Ponds

If you have lived in Big Sky for any length of time, or have enjoyed walks along the meadow trail system, you have probably noticed the two large meadow ponds.  These ponds, known as Little Coyote and Silverbow, are valuable amenities that have provided wildlife viewing and fishing opportunities to Big Sky property owners and their guests since the 1960’s.  Both ponds are currently in need of rehabilitation as they are slowly but surely filling with sediment and vegetation. 

Since 2005, the BSOA Board of Directors has worked closely with water right consultants and pond and stream engineers from Atkins (formerly PBS&J) to develop a plan to restore the ponds.   Many approaches to pond restoration have been investigated without success. 

In today’s regulatory climate, on stream ponds are no longer legal and cannot be dredged. Accepting this regulatory fact, The BSOA Board looked into the feasibility and costs associated with taking the ponds off-stream, installing flow gates, and restoring the stream channel.  The BSOA Board found this option to be cost prohibitive, with particular regard to the costs and uncertainty associated with obtaining a water right. 

The decision to allow our meadow ponds to return to a natural state was not easy, and the BSOA Board is currently focused on developing a twenty-year plan to help Mother Nature along by re-vegetating the ponds over the coming years with wildlife friendly wetland plants.  All remaining pond reserves (totaling $272K at end of the2010-2011 fiscal year) will be maintained by the BSOA and allocated for re-vegetation and associated maintenance. 

If you are interested in learning more about the history of the project and the many factors leading to the Board’s position, please contact Mary Jane McGarity at 406-995-4166.