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Partnerships

Partnerships are vitally important to the success of many of the Bitterroot National Forest's resource programs. Partnerships can take many forms, from formal agreements with multiple year commitments to a single volunteer event. Our partners are vital to accomplishing our mission and increase our productivity through collaboration on shared goals. We value the contributions partners bring, including traditional ecological knowledge, creativity and innovation, experience in managing work projects, and subject matter expertise. 

For more information on becoming a partner, visit USDA Forest Service Partnerships.

Below is a list of some of our partners and how we work collaboratively on the Bitterroot National Forest.  To get involved, contact one of the groups to learn more about potential volunteer or fundraising opportunities they offer. Many of the groups recruit, train and host volunteers to assist with specific forest projects such as trail maintenance, historic building restoration, educating youth, doing wildlife surveys, invasive species monitoring, hand-pulling weeds, packing in supplies for backcountry crews, or staffing a lookout.

Bitterroot National Forest Partners

  • Bitter Root Back Country Horsemen trail clearing and maintenance for equine use, pack support, brush removal, cleaning trailheads, wire fencing removal, open Forest Service cabins and provide firewood, education and clinics
  • Bitter Root RC&D hazardous fuels reduction implementation and funding to assist private landowners living in the Wildland-Urban Interface within Ravalli, Missoula, and Mineral Counties
  • Bitterroot Backcountry Cyclists trail clearing and building, access, trail stewardship and riding etiquette
  • Bitterroot Cross Country Ski Club maintains and grooms Nordic trails at the Chief Joseph Cross-Country Ski Area (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest) and Lake Como, promotes cross-country skiing in the Bitterroot and advocates for outdoor recreational activities
  • Bitterroot Land Trust advocates with landowners adjacent to public lands to conserve timbered forests that provide critical wildlife habitat, maintain healthy mountain streams and water, and easement access
  • Bitterroot Trout Unlimited projects that restore water quality, streamflows, healthy riparian habitats, and natural stream function, education on clean water and healthy wild fisheries
  • Bitterroot Water Partnership stream habitat restoration projects, maintain clean and resilient waterways from public land to private land, community engagement and education on the uniqueness of the Bitterroot Watershed
  • Clark Fork Coalition stream restoration and protection, policy, advocacy, and community engagement
  • Montana Conservation Corps trail clearing and maintenance, bridge construction / reconstruction work, invasive species control and monitoring, youth corps projects
  • Mule Deer Foundation ecosystem management with the objective to reduce hazardous fuels to improve forest health and resilience, enhancing and preserving wildlife habitat, and protecting watershed habitat.  Shared partner project manager employee.
  • National Wild Turkey Federation restoration improvements, hazardous fuel reduction, and various service work activities to improve habitat for a variety of species, reduce fuel loadings in strategic locations, and promote desired conditions in project areas.
  • Pheasants Forever projects to reduce fuels and lessen wildfire risk to communities while also improving forest resilience and enhancing habitat for a multitude of wildlife species.  Implementing fuels reduction activities on both Federal lands and private ownership.  
  • Ravalli County Off-Road Users Association maintain trails, voluntary weed wash stations, education clinics for Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use and etiquette and weed identification
  • Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation provides grant funds for prescribed burning to improve elk habitat and forage
  • Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation; Wilderness monitoring, open and maintain trails to wilderness specifications and ensure recreations access, remove hazardous trees, monitor and naturalize campsites, remove trash, monitor water quality, host and maintain wilderness cabins an campgrounds, spot wildfires and greet visitors at St. Mary's Lookout, train the next generation of conservation stewards.
  • Selway-Pintler Wilderness Back Country Horsemen trail clearing and maintenance for equine use, pack support, cleaning trailheads, and educational clinics
  • Wild Montana volunteer trail crew through the Shining Mountains Chapter, conservation, public land access, and community engagement

Government Agencies

The Bitterroot National Forest works with other government agencies to provide habitat and natural resource management, cross-boundary fuels reductions treatments, services such as weed control, road maintenance, law enforcement and firefighting.

  • Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) fish and wildlife habitat improvement projects, monitoring program for aquatic and terrestrial invasive species, receive funding through grant programs, steward the fish, wildlife, parks and recreational resources for the public in the Bitterroot. FWP employees located in the Supervisor's Office.
  • Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) under the Good Neighbor Authority, the DNRC is empowered to partner with the Forest Service for forest management and restoration projects.  DNRC foresters are working to improve forest health on both private and public lands and reduce wildfire risk in the Bitterroot.  DNRC employees located in the Supervisor's Office.
  • Montana Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) restoring and maintaining the health of fish and wildlife resources.  
  • Ravalli County continuous collaboration with the Commissioners and several departments, including Emergency Management, Dispatch Center, Ravalli County Airport, Division of Forestry, Road & Bridge Department, Search & Rescue, Sheriff's Office, and Weed District.
  • Trapper Creek Job Corps Civilian Conservation; The mission of Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers (JCCCCs) is to train eligible youth, ages 16 to 24 with educational, social and vocational skills, while assisting in the conservation of the Nation's public natural resources.

Last updated July 10th, 2025

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