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Signs of Success at Silver Bow

EVEN AFTER A CENTURY OF CONTAMINATION, REMEDIATION CAN HELP THE ENVIRONMENT TO HEAL, AS YOU’LL HEAR ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

(sfx: river flowing)

FOR MORE THAN ONE-HUNDRED YEARS, CONTAMINATION FROM MINE WASTE HAS MADE MONTANA’S SILVER BOW CREEK UNINHABITABLE TO AQUATIC LIFE.

BUT IN NINETEEN-NINETY-NINE, THE MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY STARTED A PLAN FOR CHANGE. PROJECT MANAGER JOEL CHAVEZ EXPLAINS WHAT IT ENTAILS.

(sfx: bulldozers under)

CHAVEZ: WE DIVERT THE STREAM AND BUILD A NEW STREAM CHANNEL AND THEN WE PUT THE STREAM INTO THE NEW STREAM CHANNEL AND FLOODPLAIN AND WE PHYSICALLY REMOVE THE CONTAMINANTS OF CONCERN.

ULTIMATELY MORE THAN TWENTY-ONE MILES OF THE CREEK WILL BE CLEANED.  IT’S A HUGE PROJECT THAT WON’T BE COMPLETE FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS, BUT CHAVEZ SAYS THE WORK IS ALREADY PAYING OFF.  IN FACT, LIVE TROUT POPULATIONS HAVE RETURNED TO SILVER BOW!

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Read more from the Montana DEQ.

Read more from the Montana Department of Justice.