A Place We Can All Enjoy

Drawn by its abundant wilderness, miles of river, and snow-capped peaks, we came to Big Sky for the beauty and outdoor opportunities. As more people move to and visit Big Sky, it is our job to be responsible stewards of these wild places, ensuring they will be here for future generations to enjoy.

Environment

39 Miles

of the Gallatin River are designated as impaired due to algae growth.

25%

of crashes along Hwy 191 canyon corridor and Hwy 64 are wildlife related; this is 5x the national average, 2.5x the statewide average.

175%

Big Sky population growth over the past 10 years. 104M vehicle miles traveled in 2021 within resort area boundary.

Wildlife related crashes have cost of $17M in damages over the past 10 years. Local wildlife migration patterns are completely blocked during peak traffic periods daily.
‍Transportation contributes 1/3 of the community's overall greenhouse gas emissions.

Community Solutions

Big Sky’s Gallatin River Task Force Water Conservation program is one of only two programs in the state of Montana that works to inspire community members & property owners to engage in practices to save water, both at home and at work. Targets:

Reduce consumptive use of Big Sky's potable water supply by 600,000 gallons annually.
Big Sky landscaping partnership, Alpinescapes, aims to reduce community water use by 10-30%.
Gallons of water saved directly translates to resident cost savings.

Related News Articles

We invite you to read the following articles to learn more about environmental initiatives, obstacles and solutions.

“The abundant love of and demand for recreation and development in the Big Sky area has placed unprecedented challenges on our waters. As the popularity of this remarkable place continues to grow, we expect these pressures to continue to increase as well. The time is now to invest in informed solutions based on science to ensure our waters are intact for future generations.”

Kristin Gardner

Executive Director, Gallatin River Task Force