The purpose of this workshop will be to gather a diverse group of scientists and managers who are knowledgeable about rivers and their associated ecosystems. Over the next few months, the State of Montana (DEQ, NRDP, and Fish, Wildlife and Parks) will be developing a strategy to guide how the Upper Clark Fork River and its floodplain will be cleaned up and restored. This strategy needs to be founded in science and informed by scientists and managers who understand the Upper Clark Fork River and its inhabitants, including people. By participating in this workshop, you can share your unique perspective about the river and add to a set of criteria that will form the building blocks of a comprehensive strategy to remediate and restore the Upper Clark Fork River. So please join us and bring your knowledge of varial zones, water, wildlife, food webs, algae, fish, floodplains, bugs, birds, bedrock, birches, and banks!
We will provide a bit of background; send you and your colleagues off on a field mission to observe, share and compare notes across disciplines; reconvene to piece together the story of this unique and wonderful ecosystem; and we invite you to stick around to share food, drink and friendship into the evening.