About Gallatin Water Trust
Why we exist
Montana’s water is limited — and in the Gallatin Valley, surface and groundwater resources are heavily appropriated. The Gallatin River is part of the Upper Missouri River Basin, which spans southwest and central Montana and begins at the headwaters in Three Forks, where the Gallatin, Madison, and Jefferson Rivers meet.
Because the Gallatin flows into the Missouri at this point, the entire Gallatin Watershed is part of the Upper Missouri Basin.
Since 1993, this Basin has been legally designated a closed basin, meaning:
No new surface water rights can be issued
Any new use must come from an existing water right
Changes must not harm existing users or Montana’s fisheries
This creates a complex and highly regulated environment for anyone who owns or needs water.
The Gallatin Water Trust exists to help navigate these challenges — and to ensure water is managed responsibly as our population, economy, and environmental pressures grow.
Our Mission
The Gallatin Water Trust creates and promotes an economically efficient and hydrologically sound exchange of water rights between willing parties. We manage water in trust, provide specialized expertise, and commit to preserving ecological resources, agricultural heritage, and wise community growth in balance with limited water supplies.
The Team
Harley Harris
Lila Rickenbaugh
Jeff Dunn
Alzada Roche
Board of Directors
Sharon Brodie
Patrick Byorth
Tammy Swinney
Partners
