By Bayley Sbardellati, 2026 BSWC
As I’m approaching the end of my Big Sky Watershed Corps term with the Sun River Watershed Group, I’d like to tell you all about my experience with SRWG over the last 11 months!
Working with Madison and Tracy has been a privilege, and I feel I’ve learned a lot from them. The year started off strong with a variety of events and workshops, including the Realtor/Homeowner Workshop, the Irrigation Efficiency workshop, and the Library Speaker Series. While these had been planned before I arrived, being a part of the setup and implementation of the events was an excellent introduction to how SRWG organizes its outreach. Soon after this, we began working with Jake Atkinson and the High Plains Conservation District on redesigning the format for Bashin’ Trash, to generate more participation in the program. I felt like I was immediately given a voice in this process, as well as a level of responsibility that allowed me to grow exponentially when it comes to outreach and event planning.
When field season started, I was expected to manage SRWG’s water quality monitoring program. After going through the process with guidance a couple of times, I went out with a volunteer each month and was able to complete this year’s water quality monitoring with minimal hiccups. This year saw the start of fish passage barrier surveys done throughout the watershed. These included going to different barriers on the Sun River with Madison to examine how they impact fish migration. This is part of a larger effort to understand the environmental conditions of the Sun River, and how they change along the river’s course, which also included a float of a section of the Sun River. This float we did with guidance from our board chair Tanner Tompkins. SRWG will continue this initiative with surveys of other sections next year, and being a part of the beginning of the program is something I am grateful for. I was also given the opportunity to assist with flow tracking measurements across the watershed, and with forestry best management practice reviews across the state. All these experiences during field season were new to me this year and helped me expand my skills in a way that I was not expecting when I started my term.
As the spring and summer went along, SRWG seemed to get busier and busier, and being able to support Tracy and Madison during that time and managing my time between all of the various projects we had going on was challenging at times, but overall, a lot of fun. I loved getting the chance to be a part of this year’s edition of the Weed Whacker Rodeo, and I plan on attending that event again in the future. I was also able to organize a nature photography workshop on National Get Outdoors Day, which ended up being a success. A big thanks to photographer Rod Reamy for coming to give instruction at that event. Toward the end of the summer, SRWG gave me the opportunity to get my drone pilot certification, so that I would be able to fly the drone we had recently purchased. Being able to carry a certification like that with me into the future is invaluable.
On top of all the work experience I gained over the last 11 months, I am especially thankful to SRWG and Montana Conservation Corps for giving me the opportunity to come to Montana and experience the beauty the state has to offer. I had only seen the western United States once before this year, and that time was spent in Utah and Colorado. I took every chance I got this year to explore new areas, see Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, and experience everything the state has to offer. I haven’t taken the time I spent in the Sun River Watershed for granted. From Sun Canyon and Augusta to the High Plains and Great Falls, this is a beautiful area, and one I will not forget anytime soon.
I’d like to thank everyone who came to volunteer for water quality monitoring this year, as well as everyone in the Sun River Watershed community who came to each of our events this year. I’d also like to thank the High Plains, Lewis & Clark, and Teton Conservation Districts, DEQ, FWP, and the rest of our partners that I had the chance to work with this year. Finally, I’d like to give a special thanks to the SRWG Board of Directors for their exceptional support throughout the year and to Tracy and Madison for giving me the opportunity to come work with them.
