Milltown Reservoir Sediments Spring 2011 Update Issue 102

Cleanup
Update
For More Information:
Diana Hammer, US EPA
457-5040
hammer.diana@epa.gov

Keith Large, MT DEQ
841-5039
klarqe@mt.gov

Doug Martin, MT NRDP
444-0234
douqmartin@mt.gov

Mike Kustudia, MT FWP
542-5533
mkustudia@mt.gov

Peter Nielsen, Missoula Co.
258-4968
Nielsen P© ho.missoula.mt.us
Websites:
http://www.epa.gov/
regionS/superfund/sites/
mt/milltown

http://www.cfrtac.org
These updates are intended to
provide you with the latest
information about
Remediation
Restoration and
Redevelopment
activities at the
Milltown Reservoir Sediments
Superfund Site.
US EPA Montana Office
10 W.15th St., Suite 3200
Helena, Montana 59626
1-800-457-2690
Milltown Reservoir
Sediments
Superfund Site
•

Issue #102

Spring 2011

Status1. The Milltown Project continues to go well and is on schedule.
Remediation and Restoration
• The big attention-getter in the past few weeks has been the river flows—the Clark Fork
and Blackfoot Rivers have been flowing well above normal. The Clark Fork River
(measured at the "above Missoula" station) is expected to peak June 9 close to the
30,000 cubic feet/second. That is the kind of flow one might expect to see about every
25 years. To check the flows (daily and predicted), go to:
http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi7abom8
• Wet conditions have limited work on Site.
• Removal and regrading of the
Clark Fork River Bypass Channel
continues; recent activities
include sorting rock for reno
mattresses, running pumps to
keep the bypass channel dry,
completion of the buttress along
the toe of the 1-90 slope.
Regrading the bypass channel
continues and should be complete
in July 2011.
• Upstream, restoration work (final flood plain grading, micro-topography, and seeding)
was completed in late April. Additional seeding and revegetation activities are scheduled
to occur as the spring runoff drops and continue through the fall.
• Regrading of the former powerhouse area is being coordinated with FWP Parks and is
scheduled to be completed late 2011.
• Restoration monitoring reports for the 2010 year are available upon request, contact
Doug Martin (see phone number and email contact information in orange box to the left).
• Work on the west embankments of the 1-90 Bridge was completed at the end of March.
Additional rip rap was added to the east side to protect the area downstream of the
bridges from erosion during predicted high flows. The east side embankments and the
corner (where the Clark Fork and Blackfoot join) work will be done this summer.
• The US Geological Survey has been measuring river velocities on the Blackfoot River as
the flows increased (ascending limb of the hyrdrograph) and will again measure flows as
they decrease (descending limb of the hydrograph).
• EPA has funded MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks to continue its fish monitoring program
(caged fish, radio-telemetry, population assessments). This data, along with the surface
and groundwater data comprise EPA's on-going monitoring program.
• EPA completed its interviews for the Five Year Review of the Milltown Remedial
Action. These interviews, along with the Site Inspection (April 19) and document
review, will be included in the Five Year Review scheduled for release later this summer.

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   Monday, June 13
   Milltown-Banner
   Community Council
   meeting at 7 pm in the
   Banner School Library

   Tuesday, June  14
   Milltown Design Review
   Team Tour of Project
   from 11 am to Noon

•  Tuesday, June  21
   Milltown Redevelopment
   Working Group  meeting
   6:30-8:30 pm at Our
   Savior's Lutheran Church
   in Banner.

   Sunday,  August 14
   Community at the
   Confluence of the future
   Milltown State Park.
   11 am—4 pm  Featuring
   Jack Gladstone and
   Animal Wonders.
   Free Admission!
Redevelopment News

•   Planning for the Milltown State Park
    continues with the hiring of a Design and
    Construction firm this spring.
•   Development will focus on the "Milltown
    Gateway" (along the west side of the
    Blackfoot River) and the "Confluence" area.
•   Also underway is interpretive planning for
    the new park—funded by a Preserve
    America grant through the Montana State
    Historic Preservation Office.
•   Interpretive displays are being finalized
    for the Milltown Bluff Overlook.
•   DEQ released the bid package on May 31,
    2011 for construction of the Milltown
    Bluff Overlook.  Construction is expected
    to begin later this summer. This work is
    funded by EPA through a cooperative
    agreement with the State of Montana.
    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:

The Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission has
extended the Clark Fork and Blackfoot River
closure for up to two years—from June 2011 to
June 2013.  "River closures will continue in the
interest of public and worker safety as continue
and cleanup and restoration efforts are
completed." (FWP press release 5/23/11)
                                                                          PROJECT SCHEDl
                                                                         2011
2012
          Remediation
          Restoration
          Redevelopment
                          :
          Redevelopment
     Safety Reminder
  DURING THE MILLTOWN CLEANUP,
  THE CLARK FORK AND BLACKFOOT
    RIVERS ARE STILL CLOSED
  TO RIVER RECREATION ABOVE AND
     BELOW THE PROJECT AREA.
  Clark Fork River users must exit
              the river at Turah
                Fishing Access;
                Blackfoot River
              users must exit at
                Weigh Station.
WARMING
         VIOLATORS and
         TRESPASSERS
         WILL BE FINED.
    For more information, contact
    Montana FWP at 542-5500.
  View of the Milltown Project area as seen from the Bluff Overlook, June 7, 2011.

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