RIVER OF THE MONTH
Upper Missouri River
The longest river in North America, the Missouri is critical for fish and wildlife, steeped in human history and is a spiritual centerpiece for multiple Native American tribes. Born at the confluence of the Madison, Jefferson and Gallatin, the Missouri flows across the prairielands of Montana and the Great Plains until, after more than 2,300 miles, it winds lazily down to the Mississippi River. The Upper Missouri Wild and Scenic River (our primary focus here) flows dam-free for 149 miles and remains nearly as pristine as it was 200 years ago.
Why It Matters
Fish
BOB WICK
From tiny minnows to massive paddlefish, the Missouri River is home to 67 native fish species, 51 of which are imperiled. Along with multiple trout species, the upper river’s native fish include arctic grayling (above), endangered pallid sturgeon and the American paddlefish, which can grow to 140 pounds.
BOB WICK
MARK CONLIN
As the storied passageway of westward expansion, with prairie reserves and famed trout waters, the Missouri River in Montana is in a class by itself. A national monument traces a famous leg of Lewis and Clark’s journey (today a beloved canoe trip) and adjoins the country’s second largest wildlife refuge, which protects a disappearing grassland ecosystem. Many large, wild tributaries are superb in their own right, like the Yellowstone, Marias, Dearborn, Smith and Sun.
Wildlife
Montana’s eastern high plains contain some of the most important temperate grasslands left on Earth. Keystone species include sage grouse and prairie dogs, and the region is home to bighorn sheep, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, black-footed ferret, beavers, turtles and more than 250 species of birds.