Big Sky Watershed Corps
Montana Conservation Corps
What is the Big Sky Watershed Corps?
2020 BSWC member Abigail Toretsky smiles for a photo while taking stream discharge measurements in Lolo Creek.
Big Sky Watershed Corps is an AmeriCorps program that places young professionals in communities across Montana to make a measurable difference in local conservation efforts while gaining hands-on skills to better equip them for a career in natural resources.
What do BSWC Members do?
BSWC began in 2011 and has been a huge success within the state, with members making strides in watershed research, project planning and implementation, watershed education and outreach, and community engagement.
Where do BSWC members serve?
BSWC members serve at Host Sites throughout the state of Montana, making a large collective impact throughout the state as a cohort year after year. Below you will see just a few examples of where our members have made an impact.
How is BSWC made possible?
BSWC is an AmeriCorps program offered through a partnership of Montana Conservation Corps , the Montana Association of Conservation Districts , and the Montana Watershed Coordination Council .
Where can I apply?
You can apply for a position with the Big Sky Watershed Corps on the Montana Conservation Corps website here!
Featured BSWC Projects
Explore the following map to see just a few examples of where members in the BSWC program have served!
Big Sky
Big Sky. Click to expand.
Gallatin River Task Force: 2021 BSWC member Jessica Olson conducted algae monitoring on the Gallatin River.
Billings
Billings. Click to expand.
BLM Billings Field Office: 2022 BSWC members Chris Hobson and Leslie Nelson conduct Ecological Damage Assessments of cavity nesting birds related to the 2011 Yellowstone River oil spill.
Bozeman
Bozeman. Click to expand.
Gallatin Watershed Council: 2021 BSWC member Heather Priest helps to pilot the Busy Beavers volunteer program from grant writing to implementation. IAWP Busy Beavers is a long-term volunteer team operated by Sacajawea Audubon Society and Gallatin Watershed Council (GWC). Volunteers lead a variety of projects, including restoration projects, monitoring and maintenance, and working as a Watershed Ambassador and Watershed Educator.
Bridger
Bridger. Click to expand.
Bridger Plant Materials Center: Cover crop study by 2022 BSWC member Ali Mann. Ali planted her cover crop study in March of 2022 at the Bridger Plant Materials Center. Her term of service was dedicated to sampling and analyzing data from this study to determine the best cover crop mix for livestock grazing and conservation purposes.
Butte
Butte. Click to expand.
Clark Fork Watershed Education Program: 2020 BSWC member Rachel Neal worked on a virtual approach to place-based science education, adapting educational materials and crafting StoryMaps to support local teachers.
Ekalaka
Ekalaka. Click to expand.
Carter County Weed District and the Montana Weed Control Association: 2022 BSWC member Joko McTeer served to help manage weeds in the county and to make weed management easier across the state.
Glasgow
Glasgow. Click to expand.
BLM Glasgow Field Office: 2023 BSWC member Madie Denman focuses on wildlife surveys and habitat. Pictured with a beaver (left) and sage grouse (right).
Great Falls
Great Falls. Click to expand.
Sun River Watershed Group: Managing Livestock for Stream Health. StoryMap and project work with 2020 BSWC member Connor Mertz.
Hamilton
Hamilton. Click to expand.
Bitter Root Water Forum: Watershed Enhancement Team. 2020 BSWC member Grace Pierstorff leads a group of recurring volunteers in restoring the watershed around the town of Hamilton, MT.
Havre
Havre. Click to expand.
Hill County Conservation District: Natural resources education day with the Havre 4th grade class! 2022 BSWC member Emma Korntheuer uses the Rolling Rivers trailer to talk about regional natural history.
Helena
Helena. Click to expand.
MT Audubon: Releasing rehabilitated trumpeter swans with 2021 & 2022 BSWC member Peter Dudley. See more about his terms of service here!
Kalispell
Kalispell. Click to expand.
City of Kalispell: Rain Gardens with 2020 BSWC member Emilie Henry. See more about the Flathead Rain Garden Initiative here!
Malta
Malta. Click to expand.
The Nature Conservancy: 2020 BSWC Member Ilona Wilde works on TNC property, The Matador Ranch Grassbank, in southwest Phillips County to maintain wildlife habitat, test sustainable ranching practices, and work with local family ranchers to preserve some of the last, intact stretches of native grassland on the Northern Great Plains.
