findings, and recommendations.