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New data raises more questions about health of Clark Fork fishery • Daily Montanan

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New data raises more questions about health of Clark Fork fishery • Daily Montanan


While anglers flock to streams across the Clark Fork Basin for another fishing season, hardworking staff at Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks have been grappling with a sobering question: Is it safe to eat fish anywhere in the Clark Fork River?  

Problems with fish in the Clark Fork aren’t necessarily breaking news. Previous testing by FWP found high levels of three types of dangerous contaminants: dioxins, furans, and PCBs in rainbow trout and northern pike in some stretches of the river. This discovery led to a formal advisory that the public avoid eating fish in certain river sections – from the Bitterroot confluence to where it joins the Flathead – due to human health concerns.  

But the Clark Fork is a big watershed, and questions remained about whether fish in the headwaters or downstream should also be off-limits. These unknowns prompted Montana Trout Unlimited  to partner with FWP and other stakeholders, the Clark Fork Coalition, the Montana Natural Resource Damage Program, the Missoula County Health Department and the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes to pool resources to investigate the scope and potential sources of pollution.  

In 2022, MTU secured a federal EPA grant to fund water quality and fish-tissue sampling at dozens of locations, from the Clark Fork headwaters to the Idaho border. FWP staff spent the 2023 season deploying samplers in the river and harvesting fish to test for the presence of dioxins, furans and PCBs. Now the initial results are in, and the picture may be bleaker than before.  

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The devices deployed last year identified elevated levels of PCBs, dioxins, and furans at the headwaters, again near Bearmouth, and downstream of Missoula.  Although we await a definitive analysis, initial results suggest that levels may approach or exceed safe limits for human consumption. It is now clear that this contamination is widespread, but more work is needed to pinpoint its specific sources, and to develop effective remediation strategies to protect human and ecological health.  

So what does this new data mean? We don’t have the complete answer yet.

Experts with FWP and Montana DEQ need to complete their quality-control analysis before making decisions about whether an expanded advisory is warranted. However, two things are for certain:  

First, Clark Fork anglers should proceed with caution. Even in very small amounts, these highly toxic contaminants are known to cause cancer, damage the immune system, and cause developmental and reproductive problems. While more needs to be done to fully understand the 2023 data, an abundance of caution would dictate avoiding fish consumption throughout the river. 

Second, the public needs more information. These contaminants are highly toxic and extremely difficult to detect. Testing is expensive, time consuming, and often leads to questions that warrant further investigation. In some areas, we currently have the resources to dig into the problem. At Smurfit-Stone – a known source of all three types of contaminants – the EPA is investigating the site and must do everything possible to quantify and mitigate Smurfit’s contribution to the problem. In other areas, we may need to collect more data to identify and remove new sources of contamination.

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We’ve come too far to accept a perpetually contaminated Clark Fork fishery, and FWP’s discoveries demand a strong response. This is true not just at Smurfit but in the upper river, where hundreds of millions have already been invested in restoring a heavily damaged waterway. Through the ongoing and collective efforts of FWP, DEQ, and a broad set of community stakeholders, we are well positioned to identify and address threats to human and ecological health and work towards a cleaner and healthier Clark Fork. 

David Brooks is the Executive Director, Montana Trout Unlimited and Andrew Gorder is the legal and policy director for the Clark Fork Coalition. 

 



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Montana City Ranked One Of The Cheapest In The U.S.

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Montana City Ranked One Of The Cheapest In The U.S.


Affordable living in Montana. Now that may sound like something that seems impossible, especially if you are looking to move to certain areas like Bozeman, Kalispell, or Missoula. Thankfully, there are still towns/cities that are making national news for being the most affordable/cheapest to live in, in the United States.

A top name in finance, Kiplinger Personal Finance, has come out with a list of the 25 cheapest cities to live in throughout the U.S. and one Montana city has made the list. This city came in at #16!

It really wasn’t a surprise when reading the list to see this city on it. There are so many things to do in and around this city, it’s no wonder people are starting to flock there.

What city in Montana made the list for one of the one of the cheapest cities to live in, in the U.S.?

Great Falls

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Great Falls has over 60 parks and 52 miles of River’s Edge Trail along the scenic Missouri River. Not only that, but when you are walking the land in Great Falls, you are walking among the history of the Blackfeet Indians and Lewis and Clark.

With a population of a little over 60k, Great Falls is actually the third largest city in Montana. Great Falls is ideal for any outdoor enthusiast that loves hiking, mountain biking, camping, fishing, skiing and more.

GREAT FALLS BAR NAMED BEST ON PLANET EARTH BY GQ

You will find yourself within driving distance to both Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park.

Full of local restaurants and cafes, you will have some of the most delicious food all while supporting the community. Do yourself a favor and give Great Falls a visit, you will most likely understand how it made the list of top 25 cheapest cities to live in, in the U.S.

