rations by Peter G Illust rosshauser

Map the Yellowstone

Measure the Yellowstone

River of time

River of change

THe Wild Yellowstone

Yellowstone Marketplace

Yellowstone watersheD healthy habits Williston, ND Great Falls, MT , ND— or mouth of the h A GG Did You Know? MapMap thethe YellowstoneYellowstone Sidney, MT The Yellowstone River is 678 miles (1,091 km) long From the headwaters (start of the river) near , just outside America’s first national park, the and is part of the Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone River cuts through mountains, , and plains on its way to the confluence (river junction) geographic regions. with the Missouri River near Fort Buford, . The longest undammed river in the contiguous (adjoining) 48 states, the Yellowstone attracts people from around the world—many hoping to fish the river’s cold mountain The Yellowstone River drops 10,304 feet (3,141 m) from headwaters to confluence—almost two miles! waters in search of or to find walleye and paddlefish in the warmer, slower section on the plains. B The Yellowstone River watershed drains 70,000 square miles The Yellowstone River has long been known for its abundance of wildlife. In fact, the Crow Indians (who have C (181,299 square km)—a land area about the size of Oklahoma. lived in the area for centuries) called it the “Elk River”—although the Minnetaree Indian term “Yellow Rock FF Helena, MT Helena, D River” is the one that stuck. Temperatures within the watershed can get above 100 degrees F (approx. 38°C) in the summer and as cold Today, the river is in three states— (WY), (MT) and North Dakota (ND)—and more Glendive, MT as -30 degrees F (approx. -34°C) in the winter. than 300,000 people call the Yellowstone River watershed (all of the land and ground water beneath Terry, MT EE that contributes water to the river) home. The Yellowstone River watershed supports a wide variety 5 About 43 percent of the Yellowstone River watershed of agricultural (farm and ranch), energy development, home, business and recreational uses. Yellowstone River is covered by grazing land, and agricultural products produced Miles in the watershed help feed people around the world. H G DD F E City, MT 4 There are about 30 active coal mines in the watershed, I Forsyth, MT and the Bakken Oil Field, one of the largest oil reserves F 3 Big Timber, MT Billings, MT in North America, underlies part of the watershed. J North Dakota Livingston Columbus, MT Bozeman, MT 1 CC See the Yellowstone River Watershed K Broadus, Boulder River To see the Yellowstone River watershed, follow these instructions: 2 MT It’s All 1. Use a yellow marker to trace the path of the main stem

Downhill L StillwaterRiver (main ) of the Yellowstone River through mountains All of the water Gardiner, MT and prairies. Start at the p headwaters and follow the arrows in the Yellowstone h to the confluence. River watershed Powder River 2. All the in the Yellowstone River watershed flow into the flows downhill and Mammoth, WY Clarks Fork River Yellowstone River. Find each numbered (smaller river eventually ends up in Montana flowing into the larger river) and trace its path using the the Yellowstone River. M colors listed: N Try folding the page like Sheridan, WY Shields (red) Tongue (blue) a tent along the dotted Wyoming 1 4 Clarks Fork (orange) Powder (purple) line. This Cody, WY 2 5 O Bighorn (pink) ridge p Younts Peak— 3 represents Headwaters 3. Trace the boundary of the Yellowstone River watershed in black the Continen- BB by connecting the black dots labeled with the letters A through tal Divide (the GG. All of the land inside the line is part of the Yellowstone River high point on watershed, because all of the rivers within that area flow into the Yellowstone River. land where water flows to the Pacific P AA Ocean on one side or Atlantic Ocean 4. Are the following cities IN or OUT of the watershed? on the other) and the boundary of the Q ______Helena, MT Yellowstone River watershed. It shows that Map Key ______Mammoth, WY the rivers flow from high elevations to low. Z town or city Watersheds are divided at their highest points. ______Cody, WY R 5 tributary ______Great Falls, MT Y watershed boundary ______Bozeman, MT p headwaters X ______Broadus, MT h confluence Start S ______Williston, ND 2 direction of flow 3 U V W ______Your Hometown T End The Yellowstone River watershed covers parts The Yellowstone River is a tributary of the Missouri River. It flows into the Missouri of Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota. River, which flows into the Mississippi—and eventually into the Gulf of Mexico. MeasureMeasure thethe YellowstoneYellowstone

