The Clark Fork River and its tributaries drain most of western Montana. The upper river and headwaters were heavily impacted by wastes from over a century of mining. Today, the area is the largest Superfund environmental clean-up site in the nation.

Spring 2011 Field Trips:

-Thursday, April 7th, Butte Central

-Thursday, April 28th, Fred Moodry Middle School

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-Summer 2010 Restoration Around the Clark Fork Basin
-Checking In with Clark Fork Ecosystems
and Spring Field Season Photos
-NRDP Funds Proposed for New Projects

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Robert Ray
DEQ Planning, Prevention & Assistance
406-444-5319
rray@mt.gov

Helena – The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is encouraging Montanans who value clean water to review and comment on the department's new Draft 2007 Montana Nonpoint (NPS) Source Management Plan.

The 2007 Plan provides information on the sources and impacts of polluted runoff, identifies programs and resources that address diffuse pollution, identifies long term strategies for protecting or restoring impacted streams, lakes and wetlands, and describes the set of short-term (5-year) priority actions to ensure clean water. The public comment period lasts for 30 days, from April 6th through May 6th.

Nonpoint source pollution comes from activities on the land that leads to pollutants in storm water runoff, snow melt and groundwater, and into streams and lakes. The most common pollutants are excessive soil and nutrients. These and other pollutants harm aquatic life, increase costs for water supplies, and impact recreation. Montana’s citizens are both the source of the problem and the answer since they can control nonpoint source pollution through their actions and activities.

The DEQ has developed this plan with assistance from interested partners, to be used as both a background resource and a strategy for action. The NPS Plan addresses Montana’s water resources (surface waters, wetlands & ground water), significant sources and impacts of NPS, specific actions to address NPS, and priority actions to be accomplished over the next five years.

The Draft 2007 Montana Nonpoint Source Management Plan can be reviewed and comments made through the NPS Management Plan website at www.deq.mt.gov. Hardcopies or CD's are available by contacting Angie Hayden, DEQ Administrative Assistant at 406-444-6749 or ahayden@mt.gov.

Comments on the NPS Plan can be e-mailed directly from the website. Written comments can be sent to:

Montana Department of Environmental Quality
PPA\WQPB, Attn: Angie Hayden
PO Box 200901, 1520 East Sixth Avenue
Helena, MT 59620

Comments must be received by May 6, 2007.