Around 109 Volunteers Brave the Rain at the 2026 River Weed Pull Rodeo

Rain couldn't stop a dedicated community of river stewards from showing up for the 2026 River Weed Pull Rodeo.

On June 24, nearly 110 volunteers came together for a day of stewardship, education, and action to help protect the Flathead River from invasive noxious weeds. While rainy weather is a rarity for this annual event, volunteers embraced the conditions with enthusiasm, demonstrating their commitment to keeping one of the nation's most treasured river systems healthy for future generations.

Volunteers worked along multiple sections of the Flathead River, with private boater crews removing invasive weeds along the Middle Fork Flathead River between West Glacier and Blankenship. Guided rafting trips carried additional volunteer crews farther upstream, expanding the event's reach into areas that are more difficult to access.

This work wouldn't have been possible without the generous support of our rafting partners. A huge thank you to Glacier Guides & Montana Raft, Glacier Raft Co., Great Northern Whitewater, and Wild River Adventures for donating guided raft trips to transport volunteers to priority weed removal sites. We're grateful to Wild River Adventures for welcoming everyone back with a post-float BBQ that provided a chance to celebrate a successful day on the river.

One of the most valuable parts of the River Weed Pull Rodeo is the opportunity to learn from experts. Weed specialists from our partner agencies spent the day teaching volunteers how to identify invasive noxious weeds, distinguish them from native plants, and properly remove them to help prevent their spread. Their knowledge equips volunteers with skills they can continue using whenever they recreate along the river.

The Flathead River remains one of the cleanest and most ecologically significant river systems in the country, and protecting its river corridors from invasive plants is an important part of preserving healthy wildlife habitat, native vegetation, recreation opportunities, and water quality. Every volunteer who pulled weeds made a meaningful contribution toward protecting this remarkable place.

Flathead Rivers Alliance extends our sincere appreciation to the sponsors whose support made this year's event possible:

• Quadrocopter

• Hodges Concrete

• Swan Mountain Outfitters

• Sportsman & Ski Haus

• Center for Native Plants and Forest Restoration

• Montana Coffee Traders

• Backslope Brewing

• Flathead National Forest

Thank you to every volunteer, partner organization, sponsor, and educator who helped make the 2026 River Weed Pull Rodeo a success. Your willingness to brave the rain and dedicate your time demonstrates the incredible stewardship ethic that makes the Flathead community so special. Many thanks to Emma Jacqueline for designing this year’s volunteer shirts and Paul from Headwaters Studio for printing shirts!

We're still collecting photos from the guided raft sections of the event, so stay tuned as we continue sharing highlights from an unforgettable day of protecting the Flathead River.

Celebrating a Longtime Stewardship Leader

BRENDA GUZMAN, Weed Wrangler

The success of the River Weed Pull Rodeo is built on more than two decades of dedicated leadership. Since 2003, Brenda Guzman has coordinated this annual volunteer effort, helping it grow into one of the Flathead Valley's longest-running river stewardship events. Through her commitment, organizational leadership, and passion for protecting the Flathead River, Brenda has inspired thousands of volunteers to take an active role in preventing the spread of invasive noxious weeds. Flathead Rivers Alliance is deeply grateful for Brenda's continued leadership and the lasting impact she has made on the health of the Flathead River and the community that cares for it.

Interested in joining us next year? Learn more about the River Weed Pull Rodeo and other volunteer stewardship opportunities at Flathead Rivers Alliance Events.