Make Your Own Data Chart 1. Using the real river flow data provided in the Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. data chart to the right, create for 2011, 2004 and an average year in the 2011 p 5,900 6,400 13,300 12,000 48,400 69,500 58,500 19,500 10,000 *7,300 *6,900 *5,500 graph space provided. Each year will have its 2004 l 3,900 4,300 5,500 5,300 5,900 13,400 9,300 3,000 4,400 6,100 6,000 5,300 line on the hydrograph. The first few points for each year have been done for you. Average n 5,700 6,700 10,600 10,100 18,400 38,400 22,800 8,500 7,000 8,200 7,200 5,900 2. Use a small triangle p to plot (mark) the * The data in this chart is the monthly mean in cfs from USGS gauging station 06329500 near Sidney, Montana, (numbers have been rounded flow for each month of 2011. to the nearest 100). Numbers with * have been estimated because actual data was not yet calculated. 3. Connect these triangles with a line to show river flow for 2011. Yellowstone River Hydrograph Snow Equals Flow 4. Repeat this process with small circles Different years bring different l for 2004. river flows depending on how the amount of precipitation in 5. Then repeat this process using small squares the mountain snowpack builds 2011 2004 n for the average year. up in winter and how quickly Snowpack Snowpack 6. Use the hydrographs you made to answer the snow melts off in the the questions below. . For example, very deep Why Measure the Yellowstone River? mountain snowpack followed Monitoring the river’s flow (how much water is in the river) by a week of high temperatures is essential for water managers and elected officials to make What year had the highest flow? could mean that snow melts informed decisions about how to manage the river. quickly and causes (times ______of high water), like in 2011. Where Does River Water Come From? What year had the lowest flow? The water in the river comes from precipitation (moisture from Hydrologists (people who study and snow). This precipitation falls on the land throughout the ______water) watch water indicators (clues) that may predict floods Yellowstone River watershed and flows into the Yellowstone River What month usually has the highest flows? through tributary rivers and . Mountain snowpack (the and droughts (periods of water amount of snow that falls through the winter) has a major impact ______shortage). Remember, indicators are signals of things to come, on the amount of water in the Yellowstone River in the spring and Which seasons usually have the lowest flows? summer months—times of peak (highest) river flow. Can you guess but they are not certainties. why? You might call snowpack nature’s storage system. Twelve ______inches of fresh snow is the same as about one inch of rain. What consequences might people experience Is the Yellowstone an Extreme River? as a result of extremely high flows? Play the Indicator Game

To answer this question, create a hydrograph. Hydrographs are ______River Flow—Cubic Feet per Second (cfs) Go online to www.projectwet. used by water managers to show how much water is flowing What consequences might people experience org/discover-the-yellowstone- in the river at a gauging station (river measuring location) over as a result of extremely low flows? river to try using indicators time. Hydrographs can be used to show the change in river flow like precipitation, snowpack, throughout a day, month or year. The more the line on the graph ______snowmelt and temperature to rises and falls, the more extreme the high or low flows were at Is the Yellowstone an extreme river? predict floods and droughts! this place on the river. One use of hydrographs is to measure river ______flow at one location, such as Livingston, Montana, and then use the information to let people downstream at Reed Month Point, Billings, Forsyth and 4 Glendive know how much 2011 2004 Average 5 water is moving toward them. e— istockphoto.com/TT Craig Doerfler Craig her er. rt e riv Younts Peak, at 12,156 feet (3,705 m), is at ta n th The Yellowstone River flows into and out of , the largest lake in the park. Shrimplike Fo e: S dow llow Th ston ey the headwaters of the Yellowstone River. e Yellow urn animals, worms and moss have been found in unique hot water vent habitats deep in the lake. a jo The p u on ictures in the corner boxes take yo RiverRiver ofof timetime

