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Another $65 million geared to mitigating mining damage to Clark Fork River

After 100 years the Blackfoot and Clark Fork rivers flow without being blocked by the Milltown Dam on Friday in Milltown, Mont. The rivers now flow where the dam powerhouse once stood. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com(509) 459-5508
After 100 years the Blackfoot and Clark Fork rivers flow without being blocked by the Milltown Dam on Friday in Milltown, Mont. The rivers now flow where the dam powerhouse once stood. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
After 100 years the Blackfoot and Clark Fork rivers flow without being blocked by the Milltown Dam on Friday in Milltown, Mont. The rivers now flow where the dam powerhouse once stood. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

RIVERS — The riches of the Butte-area mining have evaporated in Western Montana as the federal government continues to try to undo the century-old environmental havoc the leftover heavy metals contributed to the Clark Fork River.

The $100-million project to remove Milltown Dam is complete.

Here’s the latest step on the course back to a natural river, and wonderful fishery.

Final plan to clean up Upper Clark Fork River in Montana approved

The Trustee Restoration Council charged with allocating the funds from Montana’s settlement with Atlantic Richfield Co. over natural resource damage caused by decades of mining in the Upper Clark Fork River Basin signed off on a 20-year plan that will fund $65.5 million worth of projects crafted to improve water and land in Anaconda, Elliston, Drummond and Missoula, and another $40 million on groundwater projects in Butte and Anaconda, and now Gov. Brian Schweitzer must sign off on the plan. — Helena Independent Record

* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Outdoors Blog." Read all stories from this blog