Miles City
Miles City. Click to expand.
Yellowstone River Conservation District Council: 2018 BSWC member Aaron Kolb maps invasive species of Russian Olive along the Yellowstone River.
Missoula
Missoula. Click to expand.
Missoula Stormwater Utility: Pattee Creek Restoration with 2022 BSWC member Mackenzie Tenan. Read more here!
Rising Sun
Rising Sun. Click to expand.
Blackfeet Agriculture Resource Management Plan: 2021 BSWC member Ainsley Rothschild works towards the goals of sustainable agricultural production, narrowing of health disparities through the production of healthy, locally sourced foods, and investing in our youth with the Blackfeet Nation.
Sheridan
Sheridan. Click to expand.
Ruby Valley Conservation District: Geomorphic Surveys. 2022 BSWC members Ben Masters and Raeya Gordon assist with geomorphic surveys on the Ruby River.
Sidney
Sidney . Click to expand.
Richland & Sheridan County Conservation Districts and the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology: 2018 BSWC member Andrew Kretschmer conducted soil monitoring and remote sub-surface soil moisture data collection to inform land use types, prescriptions for fertilizers, and working with landowners to understand their land.
Winnett
Winnett. Click to expand.
Petroleum Conservation District, Missouri River Conservation District Council, and Musselshell Watershed Coalition: The Importance of Collaborating to Address Landscape Scale Issues Across Boundaries and Time with 2020 BSWC member Andrew Sanders.
Yaak
Yaak. Click to expand.
Yaak Valley Forest Council: 2022 BSWC member Katie McCahan managed a grant for, coordinated, and implemented a restoration project. With the help of the Headwaters Program field crew, and volunteers, Katie planted cottonwoods to shade out reed canary grass and prevent non-point source pollution, removed barbed-wire fencing for wildlife connectivity, and hand-constructed a 90ft bank stabilization to increase vegetation and decrease erosion along Yaak River.
Big Sky
Gallatin River Task Force: 2021 BSWC member Jessica Olson conducted algae monitoring on the Gallatin River.
Billings
BLM Billings Field Office: 2022 BSWC members Chris Hobson and Leslie Nelson conduct Ecological Damage Assessments of cavity nesting birds related to the 2011 Yellowstone River oil spill.
Bozeman
Gallatin Watershed Council: 2021 BSWC member Heather Priest helps to pilot the Busy Beavers volunteer program from grant writing to implementation. IAWP Busy Beavers is a long-term volunteer team operated by Sacajawea Audubon Society and Gallatin Watershed Council (GWC). Volunteers lead a variety of projects, including restoration projects, monitoring and maintenance, and working as a Watershed Ambassador and Watershed Educator.
Bridger
Bridger Plant Materials Center: Cover crop study by 2022 BSWC member Ali Mann. Ali planted her cover crop study in March of 2022 at the Bridger Plant Materials Center. Her term of service was dedicated to sampling and analyzing data from this study to determine the best cover crop mix for livestock grazing and conservation purposes.
Butte
Clark Fork Watershed Education Program: 2020 BSWC member Rachel Neal worked on a virtual approach to place-based science education, adapting educational materials and crafting StoryMaps to support local teachers.
Ekalaka
Carter County Weed District and the Montana Weed Control Association: 2022 BSWC member Joko McTeer served to help manage weeds in the county and to make weed management easier across the state.
Glasgow
BLM Glasgow Field Office: 2023 BSWC member Madie Denman focuses on wildlife surveys and habitat. Pictured with a beaver (left) and sage grouse (right).
Great Falls
Sun River Watershed Group: Managing Livestock for Stream Health. StoryMap and project work with 2020 BSWC member Connor Mertz.
Hamilton
Bitter Root Water Forum: Watershed Enhancement Team. 2020 BSWC member Grace Pierstorff leads a group of recurring volunteers in restoring the watershed around the town of Hamilton, MT.
Havre
Hill County Conservation District: Natural resources education day with the Havre 4th grade class! 2022 BSWC member Emma Korntheuer uses the Rolling Rivers trailer to talk about regional natural history.
Helena
MT Audubon: Releasing rehabilitated trumpeter swans with 2021 & 2022 BSWC member Peter Dudley. See more about his terms of service here!