Find the Time 2 Million Years Ago 1988 Now First Yellowstone Yellowstone Eruption Use the following words to fill in the blanks. Use the text and the Fires timeline to help you. 1.3 Million Years Ago Second Yellowstone Eruption Lewis and Clark Yellowstone railroad magma National Park 65 Million Years mammoth volcanic Ice Age Ago and Earlier Dinosaurs Roam steamboat fossils dinosaurs miners

1907 1909 1934 Yellowstone Waco-Custer 1911 Cartersville Diversion Diversion Ditch Diversion Huntley Diversion Intake Diversion 1904 Rancher’s Ditch Diversion

1877 1883 Desert Railroad Spur 40,000 Years Ago Land Act to Yellowstone America’s First National Park 6 National Park Third Yellowstone Eruption More people also meant more 1889 Montana and North1890 Dakota attention for the awe-inspiring Become States Wyoming 1872 Becomes a State thermal features all around the Yellowstone Becomes the headwaters of the Yellowstone First National Park River. In 1872, a large part of the

1862 After the explorers reported finding Yellowstone River watershed was Homestead Act abundant wildlife, fur trappers set aside as ______, the first Approx. 11,000 Years Ago Last Ice Age Ends and Evidence of rushed into the region, using the national park. Shortly after, in First Native Americans in Area Yellowstone River for navigation. 1832 1883, a spur of the ______First Steamboat on the Yellowstone In 1832 the first ______was used was built to bring tourists An Expanding Country to transport people up the river along the Yellowstone The 1803 1804-1806 1807 ______explored the West from and goods back down. In the 1860s, Louisiana Purchase Lewis and Clark ExpeditionFirst Fur Trading Post along Yellowstone River River to visit the park. Yellowstone Brrr! 1804 to 1806. On their return trip gold was discovered in Montana, River watershed has During the last ______, frozen in 1806, a party led by Captain Clark and the Yellowstone River allowed Not Enough, Too Much changed a lot through the water—glaciers and ice sheets up to explored the Yellowstone River. some ______to reach their For thousands of years people Dinosaurs and Volcanoes ages. The Yellowstone River itself 3,000 feet (914 m) thick—shaped the During his time on the Yellowstone, destinations. have been using the Yellowstone has existed as we know it today Sixty-five million years ago, landscape of the Yellowstone River Clark saw a prominent rock River and the flat land along since the last Ice Age, about 11,000 ______roamed the land that watershed. Ice even blocked the formation on the river’s south . Little Homesteads on the Prairie it for transportation, food and years ago. Within the last 200 years, we now call the Yellowstone River Yellowstone River at times, forming He carved his name and the date— The Homestead Act of 1862 other resources. Issues along the with the development of the land, watershed. At that time, the land sat natural that released huge both of which can still be seen—into encouraged settlers to come to the Yellowstone River aren’t so different the Yellowstone River has seen along the shores of an ancient sea. floods when they broke free. the rock, now called Pompeys Pillar. area. Rich, low-lying land along the today than they were in the past. much change. The sea eventually dried up, and the Yellowstone was in high demand, Land along the river remains dinosaurs died out, The first evidence of human because living and farming in an valuable, and tension exists between leaving ______settlement in this region is also area with so little rain was otherwise those who would like to see the behind. from about 11,000 years ago. Native difficult. The Yellowstone River was river run wild—the Yellowstone is American tribes have lived in the diverted—meaning water from The area that is now Yellowstone the longest undammed river in the area continuously since the river was moved for National Park, where the lower 48 —and those then. Early nomadic (watering) purposes—in an attempt Yellowstone River begins, was who have a stake in protecting land peoples traveled along to bring water to the arid land. from water. formed by three ______eruptions. the Yellowstone River Yellowstone Lake now fills the crater in search of edible from the last eruption. Spectacular plants and animals like water features such as ______, ______and giant bison. hot springs and steam vents are evidence that superheated 6 ______still lies just beneath 7 the surface! istockphoto.com/CrackerClips istockphoto.com/gcoles

