The Fight Between Montana and Wyoming for the Yellowstone River

Where the Yellowstone goes in this case is likely through the Supreme Court.

Montana and Wyoming have been in a legal battle since 2007 over the 1950 Yellowstone River Compact, an agreement that divided available flow from the river and its tributaries among Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota.

Montana is claiming that new irrigation methods in Wyoming result in less water in the river for downstram users. Wyoming argues the compact only controls how much water can be diverted, not how much water can be consumed. The dispute is likely headed to the Supreme Court.

LINK (via: New West)

The Exxon spill caused more property damage than all other accidents in Montana over the last decade combined

More than a dozen eastern Montana landowners filed a lawsuit Friday against Exxon Mobil Corp. claiming the company ignored warnings before a pipeline break that spilled an estimated 1,500 barrels of crude oil into the Yellowstone River.

The lawsuit from property owners along the scenic waterway claims last year's spill could have been avoided if Exxon followed the lead of other companies and shut down its pipeline during severe flooding in July 2011.

LINK (via: The Missoulian)

Yellowstone River Atlas

This site documents the economic and demographic conditions of counties bordering the Yellowstone River, and displays maps showing past, current, and forecasted residential development along the river.

References Viewing Instructions

1. Socioeconomic Profiles: Reports by county and the region.
2. Trends: Maps illustrating population, education, employment, migration, and travel and tourism.
3. Residential Development: Past, current, and forecasted residential development in either a PowerPoint presentation or an automated slide show.
4. Flyovers: Three segments of the Yellowstone River as Google Earth “flythroughs.”

LINK (via: Headwaters Economics)

The number 692 represents the number of miles the river is long

The only thing better than a good craft beer? A good craft beer that benefits a worthy cause.

The Yellowstone River Conservation District Council in collaboration with the Yellowstone Valley Brewing Company of Billings are market their own private label beer with proceeds going toward conservation projects on the Yellowstone River.

The Yellowstone is the longest dam-free river in the lower 48 states.

The Russians are Already Here.....

The Yellowstone River is prized for its recreational, cultural and economic values. The Yellowstone is crucial fish and wildlife habitat, and it provides the water supply for agriculture and livestock production. Lands adjacent to the water, known as "riparian" areas, are valued for the same reasons.

Invasive Russian olive trees are threatening the Yellowstone River.

"This past Thursday, August 18th, signaled a milestone in fisheries conservation in Yellowstone National Park.

Dr. Robert Gresswell of the USGS, with the support and encouragement of the fisheries team in Yellowstone, has launched a hydro-acoustic telemetry study on Yellowstone Lake. On this last Thursday the first of 140 hydro-acoustic tags were implanted in adult lake trout aboard the Sheepshead that were taken from the trap nets."

Read more at Wyoming TU