New Employee Spotlight and Job Responsibilities

By Madison Colyer, Watershed + Outreach Program Coordinator

It’s been one month since my start with the Sun River Watershed Group. I thought it would be a good idea to give our supporters and community a better idea of who I am and what I’ll be doing for the watershed group.

MY PAST

My name is Madison Colyer (call-yer). I’ve lived in Montana for over a year now and just moved to Great Falls from Havre. No, I didn’t choose Havre, but it has grown on me and holds a special place in my heart now (Havre has it…as they say). However, I am excited to be in Great Falls and have access to a few more options beyond Walmart.

Moving to Havre was the first time I have lived outside of my home state of Pennsylvania. I grew up in the Cumberland Valley near the south-central region of PA. Our rural neighborhood is nestled between the Appalachian Mountain ranges, close to the Maryland border and a short drive to the infamous Civil War battlefield of Gettysburg. I received my BS of Geology and Environmental Science at Juniata College, where I also played basketball all four years (Go Eagles!).

Upon completing my undergrad, I found myself working for the U.S. Geological Survey in New Cumberland, PA. My role with the USGS was primarily field based as a supporting hydrologic field assistant. Days consisted of traveling around the state to different streams and rivers and collecting surface water quality samples to send to analytical labs. I spent about a year with the USGS before deciding to go back to school and obtain my master’s degree. I joined the Shippensburg University graduate degree program in 2022 as a graduate assistant and student. My classes and research in hydrogeology, geographic information systems (GIS), and volunteer water quality sampling primed me for my next role that brought me to Montana.

In January 2024, I began my new role as a Big Sky Watershed Corp member with the Montana Conservation Corp. I was hosted by the Hill County Conservation District, where I was tasked with creating two different Sample and Analysis Plans for Beaver Creek and Big Sandy Creek watersheds. I’ve always been passionate about our natural landscapes but my time in Havre allowed me to meet the kind and passionate people that call Montana home. Montanans introduced me to a different way of life that focuses on preserving the lands we live on, and for that, I say thank you.

THE PRESENT

So, that brings us here, to Great Falls and what I’ll be doing in the Sun River Watershed. Tracy, our Executive Director, knew that the watershed group was reaching capacity limits and needed to hire another employee to take on the water quality monitoring program as well as other outreach and volunteer programs. I had the privilege of volunteering at some of SRWG’s volunteer events last year and was able to create a relationship with Tracy and other members at these events. When Tracy posted the job opening, I knew that I would be foolish to pass up an opportunity to work for a great organization and make an impact on local resource issues in the Sun River Watershed community.

My role will be to coordinate the water quality program and conduct the monthly water quality sampling that SRWG has been doing for over 20 years (!!!). That’s a long time! I’ll be hosting many of the volunteer events you may remember as well. Like, the Bear Aware educational events, the long-standing Weed Whacker Rodeo in Sun Canyon, or the newly popular Rain Barrel Workshop. I’m really looking forward to meeting volunteers and members of this community at our events, our partner events, local meetings, and of course, out in the field taking water quality samples this season.

Please feel free to reach out to me about volunteering/attending our upcoming events or coming with me this season for some water quality sampling in the Sun River Watershed. Thank you for welcoming me to this community, and I hope to see you all soon. Cheers!