River volunteers needed this summer

Flathead Rivers Alliance announces 2025 River Ambassador and Citizen Scientist volunteer program trainings ahead of float season to enhance river safety, stewardship and citizen science, on the three forks of the Flathead River.

The organization hosts over 300 volunteers who donate over 1,750 hours, on a 219-mile-plus river system with which can see up to 100,000 river users annually. Join Team River and help safeguard the future of the Flathead River system together.

FRA is ramping up for the 2025 river season and recruiting 40 volunteer team members. Are you passionate about the river system that inspired a national protected Wild and Scenic River system and want to be an active stakeholder or citizen scientist? In anticipation of another record river user year for the 219- mile federally designated Flathead Wild and Scenic River, FRA is expanding their River Ambassador and Citizen Scientist volunteer programs. River Ambassador training April 15 6-8 p.m. and Floating Citizen Science classroom training will be offered April 29 6-8 p.m. at Glacier Raft Company’s Glacier Outdoor Center, in West Glacier and Water Quality Monitoring training May 7 12:30-2:30 p.m., on Middle Fork of the Flathead River. 

Trainings are conducted in partnership with FRA, Glacier National Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Flathead National Forest, and FLBS-Monitoring Montana Waters. These partners are invested in river users having an enjoyable and safe experience, while ensuring the river system’s outstanding remarkable values are protected. 

“It is imperative that we approach stewardship collaboratively, engaging both private and commercial stakeholders to establish a sustainable path forward. Together, we can ensure that these magnificent wild and scenic rivers remain a source of inspiration, adventure, and tranquility for future generations,” Bob Jordan, FRA Board president said. 

FRA’s River Ambassador program heads into its fifth year of educating recreationists at popular river access sites on the three forks with maps and information about rules, ethics and etiquette. Volunteers additionally boost efforts to eliminate preventable river fatalities through roving and permanent life jacket loaner stations on the Middle and North Forks. For those who enjoy floating the river and have a desire to be an active stakeholder while doing so, Citizen Scientist program trains volunteers to use a data collection app to collect river user, wildlife and invasive species data as they float the river. 

Additionally, one-day stewardship events are offered: April 26 Spring River Access Cleanup, May 14 Spring River Safety Workshop, June 27 River Weed Rodeo, and Aug. 9 Flathead Waters Cleanup. If interested in joining Flathead Rivers Alliance’s team and improving stewardship and safety on the Three Forks of the Flathead River contact FRA at info@flatheadrivers.org or visit www.flatheadrivers.org to learn more about volunteer opportunities and upcoming events.