The 1980s and early 1990s were a difficult time in the Big Hole River in SouthWest Montana, with drought, dwindling grayling populations, and rising tensions posing multiple challenges for communities. In 1994, six ranchers wrote a letter to the then-governor after touring with the Legislative Water Policy Committee to seek help addressing the river's problems. Their goal was to find positive actions instead of reacting to negative reports.
The ranchers who were dependent on the Big Hole and its tributaries for irrigation faced the hardships of prolonged drought and were filled with worries about the river's future. They knew the risk of restrictions on irrigation and fishing was on the table, and their plea for help emphasized the need for long-term, science-based solutions.
This period of uncertainty brought the Big Hole Watershed Committee (BHWC) to life. Water rights holders appointed representatives from different river stretches in 1995. Although there were conflicts initially due to different interests, the committee realized the significance of involving diverse voices, including water utilities, businesses, conservation districts, guides, local government, and sportsmen.
