During the Give Great Falls giving week (April 28 - May 2), The Missouri River Flyfishers (MRF) is raising funds for a restoration project on the North Fork of the Smith River. Montana Trout Unlimited has pledged $5,000 and we are challenging YOU to help us match that amount!

The North Fork of the Smith River is an important trout fishery and supports conservation populations of Westslope Cutthroat Trout in some tributary streams. The project was identified as part of the recent Smith River Basin-wide Assessment, completed in December 2024. The project includes restoration of degradation that occurred from livestock grazing, agricultural encroachment, irrigation withdrawls, channel straightening, and infrastructure development. It will include developing off-channel watering to reduce grazing impacts, creating a riparian buffer, hardening livestock access points, and revegetating banks with willows. This will reduce erosion and nutrient inputs to the channel. Learn more about the Smith River assessment here: https://myfwp.mt.gov/getRepositoryFile?objectID=111965.