The Yellowstone River dramatically drops 308 feet Gardiner, Montana, is located at the North Entrance of Yellowstone Park just inside Montana. (94 m) at the Lower . The top of the Yellowstone Arch there reads, “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People.” As people did begin to settle and develop the area, they often chose the flat, fertile land next to the river as a prime place to construct homes, plant crops and RiverRiver ofof changechange build highways and railroads. As the Yellowstone channel has continued to migrate, however, conflicts have erupted between the river’s River on the Move! No Barriers natural processes and the human settlers who call its What do a snake and the Yellowstone River have in All rivers naturally move across the landscape due to banks home. The movement of the river can cause banks common? The way they move! Like a slithering snake, channel migration. However, on many rivers humans to collapse, which sometimes threatens the homes, the Yellowstone River moves from side to side across have built dams, which can alter the natural migration farms, roads and railroads that have been constructed its (flat area next to a river that is likely to of the river. The Yellowstone River is the longest along the river. ). That movement pattern changes the river over undammed river in the lower 48 states, making it long periods of time. particularly active. In the aerial view to the right, you can see how much the river has moved and changed The power of water causes the river to move like a over just 50 years.

snake. Land is eroded (broken down or excavated) Karin Boyd where water moves fastest—on the outside of curves— and deposited (dumped) on the inside of curves, People and an Active River where water slows. The channels of the river find new The Yellowstone River has been moving back and paths as the water moves through a process forth across its floodplain for thousands of years— of give and take called channel migration. whether there are people living along its banks or not. Karin Boyd

To protect these settlements, people have lined riverbanks with various materials called riprap, which 5 prevents riverbank . Today, most riprap is made 1 of rocks and concrete, but in the past people used whatever they had—including old cars! 2 8 4 6

3 7 Give and Take On the drawing above, circle the areas where the channel is eroding or excavating the land, and draw a square around places where the river is depositing or dumping sediment. Then, on the line below, write whether the water is moving fast or slow at each numbered location. Merle Ann Loman

1. ______3. ______5. ______7. ______Sum of the Parts 2. ______4. ______6. ______8. ______Stabilizing the riverbank in one place may not seem like a big deal, but when such actions are repeated over and over again down the length of the river, we may start to see cumulative effects (changes from actions adding up), and the natural movement and processes of the river may be altered. Land that used to flood may no longer receive the water that the plants growing there desperately need. River waters may flow faster as they are confined to a narrower channel.

8 9 istockphoto.com/wellesenterprises www.refugefoundation. org/Dale Williams

The waters of the Yellowstone River in Paradise south Billings is the largest city in Montana, as well as the largest city along the

of Livingston, Montana, attract anglers from around the world. Yellowstone River, with a population of approximately 104,000 people (2010). TheThe Wild Wild Yellowstone Yellowstone

Uninvited Guests The waters of the Yellowstone River and its are critical Non-native species (plants or animals that did not historically live in an area) are for the diverse life in the Yellowstone River watershed. Elevation, found in the Yellowstone River watershed. These “invaders” compete with native Bald Eagle Canada precipitation and temperature range greatly throughout the species (species historically found in the watershed) and can disrupt ecosystem Mountain Goat Geese watershed and create different kinds of ecosystems. balance by impacting biodiversity (different kinds of life), food chains and predator/prey relationships. For example, native Yellowstone in In the high elevations near the headwaters, for example, a Yellowstone Lake are threatened by non-native . And along most of Lodgepole mountain ecosystem provides habitat for large predators the Yellowstone, non-native plants like saltcedar and Russian olive are growing in Pine and their prey. Lodgepole pine forests dominate the places where cottonwood and willow trees once stood. landscape.

