by Merle Ann Loman | Apr 2, 2009 | Blackfoot, Clark Fork, i Spring
Contact: Vivaca Crowser, Information Officer
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
(406) 542-5518,
vcrowser@mt.gov,
Website: fwp.mt.gov/r2
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 2, 2009
River Closures Remain Around Milltown
Small sections of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers near the site of the old Milltown Dam remain closed to fishing, boating and other recreation.
Although the dam has been removed, construction work continues and river conditions are unstable. Riverbed levels are expected to drop this spring as the Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers work to reclaim a natural channel, exposing wood and other debris that could create hazards to recreationists.
The Clark Fork River is closed from about one-half mile below the old Milltown Dam site (at the railroad bridge) to three miles upstream from the bridge. Turah Fishing Access Site (FAS) is the last public take-out for floaters upstream from the closure area, and Sha-Ron FAS, is the first public access below the closed zone. Sha-Ron may be unusable this spring because of sediment deposition at the ramp. This sediment is expected to erode during high flows.
On the Blackfoot, the closure covers a stretch of about 1.5 miles upstream from the river’s confluence with the Clark Fork. Floaters must take out at Weigh Station FAS. All closed areas are signed.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) expects the public safety closures will remain in effect for at least one more year. FWP will continue to monitor river conditions and construction activities and will lift closures as soon as conditions stabilize.
For additional information on the closed areas, contact the Missoula FWP office at (406) 542-5500. -fwp-
by Merle Ann Loman | Feb 18, 2009 | Conservation/benefits/organizations
Posted from an email by Clark Fork Coalition:
Support the Big Sky Rivers Act TODAY! Join us Friday for River Lobby Day.
Your river needs you this week.
Please voice your support for HB 455, the “Big Sky Rivers Act,” up THIS THURSDAY, February 19 in the House Local Government Committee.
1) Leave a message for your Representative at 406-444-4800
2) Email a brief message of support directly to your Representative
3) Send your support to the entire House Local Government Committee: send emails to kbutcher@mt.gov
Join us this Friday, Feb 20th, at the Capitol!
8:30 am – Vans leave from CFC office in Missoula.
10:30 am – Meet at the Rotunda and tour the Capitol building.
11:00 am – “Lobbying and Legislature Basics” with Brianna Randall of the Clark Fork Coalition, Sarah Cobler of Montana Conservation Voters, and other policy mentors.
12:00 pm – Lunch with selected Representatives and Senators (food provided).
1:00 pm – View House and Senate floor sessions from the gallery.
2:00 pm – Join a mentor to attend committee hearings or lobby your elected officals on the Coalition’s priority bills.
4:30 pm – Leave Capitol and swing by the Blackfoot River Brewing Company to meet and greet other Coalition members and river supporters.
Please RSVP by Weds 2/18 to attend or carpool: info@clarkfork.org or 542-0539 x200.
by Merle Ann Loman | Jan 21, 2009 | Clark Fork
Join us to hear updates on the Milltown Dam Removal and River Restoration project. Speakers include David Schmetterling, FWP; Russ Forba, EPA; and Doug Martin, NRDP.
UPDATE ON:
Timeline for remaining cleanup
Upcoming river restoration
Fisheries health
After plugging the Clark Fork-Blackfoor confluence for 100 years, the dam is a part of history.
Milltown Cleanup Update for Guides
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, from 5:30-7:30PM, the Clark Fork Coalition and Montana Trout Unlimited will co-host Guiding Without the Dam, an update for guides on the Milltown cleanup project, at the Coalition offices at 140 S. 4th St. W. Free pizza and beer will be served.
Please RSVP to info@clarkfork.org or 406-542-0539.
Clark Fork Coalition
Montana Trout Unlimited
by Merle Ann Loman | Jan 6, 2009 | Bitterroot, i Spring
Dusty Bernard has been coming to the Bitterroot for years. Some of the regulars are Don Young, Jim Shultz, Jim Ogle, Peter Zouvas, Gary Spradling, Dusty and his son Tim.
I am posting a slideshow of select photos through the years. We wish you all a Happy New Year. It would be great to see you in 2009.
To view in full screen, click on “View Album” then select “Slide Show.” You might need to slow it down a bit (+).
by Merle Ann Loman | Sep 11, 2008 | Clark Fork
Missoula, Montana – article from eCurrents of the Clark Fork Coalition
Beyond the breach: A guide to Milltown down
The Milltown dam is officially history this fall as the last of the spillway is removed. But how has the river fared during this massive construction project? At the Clark Fork Coalition, we’re dedicated to bringing you the facts about what’s going on at the former Milltown Dam site as well as downstream throughout the Clark Fork basin. We’ve started a new online resource page for the public to use, summarizing data from the breach and beyond on fisheries, water quality, groundwater levels, and sediment in the river. The pages are under construction, and we’ll update as new information becomes available.
For a full presentation of the impacts and benefits of the breach, plan to attend the upcoming public meeting on the Milltown cleanup on Tuesday, Oct. 14, in Bonner. EPA, state, and local officials will be on the bluff south of the Clark Fork overlooking the project starting at 4:00 PM to answer questions and point out the work to-date. At 6:30 PM, the meeting will reconvene in the Bonner Elementary School gymnasium.
Contact: Vivaca Crowser, Information Officer
