The Whitewater Watershed (HUC 05080003) covers an area of approximately 931 square miles in southwestern Montana. The watershed is characterized by high elevation mountains, which receive significant amounts of snowfall, resulting in a large snowpack. This snowpack provides a crucial source of water for the streams and rivers in the watershed during the summer months. The surface water in the watershed is fed by snowmelt and precipitation, and is used for agricultural, recreational, and domestic purposes. The watershed also contains several reservoirs, which are used for water storage and power generation. The climate in the watershed is characterized by cold winters and mild summers, with average annual precipitation of around 20 inches. Recent trends in the region include increasing temperatures and decreasing snowpack, which have significant implications for water resources and ecological processes in the watershed.