Branch Out Bozeman is an urban forest initiative by the Gallatin Watershed Council, City of Bozeman Parks & Recreation Department, and you.
Roots down, branches out!
Roots down, branches out!
Branch Out Bozeman (aka BOB) is doing more than planting trees. BOB thinks bigger. BOB thinks smarter.
A well-planned urban forest promotes a healthy, resilient, and equitable future our watershed, wildlife, and community.
That means planting the right trees in the right places at the right times. It also means understanding why trees are so valuable to us in the first place.
Want to think like BOB? Keep reading.
What’s an urban forest for?
Cleaner water
A tree-filled Bozeman will improve the quality of our water and the health of our streams.
Cooler summers
More trees will address the urban heat island effect and lower surface and air temperatures in Bozeman.
Broader benefits
From cool shade to clean air to improved mental health, trees should provide for everyone, no matter the street you live on.
The tree to-do list:
Intercept rainfall and slow stormwater runoff to reduce flooding and erosion
Treat pollution in stormwater and shallow groundwater to improve water quality
Shade streets and parking lots to cool stormwater
Shade creeks to cool in-stream water temperatures
When it comes to water, trees know best what to do with it.
Roads and roofs make Bozeman hot. Trees cool things down.
All that blue on this map? That’s where the trees are. The rest is hot urban development. The heat retained by Bozeman’s asphalt and concrete impacts our comfort, energy bills, and quality of life.
With more trees comes more shade — leading to fewer piping-hot streets and rooftops, cooler summer evenings, and a more efficient city infrastructure.
Trees are awesome. All of us should benefit from them.
This is the current reality: the more expensive the homes, the greener the neighborhood. For Bozeman’s low-income communities, that means their streets often have far fewer trees — excluding them from all the benefits of an urban forest.
We want to change that.
Trees provide us with shade, recreation, wildlife, and clean air. They improve our mental and physical well-being. They increase our property values and manage stormwater. They make a place feel like home.
We all deserve a life with shade and birdsong.
How will we grow our forest?
Mobilize!
Method 1
We’re creating a community of forest stewards, through education, outreach, and volunteer projects.
Plant for impact
Method 2
We will plant trees in areas that will have the greatest impact on our city’s temperature, water quality, and Bozemanites.
Method 3
Plant for resilience
Diverse trees makes a stronger forest. We will plant a variety of species to withstand environmental changes.
Method 4
Protect existing trees
By educating the public, following best practices, and influencing policy, we will protect the trees we already have.
Repurpose fallen trees
Method 5
Dead trees are still valuable to our community. We will repurpose removed or fallen trees as mulch and locally-made wood products.
Ready to think like BOB? Start here.
Volunteer
Do It Yourself
Sponsor a Grove
Founding partners
Participating Partners
