Restoring the Headwaters 2026

Synopsis

The Headcut in the Headwaters follows the story of wildlife biologists and stream ecologists as they take on the urgent challenge of repairing a stream headcut in the fragile sage-steppe ecosystem of the Big Hole Valley in Montana. What begins as an eroding scar in the landscape becomes a threat to drain wetlands, degrade critical sage-grouse habitat and disrupt water flowing downstream. Through collaboration, grit, and innovative restoration, this short documentary reveals how working lands and wildlife can thrive together and why protecting water at its source is essential for the resilience of rivers, communities, and all ecosystems downstream.