Federal Grant Funds Green Stormwater Projects in Western Montana

The Western Montana Conservation Commission announced it had secured roughly two million dollars in EPA funding to support green stormwater infrastructure projects in western Montana. The City of Missoula received one million dollars to convert the Missoula Public Library rooftop into a living roof designed to reduce stormwater runoff, filter pollutants, and lower energy use while supporting education and citizen science. Butte Silver Bow was awarded 1.09 million dollars for the revitalization of Father Sheehan Park to address stormwater management, enhance park safety, and improve the urban trail system.

Local residents can expect these projects to provide direct environmental and community benefits. The living roof project will capture and treat rainwater at the source, which can lessen the burden on storm drain systems and improve downstream water quality in shared watersheds. The Father Sheehan Park grant is aimed at combining practical stormwater solutions with improvements to public safety and trail connectivity, making outdoor spaces safer and more usable during and after storm events.

The Western Montana Conservation Commission has administrative ties with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and said it will provide updates as the projects move forward. The grants reflect a broader shift toward green infrastructure as a cost effective and ecologically sensitive approach to reducing polluted runoff across the region. For Lewis and Clark County residents, projects in neighboring jurisdictions matter because rivers and streams cross county lines. Healthier upstream management can reduce pollution loads and support recreation, fisheries, and municipal water systems downstream.

These awards also fit within national efforts to invest federal environmental funds into climate adaptation and water quality improvements. By combining stormwater performance with public education and trail enhancements, the funded projects aim to deliver multiple benefits to communities while advancing practical solutions for managing storm driven runoff. The WMCC will continue to report progress as design and implementation proceed.