Restoration is the reshaping of the floodplain once the cleanup is accomplished. Many factors are included: elevations, terracing, revegetation, the river channel. A successful restoration will restore a naturally functioning Clark Fork River.
Salix Returns to BFR
Help Restore the Milltown Gateway & Pedestrian Bridge
Volunteers are needed to help plant willows, alders, and water birches at the site of the newly refurbished pedestrian bridge in the Milltown Gateway area.
* Date: Saturday, September 19
* Time: 8:30 AM - noon
* Where: Meet at West end of Pedestrian Bridge. To get there, come out on Hwy 200 from Missoula or I-90 and take Exit 109. Turn onto 1st Street across from Town Pump main entrance, west side of Blackfoot. The turn to bridge is first right.
* Who: Able bodied people interested in stewardship and improvement along the river corridor
* Bring: Drinking water, work shoes and gloves, and shovels, rakes, prybars, weeding tools, grass seed spreader, and wheelbarrow or garden cart if you have them.
* Volunteer: Please RSVP! Call Peter Nielsen, 258-4968, e-mail
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or Michelle Hutchins, 258-3495, e-mail
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or Graham Roy, e-mail
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Blackfoot Restoration
Written by Judy Matson
Milltown Black Bridge Restoration Event
Water, Weed, Compost
Tuesday, July 7, 2009. 6:30 - 9 PM
On May 9th about 25 restoration volunteers planted 160 native trees and shrubs at Black Bridge....the Milltown Gateway. With hot weather approaching, it's time to give these plants a boost and to get a head start on weeding.
Early Summer Boost for Plants at the Milltown Gateway
Date: Tuesday, July 7
Time: Working between 6:30 and 9 PM
Where: Black Bridge in Milltown (come out on Hwy 200 from Missoula or I-90 and take Exit 109. Turn onto 1st Street across from Town Pump main entrance, west side of Blackfoot. The turn to bridge is first right.)
Jobs: Water the plants, pull weeds, spread compost
Bring: Drinking water, work shoes and gloves, and shovels, weeding tools, and wheelbarrow or garden cart if you have them.
RSVP: Judy, phone 258-6335, e-mail
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or Peter, 258-4968.
Refreshments! Cap off the evening w/ ice cream and socializing.
Please RSVP to Judy, phone: 258-6335 e-mail:
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or Peter, phone: 258-4968
Thank You, Restoration Volunteers
Blackfoot Restoration
Written by Judy Matson
Caitlin Woods prepares to plant a ponderosa pine.
About 25 volunteers provided Mother Nature with an early Mother's Day celebration. The gift: laying out the outline of the planned Gateway Trail and planting and protecting 150 native species. Mother Nature reciprocated by providing a beautiful day. Restoration volunteers ranged in age from 16 months to 85 years. The project sponsors were Missoula County, Missoula Water Quality District, Milltown Redevelopment Working Group, and Montana Clark Fork Restoration program.
The Clark Fork Coalition has submitted a grant application to the Natural Resource Damage Program for the removal of abandoned railroad piers in the Blackfoot River near Bonner and in the Clark Fork River about 2 miles upstream of Turah. If successful, the grant will be approved by Gov. Schweitzer in December.
In 1919 the Milwaukee RR ran up the Blackfoot as seen in the background of this photo from the Demmons Collection.
Also included in the grant is a request for funds to remove more logs from the Blackfoot River this year. In 2008 about 5300 logs were removed; it is expected that at least that many more will surface this year.
Activities Kick-off Implementation of the State's Restoration Plan
During 2008 the State of Montana's Milltown Restoration program participated in a number of restoration activities kicking-off the implementation of the State's restoration plan. With the EPA, DEQ, and Envirocon actively working on completing the Milltown remediation part of the Milltown Dam removal, the State is just getting started on the restoration side of the Milltown Dam removal remediation and restoration. 2008 marked the start of "on the ground work" for the State's restoration activities including; weed control, riparian planting and seeding, purchase of rocks and logs, aerial surveying, removal of Blackfoot River logs and timber cribs. In addition, the State continues to monitor the site activities in order to integrate the restoration with remediation.
The Milltown Dam is now gone, removed to an elevation that meets the restoration design elevations. People are asking, when are the restoration activities going get going full speed? Well, to be honest, the restoration has been going full speed.
On May 9th about 25 restoration volunteers planted 160 native trees and shrubs at Black Bridge....the Milltown Gateway. With hot weather approaching, it's time to give these plants a boost and to get a head start on weeding.
