The Bitterroot River sustains diverse fisheries, supplies food, shelter, and critical movement corridors to an abundance of wildlife, and provides a wealth of cultural, economic, and recreation resources.

If ever “a river ran through it,” it’s the Big Blackfoot River — the stuff of Montana legend that easily lives up to its fame. Over the past several decades it’s taken some hard knocks, but collaborative community partnerships are healing headwaters and staving off new threats.

For 100 years, Milltown Dam blocked the confluence of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers near Missoula, trapping toxic sediments and contaminating local drinking water. Now, the dam is out, the mining waste is gone, fish can swim back upstream, and two mighty rivers flow free once more.

The Flathead River drainage is one of the West’s great jewels–wilderness and Wild & Scenic River designations ensure that much of this pristine basin remains protected.  Unfortunately, invasive species are threatening the food web in its lakes and rivers.

The Clark Fork becomes deep and wide as it flows toward its terminus in Lake Pend Oreille.  Here, creeks cascade through lush forests, providing critical habitat for the threatened native bull trout, Montana’s state fish.  Sadly, proposed mines threaten to discharge polluted wastewater into the river–forever.

The scenic stretch of the Clark Fork from Missoula to the Flathead confluence offers incredible recreational benefits. Here, we connect thousands of people to caring for their hometown river through educational programs, and restore cold water to thirsty creeks.

At the heart of Montana’s mining boom, the Upper Clark Fork provided the copper that electrified the nation.  But the meandering headwaters of the Clark Fork paid a heavy toll from the resulting pollution.  Today, this watershed is the center of one of the most remarkable restoration stories in the world.

Clark Fork Coalition launched a pilot project in 2019 to address beaver conflicts using nonlethal resolution methods. Our program goals include: building greater tolerance for beavers on our landscape, reducing beaver conflicts, and increasing awareness through outreach and education.