A vital effort is underway to protect and preserve one of Montana’s most precious resources: our water. The Montana State University Extension Pesticide Education Program (MSU PEP), in collaboration with the Montana Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Program (MT PSPP), is reaching out to local communities across the Columbia River Basin to join in this mission.
Across Flathead County, dedicated teams, including our MSU Extension Office and Weed Department, are gathering insights that will help build a clearer understanding of pesticide use across the landscape. In both agriculture and urban settings, pesticides play an essential role in land management. However, much of the Columbia River Basin remains unmonitored, leaving important details about potential water impacts unknown. The goal of this initiative is to encourage responsible practices and ensure that our water remains as safe and sustainable as possible.
MSU PEP is asking for help from everyone who owns, leases, or rents land within the Columbia River Basin. By filling out a quick, 15-minute survey, individuals across Flathead County can contribute valuable insights on pesticide use that will help provide a balanced, well-rounded picture of local practices. This information is key to understanding any potential impacts on our water sources and helps support the entire community in making informed, effective decisions.
Thanks to the MT PSPP’s partnership with Monitoring Montana Waters—a volunteer program focused on water quality monitoring—the survey data will contribute to a larger network of environmental stewardship. Together, these groups are working to analyze surface water, groundwater, and other indicators across the basin, helping create a responsible and sustainable approach to pesticide use.
This is a community-wide effort to protect our water, and it starts with a simple action—filling out this survey at https://montana.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_09Dwo3NsPvQYL1I . Please take a few minutes to join us in this shared goal to keep the Columbia River Basin healthy and resilient for future generations.