Collaborating for Conservation in the Ruby Valley
Collaborating for open space and wildlife habitat
Nestled between the Tobacco Root Mountains and the Ruby Range of southwest Montana is a rural, working landscape called the Ruby Valley. The valley is home to a remarkable array of wildlife, prized trout streams, and a community committed to protecting the integrity of its public and private lands.
The patchwork of public and private lands that make up the Ruby Valley and surrounding mountains are vital habitat for grizzly bears, elk, and other wildlife. The valley is also a key connective link for wildlife traveling to and from Yellowstone National Park. Alpine streams that originate high in the mountains above the valley flow downhill to form the headwaters of the Missouri River. Throughout the valley, working ranches sustain multi-generational ranching families that make up a tight-knit community and play a vital role in maintaining open space and providing habitat for the iconic wildlife that make the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem extraordinary.
At the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, we recognize that public and private lands are inextricably connected, and both are crucial to protecting the land, water, and wildlife of Greater Yellowstone.
We also know that durable solutions require input from a variety of stakeholders with connections to the landscape. As a member of the Ruby Valley Strategic Alliance (RVSA), GYC supports projects that center the lived experiences of those who live and work in the Ruby Valley in designing and implementing conservation initiatives. The RVSA, formed in 2016, is a collaborative group made up of conservationists, ranchers, elected officials, and community members who know that keeping both working ranches and public lands intact is key to preserving the ecological integrity and way of life in the Ruby Valley and greater southwest Montana.
The Ruby Valley Strategic Alliance works across five main areas to maintain and enhance the stewardship of working ranches and public lands, and achieve long-term conservation goals.
The group focuses on issues related to:
Land Conservation and Growth
Water Quantity and Quality
Wildlife Conflict Prevention
Maintaining Wild Backcountry
U.S. Forest Service Policy and Advocacy
As part of the RVSA, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition works in partnership with ranchers and other stakeholders to better understand the realities on the ground and work toward shared conservation outcomes. By working together and respecting different perspectives, members of the RVSA develop powerful and durable solutions to protect open space, water, and wildlife that can endure changes in the political climate.
The ecological integrity and way of life in the Ruby Valley face challenges posed by development, habitat fragmentation, and wildlife conflict. Ranching in grizzly country comes with the threat of conflicts between wildlife and livestock, a complex challenge that risks both livelihoods and the lives of bears. When open land once held by working ranches is divided into small parcels and developed, wildlife lose essential corridors and habitat, and the fabric of these working communities starts to unravel. Attempting to tackle these issues without collaboration and perspectives provided by groups like the RVSA risks losing vital wildlife habitat, open space, and the integrity of working landscapes.
The RVSA strives to protect the landscape, wildlife, and livelihoods of the Ruby Valley in ways that work for all stakeholders involved.
From local to federal issues, the RVSA membership has tackled challenging topics such as the management of grizzly bears in Montana, policies impacting forest management, water issues such as supporting the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes-Montana Water Compact, and river access on private lands. The alliance also supports on-the-ground projects connected to its conservation goals through letters of support, funding, and project tours.
At the core of developing lasting and durable solutions for public and private land management is a commitment to the practice of maintaining and nurturing relationships. The RVSA exemplifies the success of building trust and prioritizing relationships. Relationships with ranchers, agency personnel, community leaders, and other conservationists allow us to better understand the landscape and how we can work together to achieve our conservation goals.