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cc: Kiplinger Personal Finance

Safety Town 2024 Great Falls, Montana

Safety Town 2024 Great Falls, Montana

Gallery Credit: Tammie Toren

Breakfast Restaurants In Great Falls, Montana

Restaurants That Serve Breakfast The Whole Time They’re Open, Great Falls, Montana

Gallery Credit: Tammie Toren

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Winter storm maps show where state could be hit with 7 inches of snow

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Winter storm maps show where state could be hit with 7 inches of snow


Residents of Montana could be hit by unseasonably cold weather and snow starting on Sunday, the National Weather Service (NWS) has reported.

Montanans in some parts of the state can expect chilly temperatures and snow throughout Sunday and into early next week. Winter weather advisories are in place across numerous areas currently, while temperatures are expected to drop close to or below freezing.

Read more: Emergency Funds: How to Build One and Where to Keep It

From 6 p.m. on Sunday, those in Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains, Elkhorn and Boulder Mountains, Little Belt and Highwood Mountains, Gallatin and Madison County Mountains and Centennial Mountains, and Northwest Beaverhead County can expect up to 7 inches of “heavy, wet snow,” particularly at higher elevations above 6,000 feet, according to a winter weather advisory issued by the NWS.

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“Travel could be difficult, especially on backcountry roads. Those in the backcountry should ensure they have appropriate knowledge and gear and may want to consider alternate plans,” the advisory reads. “The heavy, wet nature of snow can bring down tree limbs and power lines.”

Snowfall in Whitefish, Montana, taken on an unknown date. Several inches of snow is expected in Montana in the coming days, particularly at higher elevations.

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Another advisory warns of 6 inches of snow for those in the East Glacier Park Region and along the Southern Rocky Mountain Front, particularly in areas between 6,000 and 8,000 feet. Both advisories are currently in place until Tuesday evening.

Read more: Find the Right Type of Savings Account for Your Needs

Those in Missoula and Bitterroot Valley are also subject to a winter storm watch advisory, with 3 inches of heavy, wet snow expected to fall on Sunday night through to Monday morning. During the same period, 1 to 5 inches of snow is forecast at Georgetown Lake, Macdonald Pass and along Highway 12, with five to 12 inches possible in the highest terrain.

Similar conditions are also expected overnight on Sunday along several roads, including the I-90 East Missoula to Bearmouth, Highway 200 from Bonner to Greenough, and Highway 83 from Seeley Lake to Condon. Motorists are encouraged to “slow down and use caution” while on the road.

Residents of the areas covered by the warnings are warned of the risk of hypothermia if heading out unprepared, with temperatures expected to drop to the low 30s. Overnight, the NWS X, formerly Twitter, account said “temperatures will be dropping into the 30s tonight across valley areas,” which could also have an adverse effect on plants as frost forms.

While Montanans feel the chill, other parts of the U.S. are expecting more predictable warm weather for this time of year. Excessive heat watch warnings are in place in the Midwest, and also Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Further south in Texas and New Mexico, heat advisories are also in place.

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Montana Food Bank Network grocery partnership aims to meet fundraising goal

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Montana Food Bank Network grocery partnership aims to meet fundraising goal


The Montana Food Bank Network announced a new partnership with Albertsons and Safeway grocery stores.

The partnership will put advertisements in 40 Albertsons and Safeway grocery stores statewide to assist with fundraising for MFBN, the only statewide food bank.

This comes after MFBN launched its Campaign for Bigger Impact over a month ago, with the goal of raising $15 million. The organization is $3 million short of meeting the goal.

To learn more about the campaign, or to donate, click here.

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The Montana Food Bank Network sent out the following:

Across the state, 1 in 9 Montanans don’t have enough food, including 1 in 6 children, and the need is only getting greater. As Montana’s only statewide food bank, Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) has a network of 360 partners statewide, including community food banks, pantries, schools, senior centers, shelters, and tribal centers. This summer, MFBN is partnering with Albertsons Companies, which has 40 Albertsons/Safeway grocery stores statewide—a fitting and timely partnership, as MFBN officially announced its Campaign for Bigger Impact just a little over one month ago. Through the campaign, MFBN will build a new facility that will allow it to source, store, and distribute more fresh, nutritious, and locally sourced food to its statewide partners.

“We are grateful for the ongoing partnership from Albertsons/Safeway stores in Montana,” said Bill Mathews, Chief Development Officer at MFBN. “Everyone has a part to play in ending hunger in Montana, and the support of Albertsons and their shoppers will have an impact in our communities across the state.”

Come early June, shoppers will find every Albertsons/Safeway store in the state of Montana supporting and advertising to help spread the word and raise funds towards the $3 million still needed to complete MFBN’s $15 million campaign.

“Hunger relief is the number one priority for Albertsons Companies,” said Kathy Holland, Communications and Public Relations for Albertsons Companies Intermountain Division. “Helping support individuals and families having access to food and helping support the programs at Montana Food Bank Network is just so incredibly important for us.”

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To learn more about MFBN’s Campaign for Bigger Impact, visit www.mfbn.org/campaign-for-bigger-impact.



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