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Museum Collaboration Draws Inspiration from Clark Fork Cleanup |
September 21, 2006
The Missoulian’s Entertainer recently featured a story on the collaborative effort of four Missoula museums that highlight historical, cultural and artistic aspects of the cleanup of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers. Two museums — the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula and the Montana Museum of Art and Culture, already feature Milltown-related exhibits, while two more are in the works, one at the UM’s Gallery of Visual Arts and the Missoula Art Museum. Read more about it here. |
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CFRTAC’s August Summary of Water Quality Monitoring |
September 21, 2006
In August, water quality in the Clark Fork River below Milltown dam was monitored daily for turbidity (the “cloudiness” of the water), and weekly for suspended sediment, metals, and arsenic. Upstream sites on the Blackfoot River and on the Clark Fork at Turah were also monitored weekly for metals, arsenic, and sediment. The reservoir level was not lowered during the month – the drawdown that began June 1 remained between 8.5 and 9 feet, depending on river flows.
Turbidity and sediment levels below Milltown Dam remained low, along with very low river flows throughout the month. Levels of dissolved metals and arsenic were also low and typical of the levels usually seen in the river at this time of year. All parameters were well below the applicable water quality standards.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks monitored the condition caged fish in six locations in the Blackfoot, Clark Fork and Bitterroot Rivers between July 11 and August 4. Because of very high stream temperatures, agency biologists saw a tremendous amount of mortality, and this appeared to be related to high water temperature and the resulting low dissolved oxygen (caused by high temperatures). The Bitterroot River near the mouth and the Alberton location had the highest water temperatures and lowest dissolved oxygen, and 100% of the caged fish died in these locations. Typically, the Milltown site had the highest dissolved oxygen. Death rates of caged fish in the Blackfoot, on the Clark Fork at Turah (above the dam) and at Milltown (below the dam) were similar – up to a quarter of the caged fish died in these locations.
FWP is also tracking wild fish by radio telemetry on a weekly basis, and during this period saw no major movement and no mortality. The caged fish experiments will be deployed again this September at the 5 locations (Turah, Blackfoot, Milltown, Bitterroot, and Alberton) once the drawdown resumes. FWP will monitor these changes through February- similar to last year.
And a reminder: if you see one of the cages, please don’t disturb it. These cages supply critical information for monitoring effects of the Milltown project. |
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2nd Annual Community Day at the Confluence Set for September 17 |
September 1, 2006
Community at the Confluence (PDF) will be held at the Picnic Shelter by the Milltown Dam on Sunday, September 17 from 12:30 - 4:30. Admission is free.
Share an afternoon of history as Salish Tribal members reflect on the “Place of the Big Bull Trout;” Fish, Wildlife and Parks presents the life of the bull trout; and NorthWestern Energy hosts tours of the Milltown Dam Powerhouse. Join in the creation of the Community at the Confluence mural. Enjoy the music of LP and the Federales and have lunch at the confluence sold by the Bonner School Close Up students and Friends of Two Rivers.
The historic cleanup of the Milltown Reservoir is beginning and you can learn more about it at the Info Fair featuring displays by EPA, the Natural Resource Damage Program (NRDP), Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ); US Fish & Wildlife Service; the Clark Fork River Technical Assistance Committee (CFRTAC); Envirocon; Fish, Wildlife & Parks; the Milltown Superfund Site Redevelopment Working Group, plus the Montana Natural History Center, Historical Museum @ Fort Missoula, Missoula Art Museum, and the Museum of Art and Culture.
In case of bad weather, the event will move to Bonner School.
Sponsored by the Friends of Two Rivers, the Milltown Superfund Site Redevelopment Working Group, and Bonner School. For more information call Mary Erickson (258-6930 evenings) or Judy Matson (258-6335) or visit the Friends of Two Rivers website. |
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September 1 Marks Close of Clark Fork-Blackfoot Confluence |
September 1, 2006
Fish, Wildlife and Parks has closed the area around the confluence of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers in anticipation of the start of work on the Milltown Reservoir cleanup. Closures on the Clark Fork River start about one half mile below the dam and go three miles above it. The Blackfoot closure starts at the confluence and covers the first mile-and-a-half upstream. Closed areas will be signed. Check out FWP’s press release or EPA’s postcard . |
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