In Montana (and much of the West), river corridors have been modified or channelized for infrastructure, transportation, and agricultural production. Cumulatively, these modifications reduce the ecological benefits of natural fluvial processes at a time when climate change is causing historic fire, flooding, and drought across the country. These events are becoming more common and severe with impacts from climate change. In response, climate adaptation tactics are critical to build drought and flood resilience at large scales. It’s critical to incentivize riparian corridor preservation, which is a unique and effective conservation strategy designed to enable large rivers and their floodplains to function at their fullest potential. Protecting floodplain connectivity, offers flood hazard mitigation, and drought and climate resiliency. This presentation will cover tools, strategies, and challenges in Montana to protect river and floodplain corridors for these reasons.