About the Region
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The Missouri Headwaters Basin includes seven million acres of land tucked into the southwest corner of Montana. Miles of high-quality mountain fed waterways wind their way through rich agricultural valleys, rural communities, and rapidly expanding urban and business centers. Over 100,000 people live in this unique landscape with thousands more visiting from all over the world each year.
This historically agricultural area is growing rapidly due to its renowned blue ribbon fisheries, unique wildlife, and access to public lands.
Resource managers are tasked with balancing changing land-use patterns and increasing demands on water. Different goals and values among stakeholders often lead to disconnected upland, riparian, and floodplain conservation strategies.
Community
Drought Resilience
A scarcity of water has always characterized life in the West, and with increasing demands and limited supplies, smart and efficient water use is key.
Successful conservation and drought mitigation strategies start on the ground with full community participation, and integrate high-level tools available from state and federal partners.
The NDRP is a collaborative group of federal agencies working together to implement President Obama’s Climate Action Plan. In partnership with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and other state and local collaborators, the Missouri Headwaters Basin was selected as a national drought resilience pilot project. Partners are leveraging multiple resources to engage communities in drought preparedness planning and to implement projects that build resiliency.
