Written by Abby Volkmann* Montana has some of the nation’s richest backcountry wildlands, with habitat for grizzly bears and mountain lions, exceptionally clear skies, and solitude. These pristine areas, however, are under threat by climate change, urbanization, and over-allocation of water supplies. Missoula and its surrounding communities are working hard…
Montana’s 66th legislative session is officially over! As with any legislative session, 2019 was not without its challenges, unforeseen obstacles, and last-minute dealings, but all things considered, the session was a success in terms of the Clark Fork Coalition’s priority issues. Here’s how things shook out on key pieces of…
Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are threatening our watershed now more than ever. The detection of invasive mussels in Tiber Reservoir last October dropped the possibility of a massively destabilized Clark Fork Watershed at our back door. What exactly do these new threats mean for our watershed? What are they? Aquatic invasive…
Everyone deserves the chance to experience and enjoy our waterways. At the Coalition, we've discovered that those who get out on the river are also more inclined to engage in its long-term care. The Problem: High-speed watercraft present a safety hazard to non-motorized vessels, bank fishermen, swimmers, and other river…
We’re on the cusp of turning a wasteland back into a waterway at the old Smurfit-Stone Mill Site. Thirty years ago, the Clark Fork Coalition was founded by a group of citizens concerned about pollution from a pulp and paper mill just west of Missoula. We asked the state to…
New 'Urban River Restoration and Access Project' aims to improve the river corridor and recreation downtown Summer has arrived in Montana, glazing the Missoula Valley in heat waves that make the river look oh-so-tempting. The shores of the Clark Fork come to life, as floaters, hikers, dog-walkers, birders, anglers, and swimmers…
(Updated April 8): While we are tracking several water-related bills this session, no piece of legislation is more important for the future of water management in Montana than Senate Bill 262 - which would ratify the Water Rights Compact between the State of Montana and the Confederated Salish & Kootenai…
On January 13, 2015 the Clark Fork Coalition filed a petition with the Montana Public Service Commission, seeking approval to intervene in the PSC’s review of the proposed sale of Mountain Water Co. to Liberty Utilities. Why intervene? Clean, safe, reliable, and affordable drinking water is essential to our community’s…
A copper mine above Potomac? Near the old mining ghost town of Garnet, at the headwaters of Union Creek above the lush, rural Potomac valley, there’s an outcrop of rock stained blue and green with copper minerals. That colorful cliff has inspired numerous attempts to see if there’s ore where…
In September 2014 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released a long-awaited draft recovery plan for the threatened bull trout—a requirement under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). It's been a process. According to the ESA, this guidance document must include “objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would result in…
