Redwater River

Redwater River
Name	Redwater River
Country	United States
State	Montana
Length	100 km
Source	Hills and foothills
Mouth	Missouri River
Basin countries	United States

Redwater River is a tributary in eastern Montana that joins the Missouri River and contributes to the Missouri River Basin. The stream flows through terrain shaped by Pleistocene glaciation and modern fluvial processes and has cultural significance to several Indigenous nations and Euro-American settlers. It supports regional agriculture, wildlife habitat, and recreational activities within the Upper Missouri River Breaks and the broader Northern Plains.

Course

The river rises in the hills near Toole County, Montana and flows southeastward past communities such as Shelby, Montana, Choteau, Montana, and Havre, Montana before entering the floodplain of the Missouri River near Fort Peck Reservoir. Along its course it receives tributaries from watersheds draining the Rocky Mountains, the Little Rocky Mountains, and the Highwood Mountains. Major infrastructure crossings include rail lines of the BNSF Railway, segments of U.S. Route 2 (Montana), and state highways near Great Falls, Montana and Billings, Montana. The channel intersects land owned by the Bureau of Land Management, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and private ranches operated under the Natural Resources Conservation Service programs.

Geography and Hydrology

The basin lies within the Northern Plains ecoregion and overlays sedimentary formations of the Williston Basin and the Powder River Basin. Soils derived from loess and glacial till influence infiltration and runoff, interacting with regional aquifers such as the Fort Union Formation and the Hell Creek Formation-associated groundwater systems. Seasonal snowmelt from the Bitterroot Range and convective spring storms produce peak flows that contribute to seasonal flooding in the Missouri Breaks National Monument area. Hydrologic monitoring by the U.S. Geological Survey gauges streamflow stage and sediment loads; water resource planning involves the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Historical channel migration has been documented alongside human modifications including irrigation diversions tied to the Pick-Sloan Plan and drainage works coordinated with the Soil Conservation Service.

History

Indigenous peoples including the Mandan, Hidatsa, Assiniboine, and Crow used the river corridor for seasonal migration, hunting, and trade prior to European contact. Lewis and Clark-era expeditions navigated the broader Missouri River system and encountered regional bands during the Lewis and Clark Expedition. In the 19th century the region saw fur trade routes operated by the American Fur Company and military activity tied to posts such as Fort Benton and campaigns involving the U.S. Army. Towns along the river grew during the Montana Gold Rush and later expansion of the Northern Pacific Railway and Great Northern Railway. Twentieth-century projects by the Bureau of Reclamation and federal New Deal-era agencies reshaped irrigation and land use; contemporary legal frameworks reference decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court and state water compact settlements.

Ecology and Wildlife

Riparian corridors support stands of cottonwood and willow species that provide habitat for migratory birds listed with the Audubon Society and monitored under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Aquatic fauna include native fishes similar to species managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and non-native populations influenced by introductions documented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Mammalian fauna observed in the watershed include elk herds associated with Yellowstone National Park-scale migrations, deer monitored by state wildlife agencies, and predators such as coyotes managed through regional harvest programs. Wetlands in the basin contribute to flyway staging areas used by species cataloged by the National Audubon Society and protected under programs administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at complexes similar to the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Recreation and Human Use

The river corridor provides angling opportunities regulated by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks licenses and seasonal limits, with amenities marketed by local chambers of commerce in towns like Shelby, Montana and Great Falls, Montana. Boating and kayaking occur on calmer reaches, while hunting and birdwatching attract visitors linked to outfitters registered with the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association. Trails and public access sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service connect to regional tourism routes promoted by the Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development. Agricultural users utilize irrigation infrastructure instituted under programs by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency, while municipal water supplies draw from connected aquifers overseen by local water districts and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

Conservation and Management

Conservation efforts involve coordination among the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and private stakeholders including The Nature Conservancy chapters in the Northern Plains. Watershed restoration projects target riparian revegetation, erosion control under the Natural Resources Conservation Service programs, and invasive species management guided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture policies. Floodplain management integrates mapping by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and guidelines from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on climate impacts. Legal protections derive from state statutes enforced by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and federal statutes adjudicated through regional offices of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Category:Rivers of Montana