Montanans for Healthy Rivers

A potentially historic El Niño is taking shape in the Pacific and it could have important implications for Montana’s winter.

NOAA now gives El Niño a greater than 90% chance of becoming very strong during fall and winter 2026–27. For Montana and the Northern Rockies, the current outlook generally tilts toward warmer-than-normal temperatures, with parts of the region also facing increased odds of below-normal precipitation.

That does not mean there will be no snow, storms or bitterly cold stretches. Seasonal outlooks describe probabilities - not guarantees - and Montana’s mountain weather is never entirely predictable.

But after an exceptionally poor snowpack year, the broader signal deserves our attention. A warmer, potentially drier winter could mean less water stored as mountain snow, earlier runoff and additional pressure on rivers already carrying the effects of drought.

El Niño begins thousands of miles away, but what happens in the Pacific can shape the water flowing through Montana months later.

We’ll continue following the forecast as winter draws closer (data via the recently published NOAA ENSO Outlook).

📸 Ryan Lane of the Madison Range |

True or false: Coffee tastes better by the river.

Obviously, true. ☕️ Especially when the view is wild and free-flowing.

📸 Ladies of the Smith | Jessica Haydahl Photography

This year marks 50 years since 219 miles of the Flathead River’s North, Middle and South Forks were protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act - a lasting gift to Montana’s fish, wildlife, communities and future generations.

The GYREAT Act gives us an opportunity to carry that legacy forward by adding nearly 100 miles of the Gallatin, Madison and select tributaries to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

The Flathead reminds us what lasting river protection can accomplish. Now, let’s write Montana’s next chapter.

📸 E. Marks |

In honor of National Nonprofit Day, we’re celebrating our core nonprofit partners whose experience, expertise and shared commitment make Montanans for Healthy Rivers possible!

Each organization brings a different strength to the table. Together, we are able to build thoughtful, durable and locally supported solutions for Montana’s rivers.

We are deeply grateful for their partnership - and for the people behind each organization who show up every day for clean water, healthy communities and the wild rivers that define our state.

Happy National Nonprofit Day to our coalition partners and to the many organizations working on behalf of Montana’s people and places.

Healthy, free-flowing rivers are part of Montana’s future - and protecting them starts with people like you.

Add your name in support of Wild & Scenic protections for Montana’s rivers today. Every endorsement strengthens the call to keep these treasured waterways clean, free-flowing and protected for generations to come.

Endorse today at healthyriversmt.org.

A wet winter on paper does not always mean water in our rivers come August.

Montana’s 2026 Summer Water Supply Outlook shows why precipitation totals alone do not tell the full story. The state received moisture this winter, but record warmth changed how that water moved through our watersheds.
More precipitation fell as rain. Snow melted earlier. Runoff arrived sooner. By summer, many rivers were left with less cold water during the season when communities, agriculture, recreation, and fish and wildlife need it most.

The report is a warning that Montana’s water future will depend not only on how much precipitation we receive, but on how effectively our watersheds can collect, store, and gradually release it.

There is no single solution to drought. But protecting intact headwaters and free-flowing rivers is one action we can take now to avoid placing additional pressure on increasingly limited water resources.

Montana cannot afford to wait until its rivers are in crisis to decide they were worth protecting.

Read the 2026 Summer Water Supply Outlook and explore Montana's Drought Management database at drought.mt.gov.

If your weekend plans don't look something like this - we suggest changing your weekend plans.

📸 Jessica Haydahl Photography

Want to learn more about the GYREAT Act and what it would mean for Montana’s rivers and communities?

Explore MHR’s interactive digital briefing book - an easy-to-navigate resource covering the legislation, the waterways included, and the broad coalition supporting their protection.

Take a look, click around, and discover why the GYREAT Act is an important opportunity to safeguard some of Montana’s most cherish rivers for generations to come.


https://heyzine.com/flip-book/7827a343ad.html?utm_name=sked&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=sked_6a7247e9a63b252bf209a53e

Why do we call them “hoot-owl” restrictions?

The name comes from the logging days, when crews worked during the cool early-morning hours - alongside the hooting owls - to avoid the afternoon heat.

Today, hoot-owl restrictions prohibit fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight when Montana’s rivers become dangerously warm. Warmer water holds less oxygen, making it harder for trout to recover after being caught - even when carefully released.

Think of it as giving trout the afternoon off when they need it most. Fish early. Keep fish wet. Land them quickly. And always check current restrictions before heading to the river.

View current Montana FWP restrictions - https://fwp.mt.gov/news/current-closures-restrictions/waterbody-closures

📸 Ivan Kokoulin | Downtown Missoula