Bighorn About two-thirds of the Sheep Grizzly Yellowstone River’s 678 Bear Black miles winds through are replacing Bear prairie ecosystems. These vast grasslands provide istockphoto.com/jmoor17 wide-open spaces for Utah State Steve Dewey, Bugwood.org University, David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Saltcedar Russian Olive Cottonwood and Willow Bison farms and ranches as well Bacteria in as wild animals. Hot Springs are replacing

Douglas Fir Aspen Cottonwood Moose FishEyeGuy Photography Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks

Something Fishy Lake Trout Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout In the river’s waters, temperature changes create zones Willow where different types of fish can live. Draw a line from Russian Sage each fish to the zone in the river where it would thrive. Olive

Elk Pronghorn Coyote Channel Catfish Cold Temperature Zone Transition Zone Leafy Saltcedar Whitetailed Expanding the Range of the Spurge Deer Although undammed, the Yellowstone does have Upper Yellowstone several diversions (structures that divert water, but still MIddle Yellowstone allow water to flow over). Diversions provide irrigation Cold Temperature Zone Transition Zone water to grow crops but can also cause problems for fish. Burbot Yellowstone The pallid sturgeon is one Yellowstone River fish affected Cutthroat Trout by diversions. Pallid sturgeon—which are endangered (meaning there aren’t many of them left)—can be as Lake Trout In higher, Sauger Paddlefish large as 60 pounds (27 kg) and may live 100 years! colder areas, fish such as Smallmouth Bass They have difficulty swimming upstream past the rainbow and brown trout can be found. Intake Diversion near Glendive, Montana, which limits their range (how far they can swim). As cold water transitions to warmer water in the Middle Watershed managers are working together to Yellowstone, there are fewer trout, and walleye Walleye modify or replace the diversion to make it work and smallmouth bass are present. Diversion for both people and wildlife and to give the Prehistoric-looking paddlefish also pallid sturgeon more habitat, which would 10 can be found here. allow them to reproduce more. 11 Istockphoto.com/RiverNorthPhotography

Much of the Yellowstone River watershed is prairie. Flat grasslands like The pallid sturgeon is one distinctive fish that this provide opportunities to grow crops that can survive dry conditions. Pallid Sturgeon can be found in the warmest waters of the Lower Yellowstone Lower Yellowstone. Warm Temperature Zone YellowstoneYellowstone MarketplaceMarketplace

Did you know the Yellowstone Water and the economy of the Agriculture Farms and ranches can be found Tourism and Recreation River watershed provides jobs Yellowstone River watershed have The Yellowstone River watershed almost everywhere along the The headwaters of the Yellowstone Coal, oil, metals and natural gas are and helps feed the world? The always been tightly connected. marketplace contains a huge Yellowstone River and its tributaries. River are near Yellowstone National all natural resources mined in the watershed covers a large area across Floods and droughts can have amount of agricultural lands. Farmers grow crops such as wheat, Park. The park draws over 3.6 million Yellowstone River watershed. There three states and a lot of different devastating impacts for businesses, Because of this, most of the barley, safflower, corn, dry beans, visitors per year. Tourists come to are about 30 coal mines throughout kinds of landscape. Here are a few while rain in June can give farmers Yellowstone River watershed runs dry peas, alfalfa hay, grass hay the park to see the hot springs the Yellowstone River watershed, examples of people who work in a boost. Now can you see how on snowpack. Water is stored in and sugar beets. Ranchers raise and geysers, watch for wildlife and and the Bakken Oil Field (a reserve the Yellowstone River watershed: Yellowstone River waters are key to snow that falls all winter in the beef cattle, milk cows, pigs, sheep, participate in recreational activities of oil and natural gas) lies under farmers, ranchers, loggers, miners many families’ livelihoods? mountains. As the snow melts, it chickens, horses and honeybees. such as hiking. As the river flows parts of Montana, North Dakota and outdoor guides. feeds the Yellowstone River. Because Some of the farmland in the out of the park, more recreational and Canada. the weather stays cold in the spring Yellowstone River watershed is activities are available; , Most of these in the mountains, water from the too far away from the river to be kayaking and are popular resources are See What You Use winter snowpack flows to farmers irrigated. In these areas, farmers along the Yellowstone River. Farther shipped out Can you list five products that you or your family just when their crops need it most— practice dryland farming—choosing downriver, dinosaur fossils draw of state and use that may have originated in the Yellowstone late spring and early summer. crops that grow well in dry climates tourists to communities near sometimes River watershed? with little water and working with the river. to other the soil to hold what little water countries. 1. ______4. ______falls from the sky. 2. ______5. ______3. ______