Kalispell
City of Kalispell: Rain Gardens with 2020 BSWC member Emilie Henry. See more about the Flathead Rain Garden Initiative here!
Malta
The Nature Conservancy: 2020 BSWC Member Ilona Wilde works on TNC property, The Matador Ranch Grassbank, in southwest Phillips County to maintain wildlife habitat, test sustainable ranching practices, and work with local family ranchers to preserve some of the last, intact stretches of native grassland on the Northern Great Plains.
Miles City
Yellowstone River Conservation District Council: 2018 BSWC member Aaron Kolb maps invasive species of Russian Olive along the Yellowstone River.
Missoula
Missoula Stormwater Utility: Pattee Creek Restoration with 2022 BSWC member Mackenzie Tenan. Read more here!
Rising Sun
Blackfeet Agriculture Resource Management Plan: 2021 BSWC member Ainsley Rothschild works towards the goals of sustainable agricultural production, narrowing of health disparities through the production of healthy, locally sourced foods, and investing in our youth with the Blackfeet Nation.
Sheridan
Ruby Valley Conservation District: Geomorphic Surveys. 2022 BSWC members Ben Masters and Raeya Gordon assist with geomorphic surveys on the Ruby River.
Sidney
Richland & Sheridan County Conservation Districts and the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology: 2018 BSWC member Andrew Kretschmer conducted soil monitoring and remote sub-surface soil moisture data collection to inform land use types, prescriptions for fertilizers, and working with landowners to understand their land.
Winnett
Petroleum Conservation District, Missouri River Conservation District Council, and Musselshell Watershed Coalition: The Importance of Collaborating to Address Landscape Scale Issues Across Boundaries and Time with 2020 BSWC member Andrew Sanders.
Yaak
Yaak Valley Forest Council: 2022 BSWC member Katie McCahan managed a grant for, coordinated, and implemented a restoration project. With the help of the Headwaters Program field crew, and volunteers, Katie planted cottonwoods to shade out reed canary grass and prevent non-point source pollution, removed barbed-wire fencing for wildlife connectivity, and hand-constructed a 90ft bank stabilization to increase vegetation and decrease erosion along Yaak River.
2020 BSWC Member with The Nature Conservancy, Allison Hurcomb, stands for a photo next to a stream restoration project.
What has been BSWC's collective impact?
>300 Program Graduates
138,000 Individuals Educated
11,500 Volunteers Recruited/Managed
550 Miles of Waterways Improved
96% of members attain a professional position or move onto graduate school within 6 months of completing the program
Professional Development Opportunities
The Big Sky Watershed Corps includes a wide range of opportunities to boost your resume. Scroll through for just a few opportunities that we provide.
In-Person Trainings:
Members come together for five different in person training, including an Orientation to BSWC and Montana, Education and Outreach, Aquatic Invasive Species, ServeMontana Service Symposium, Technical Skills, and End of Term!
(note for reviewers, we can go a with a shortened version such as above, or spell them out like below)
Orientation: Members get aquainted wtih Montana, native people and lands, Montana Conservation Corps, and skills that will be useful for starting off your term of service.
Education and Outreach: Introduction to watershed curriculum, how to share your host site's story, writing grants, social media, and more!
AIS Training: Learn all about Aquatic Invasive Species including how to prevent them, how to gain buy in from stakeholders, and how to educate anyone from youth to adults!
Service Symposium: Get to know other AmeriCorps members in other programs throughout the state of Montana while building up skills for your term of service!
Technical Skills: Diving into the hands-on skills of conservation including but not limited to monitoring techniques for macroinvertebrates, sediment, discharge, YSI and grab samples, groundwater, and soils; education techniques such as the Rolling Rivers Trailer; and low tech process-based restoration!
End of Term: Not only a time to debreif your year and lessons learned, but a time to celebrate your cohort's accomplishments.
Virtual Training Options:
BSWC members are invited to take advantage of several virtual training options as well, including but not limited to grants, StoryMaps, and resumes!
GIS Certificate:
BSWC members have the option to take an online GIS course and even get an official certificate from UC Davis!
Informational Interviews:
Members get an opportunity to opt into a job shadow or "informational interview" with a professional in their field of interest. This is a great opportunity for members to expand their network, learn about next steps for after their term of service, and to get exposure to new skills and ideas!
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