O’Dell Creek Restoration

Through the efforts of Jeff Laszlo and his family, fifth generation owners of the Granger Ranch just outside Ennis, Montana, an ambitious restoration project has transformed miles of drainage ditches back to the stream’s original meandering path. Once a clogged artery of the Madison River, O’Dell Creek is now pumping clean, completely spring-fed, cool water through its channels.

The O’Dell Creek Headwaters Project has been hailed as the largest wetland restoration endeavor in Montana. Last year, The Laszlo family was awarded the National Wetlands Award for Landowner Stewardship by the Environmental Law Institute. The restoration results are impressive.

O’Dell Creek Headwaters (OCH) Restoration and Conservation Easement Project Environmental Assessment Background Wetland and riparian habitats comprise an extremely small physical area (<1%) of the western United States. Although these habitats are restricted in area, they harbor a wide diversity of birds and other wildlife. Restoration and conservation of these habitats is occurring in Montana and throughout the west.

A cooperative restoration effort was initiated in 2005 by private landowners, state and federal agencies, and local non-profit organization at the headwaters of O’Dell Creek in southwest Montana. This wetland complex area was partially drained by constructing ditches and by channelizing upper O’Dell Creek in 1955. This Environmental Assessment analyzes a wetland restoration project occurring in the area.

The Granger Ranch encompasses much of the headwaters area for O’Dell Creek including the proposed project site. A Montana Land Reliance conservation easement currently protects the overall conservation values of the Granger Ranch.

If you would like to donate to support ongoing restoration efforts at O’Dell Creek, follow the link below and notate O’Dell in your donation description.