Clark Fork areas to be closed
Stretches of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers will be closed to fishing and other recreation for five years as part of the project to remove Milltown Dam.
The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission authorized the closures effective Sept. 1. They will end on June 1, 2011.
The Clark Fork will be closed from about one-half mile below Milltown Dam to three miles upstream. On the Blackfoot, the closure will cover a stretch of about 1.5 miles, from the river’s confluence with the Clark Fork.
Milltown Dam, near the confluence, will be removed in a $100 million project overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The project includes removal of toxic sediment that has accumulated behind the dam.
Work on bridges upstream from the dam may start as early as September.
Milltown Reservoir’s drawdown began in June. With the water gone, workers can remove mud — by the trainload — contaminated by mine and smelter waste that washed downstream from the Butte area during a 100-year span. Removal of the dam will follow work to remove the mud.
Associated Press
BOATING
Sign up for boating safety
Fall is prime time for hunters, anglers and other people who operate boats to take advantage of boating safety services offered by two boating-related groups in the Spokane area. Both courses satisfy the Washington State boater safety education requirement that will be phased in over the next 15 years:
Spokane Sail & Power Squadron will offer another session of America’s Boating Course starting Sept. 7 and running four consecutive Thursdays, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. at the squadron clubhouse at 925 W. Jackson. Cost, including manual and interactive CD-ROM is $35 for adults, $17.50 for youths with adult. Preregister: 328-6165 or 998-7104.
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has scheduled a group safety class starting Oct. 9 covering safety, boat handling, trailering and navigation. Cost: $35 with family rates available. Info: (509) 921-0449.
While both groups offer several advanced boating courses, the Coast Guard Auxiliary also schedules private classes for groups of two or more and offers vessel inspections help make sure you have proper safety equipment.
Rich Landers