A Montana 2021 Watershed Stewardship Award is being given to Heather Mullee Barber of the Bitter Root Water Forum. She has been the Executive Director of the group for 10 years, working with many people in the valley, including landowners, ranchers, farmers, land managers, city and county officials, river guides and anglers, schools and irrigation districts. The forum has grown to include a staff of three and an AmeriCorps member.
The Montana Watershed Coordination Council announced her award because, as the council said in a news release, She has led the development of the Bitterroot Watershed Restoration Plan, built a successful community watershed education program and fostered the restoration, protection and improvement of 24 stream miles, providing direct benefits to the Bitterroot River and the communities that rely on it.