Bakken Formation

12 13 John Lambing istockphoto.com/photosbyjim

Coal is found underground near Forsyth, Montana, and also in parts of Wyoming and North Dakota. Coal Badlands (banded rocks eroded by rain and wind over millions of years) is mined here and shipped out to other states and other countries by train along the Yellowstone River. near Glendive and Terry, Montana, may contain dinosaur fossils.

YellowstoneYellowstone WATERshedWATERshed

What do you do to stay healthy? Do Conservation: Use Water healthyhealthy habitshabits you eat nutritious foods, exercise and Wisely! Don’t Waste It! drink lots of water? Wash your hands Everyone can use water before meals? Get regular check- conservation BMPs to make an ups with the doctor and dentist? impact. Turn off the tap when Practicing healthy habits is a great you brush your teeth. Take brief Best Management Practices way to keep from getting sick. showers. Sweep driveways and Draw lines to match the description of sidewalks with a broom. Make sure each water user and the BMPs described Like you, the health of a watershed to the illustrations to the left. depends on the habits of the people the faucet is completely off after who live in it—and everyone plays you’ve used it, and report leaks to Everyone can do their part to protect a role. Watershed management your parents or teachers. a watershed by participating in river teams include lawmakers, scientists, Protection: Keep Water Clean! clean-ups and not dumping waste in educators and especially ordinary Don’t Pollute! storm drains. citizens just like you! You can have an impact on Ranchers help protect the watershed River Reflections Healthy habits practiced in watershed protection, too. Recycle by creating water gaps that funnel a watershed are called Best when you can and put the rest cattle toward less erodable water sites If you are wondering who Management Practices (BMPs). of your trash in a trash can to or by using containers for off- is responsible for watershed There are BMPs that each team prevent garbage from ending up in watering. protection, just look at your member can practice to help keep waterways. Clean up after your pets reflection in the river! Choose so that their waste doesn’t pollute Farmers help conserve water by using a BMP that you can do to help a watershed healthy. A good efficient sprinklers that use less water, watershed management team uses the water. Don’t dump anything protect the watershed where you down storm drains. scheduling irrigation for cooler morning live. In the space below, draw a best management practices for and evening hours so less water is lost “CPR”—Conservation, Protection picture of yourself taking action Restoration: Return Polluted to evaporation and taking care not to in your watershed! and Restoration—to keep a Watersheds to Health! water and erode the riverbank. watershed healthy. Here are Sometimes, even when you some BMPs you can try: Business owners reduce practice healthy habits, you can runoff by including porous (sponge-like) get sick and need a doctor. surfaces such as grass, trees and mulch The same can happen to in and near parking lots to slow down watersheds. In that case, and catch water in constructed ponds watershed management or wetlands. professionals—not doctors—can propose Elected officials and government solutions, like restoring agencies play a role in how land is used riparian areas (zones by making rules and laws. For example, next to a river), wetlands rules about how far back buildings can or vegetation. You can be built on riverbanks can save a lot of help by volunteering for money and trouble when a river floods. projects like waterway The Yellowstone River and its tributaries clean-up and tree planting. draw people from all over the world for rafting, kayaking, fishing and more. Tourists and other recreationists help by not littering, removing trash and cleaning their boats to prevent the introduction of non-native species. 14 15 North Dakota Game & Fish Department

The Billings Gazette/Steve Prosinski

Sidney, Montana, is located above a very large The confluence of the Yellowstone River and the Missouri River is just reservoir of oil called the Bakken Formation. east of the North Dakota border near Fort Buford, North Dakota. Scan the code Answer Key and More Activities with a smart phone to access the can be found at www.projectwet.org/discover-the-yellowstone-river Answer Key online.

