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Over the past two decades considerable information on the effect of woody plants on groundwater recharge patterns has emerged. The dominant woody species has ranged from large shrubs like mesquite (Acacia ssp) and juniper (Juniperus ssp) to trees like Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa). In contrast little attention has focused on smaller species like the sagebrushes (Artemisia ssp.) and rabbitbrushes (Ericameria and Chrysothamnus ssp.). Efforts to control woody density to limit the impact of climate change on stream flow patterns may be less successful if these smaller species intercept groundwater before it reaches feeder streams. Previous prescribed fire research in Montana indicated that much of the change in shallow groundwater occurred with 2m of the surface following fire. Hydrologic studies in watersheds following sagebrush control indicated shifts in soil water at a similar depth. A controlled watershed study to evaluate the effect of sagebrush cover on shallow groundwater levels was begun in southwest Montana in 2012. Ten monitoring wells were established in each of five sub watersheds forming the headwaters of a third order tributary of the Madison River. Twenty percent of the sagebrush was removed each year in four of the units. By 2015 37 - 58% of the cover had been reduced in treatment watersheds. The number of wells with standing groundwater increased from 1 in the pre-treatment year to 5 by 2015. Groundwater persisted in 3 of the wells through September each year. No such patterns were observed in the untreated drainage. Elevation as well as annual snow cover are controlling factors in groundwater response. All the wells with water occur above elevations of 1800m. Drainages below this elevation level have not responded to sagebrush thinning. Snow accumulation and persistence may play a larger role in groundwater patterns than sagebrush cover.