Defending Montana’s Water: Upper Missouri Waterkeeper

Founded in 2013 by environmental attorney and lifelong outdoorsman Guy Alsentzer, Upper Missouri Waterkeeper is a Montana‑based nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that the state’s waterways remain fishable, swimmable, and drinkable. Drawing upon an ethos rooted in strong science, community action, and the law, this organization champions the ecological and aesthetic integrity of the Upper Missouri River Basin for current and future generations. Guided by a vision that clean, healthy waterways go hand‑in‑hand with vibrant communities, Waterkeeper engages citizens, stakeholders, and decision‑makers to enforce environmental laws and promote sustainable solutions .

Protecting Montana’s Rivers: Legal, Educational, and Advocacy Measures

Upper Missouri Waterkeeper employs a multifaceted approach—legal action, education, and advocacy—to defend Montana's waterways. Here are a few examples of how the standout work of this small organization is benefiting the state and our natural resources.

1. Legal Action:

• Challenging DEQ over septic pollution and development near Big Sky
  In July 2025, Waterkeeper filed a constitutional lawsuit against the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, contesting exemptions under a new septic pollution law and the approval of a subdivision near Big Sky's Quarry area. The case underscores their commitment to holding regulators and developers accountable.
• Suing the EPA over water pollution standards rollbacks
  In response to legislative actions weakening Montana’s water quality protections, Waterkeeper submitted a 60‑day Notice of Intent to Sue the U.S. EPA under the Clean Water Act for failing to act on those rollbacks.
• Winning a precedent‑setting court victory on nutrient pollution variances
  Waterkeeper successfully defeated a state‑level scheme granting blanket exemptions from numeric nutrient criteria. The victory reinstated the priority of science in pollution control law throughout Montana.

2. Educational Outreach & Monitoring:

• Patrolling the watershed to detect pollution
  Staff and volunteers conduct water‑quality monitoring across 25,000 square miles of the Upper Missouri Basin using kayaks, drift boats, and even a pickup truck. These efforts detect emerging pollution trends, reinforce local watershed groups’ efforts, and alert communities to threats.
• Raising public awareness around nutrient pollution threats
  Waterkeeper educates residents, anglers, and local stakeholders to recognize and report pollution incidents—turning concerned citizens into active protectors of their waterways through outreach and empowerment.
• Empowering citizen action through outreach leadership
  Outreach Director Quincey Johnson, with experience in nonprofit conservation across southwestern Montana, helps bridge science and grassroots advocacy, using data to mobilize public support and foster engagement.

3. Advocacy & Policy Engagement:

• Petitioning for rulemaking in response to weakened pollution standards
  When the Montana Legislature’s actions endangered water quality, Waterkeeper petitioned the EPA to initiate rulemaking—bringing federal oversight into play to protect the state's streams.
• Fighting unsustainable development threats to headwaters and fisheries
  Among many efforts, the organization successfully contested a trophy‑ranch subdivision approval in Broadwater County and other development projects that threatened trout streams and water flows.
• Demanding state action on collapsing trout fisheries
  Waterkeeper has pressured Montana’s governor to convene a task force to address rapid declines in wild trout populations—highlighting how declining water quality and over‑withdrawal threaten both ecosystems and the recreational fishing industry.

Get Involved and Support UMW

Upper Missouri Waterkeeper stands as a critical defender of Montana’s waterways—working tirelessly through courtrooms, community outreach, and advocacy to ensure clean water remains a fundamental right, not a privilege. Their victories—such as stopping broad pollution exemptions, contesting disruptive developments, and maintaining vigilant watershed patrols—highlight the essential role they play in safeguarding the Upper Missouri River Basin.

But they can’t do it alone. Protecting our headwaters is a collective responsibility. You can help by volunteering, reporting pollution when you see it, staying informed, and contributing to their vital work. Join Upper Missouri Waterkeeper in defending clean, healthy rivers today—and ensure future generations can experience Montana’s wild places as we do.

Fins and Feathers Guide Service has been an active supporter of UMW since its inception, making direct contributions and providing partner grants. They accomplish remarkable results on a shoestring budget year after year as a result of their uncompromising belief in their mission, which we are proud to support and promote.

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