Map of Silver Bow Creek Watershed (PDF, 1MB)

Silver Bow Creek

Remediation and Restoration

The cleanup of the Silver Bow Creek Superfund site near Butte is one of the largest stream and floodplain remediation and restoration projects undertaken in the United States. Since remediation began in 1999, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has:

• removed over three million cubic yards of contaminated tailings in the floodplain (see Silver Bow Creek Corridor map (PDF))
• reconstructed the stream channel for the first eight miles of the creek and partially reconstructed another four miles

When complete, over 22 miles of stream channel and floodplain will have been restored and approximately four million cubic yards of tailings and soils laden with heavy metals removed.

Under restoration activities funded by NRDP, aquatic and riparian resources are being restored and a variety of recreational opportunities created, including a 22-mile greenway trail system. These combined remediation and restoration efforts will result in a restored floodplain ecosystem, slated for completion in 2011 or 2012.

The Silver Bow Creek Fact Sheet (PDF 11.8MB) provides further information on remediation and restoration activities along Silver Bow Creek.

Stream Reconstruction


After Restoration


Floodplain Revegetation


Mile 1 of Silver Bow Creek Project


Mile 6 of Silver Bow Creek Project

Status

In 2005 and 2006, DEQ removed about one million cubic yards of tailings from a 250-acre area near Opportunity and a 200-acre area near Ramsay, and reconstructed three miles of the stream channel. NRDP will continue to restore aquatic and riparian resources in coordination with DEQ's remediation activities over the next four years.

Restoring Silver Bow Creek Compact Disc

This educational compact disc (CD), produced by artist Todd Trigsted for NRDP, illustrates the enormous size of the pollution problem and the cleanup, reconstruction and restoration effort occurring at Silver Bow Creek. The CD offers photographs, panoramic views, videos and diagrams that cover topics such as the mining history, environmental injuries, remediation and restoration. Viewers can see snapshots of tailings removal, transport and disposal activities, stream reconstruction activities in progress, as well as reaches of the creek in various phases of cleanup.

The accompanying instructions (PDF) include playing times and an outline of the topics covered by the CD's five main sections. For a copy of the CD, contact Kathy Coleman at (406) 444-0205, or e-mail at nrdp@mt.gov.

Watershed Planning Effort

In December 2005, the governor approved the final Silver Bow Creek Watershed Restoration Plan. The plan identifies and prioritizes restoration needs in the Silver Bow Creek watershed (PDF map, 1MB). This effort resulted from public input that suggested watershed-scale planning can serve as a guide to restoring natural resources in the watershed. Development of the plan involved extensive public input, and data collection and analysis.

The plan evaluates current conditions, identifies desired future conditions and prioritizes restoration needs to achieve the desired conditions. The plan identifies 61 significant restoration needs within eight planning areas in the watershed.

Restoration needs are broadly categorized as:

• preserving and protecting existing resources;
• mitigating pollution;
• improving water quantity;
• restoring fisheries;
• restoring vegetation and wildlife, and
• developing recreation.

As part of the grant-evaluation process established by the Upper Clark Fork River Basin (UCFRB) Restoration Plan Procedures and Criteria (PDF), the State will consider the degree to which proposed projects in the Silver Bow Creek watershed are consistent with the priorities established with this plan. Prospective applicants for grant funds should use the plan to ensure that potential restoration projects address important, identified restoration needs.

Related Documents

• Final Silver Bow Creek Watershed Restoration Plan (PDF, 315 pages, 16MB), December 2005 – a plan to help prospective applicants for natural resource damage funds and other funds determine the best restoration opportunities in the watershed. In applications for proposals for in the Silver Bow Creek Watershed, applicants need to document the consistency of their proposal with the priorities identified in this plan.
• Executive Summary (PDF, 15 pages, 1MB), December 2005 – describes the process used to develop the Silver Bow Creek Watershed Restoration Plan and provides a table of prioritized restoration needs.
• Final State of Montana Responses to Public Comments on the 2004 Draft Silver Bow Creek Watershed Restoration Plan (PDF, 17 pages), December 2005 – provides the public comments on the draft restoration plan and the state's responses to those documents.