4. On the drawing, choose the number of the location that Scavenger Hunt would be the best place to build a house so that riverbank Use the book to help you answer the following questions: erosion is least likely to affect it. ______1. Use the following words to fill in the paragraph about 1 2 watersheds. The first word is done for you. headwaters confluence tributaries main stem All water in a watershed flows from higher points to lower points. Water from the headwaters of the river comes together to form the ______. Smaller rivers, called 5. List one animal that you may see in the mountains of the ______, also flow into the main river. The point Yellowstone River watershed. ______where the Yellowstone River meets the Missouri River is List one animal that you may see in the plains of the called the ______. Yellowstone River watershed. ______2. What is one use for a hydrograph? ______6. What are the three major areas of income for the ______Yellowstone River watershed marketplace? 3. Use the timeline on pages 6 and 7 to fill in the dates below: 1. ______Lewis and Clark explored the West between ______and 2. ______. 3. ______Yellowstone became a national park in ______. 7. What is one thing you can do personally to help conserve, The most recent diversions on the Yellowstone River were protect and/or restore the Yellowstone River?______built in ______. ______

Want to learn more about water? Visit www.DiscoverWater.org for more fun!

Discover the Yellowstone River is brought to you by:

Project WET Foundation Vision: Every child understands In The and values water through Yellowstone River action-oriented education, partnership Conservation ensuring a sustainable future. with District Council www.projectwet.org

With support from:

Our Montana, Inc. Montana Department Montana Fish, Parks, Rivers, Historic of Natural Resources Wildlife and Parks Sites and Trails

Natural Resources Montana State University: Conservation Service Center for Invasive Plant National Park Service Management Custer County Conservation Service

*The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the National Park Service or other funding entities.

Published by the Project WET Foundation Project Team: Dennis L. Nelson, President and CEO Dennis Nelson, Science Methods Contributor and Co-writer; Nicole Divine McClain, YRCDC; Co n ta ct u s : © 2012 by the Project WET Foundation. Molly Ward, PWET Project Manager and Co-writer; John Etgen, PWET Reviewer; Katie Holsinger, Project WET Foundation PWET Co-writer; Linda Hveem, PWET Co-writer; Meg Long, PWET Financial Management; Photographs © 2012 by individual 1001 West Oak Street, Suite 210 photographers as credited. Laurina Lyle, PWET Co-writer; Nicole Ritter, PWET Co-writer; Theresa Schrum, PWET Co-writer; Jessica Solberg, PWET Reviewer, Kirsten Tilleman, PWET Intern, Kristen Tripp. Bozeman, MT 59715 USA All rights reserved. The content 1-406-585-2236 of this booklet may not be reproduced Field-tested by: 1-866-337-5486 (toll free in the US) in whole or in part by any means without Ms. Gillespie’s 5th Grade Class (2011-2012), East Side School, Livingston, Montana the permission of the publisher. Mrs. Wilson’s 5th Grade Class (2011-2012), Anderson School, Bozeman, Montana 1-406-522-0394 (fax) Mr. Strachan’s 5th Grade Class (2011-2012), Blue Creek Elementary, Billings, Montana [email protected] Illustrated by Peter Grosshauser. Ms. Riley’s 5th Grade Class (2011-2012), Gardiner School, Gardiner, Montana www.projectwet.org Designed by Wendy Renner, Mrs. Mathison’s 5th Grade Class (2011-2012), Lincoln Elementary School, Miles City, Montana WantaWow Design. Expert Reviewers: Melanie Weeks-Condon, National Park Service; Ken Frazer, Montana Fish, Wildlife PDF ebook edition, April 2015. and Parks; John Pulasky; Eileen Morris; Steve Reidburn, Fort Buford State Historic Site, ISBN, print edition: 978-1-888631-95-1 Missouri—Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center; Lockwood School. ISBN, PDF ebook edition: 978-1-942416-58-6