EPA offers the following definition of Operable Unit: During cleanup, a site can be divided into a number of distinct areas depending on the complexity of the problems associated with the site. These areas called operable units may address geographic…

Large volumes of mine waste from Butte and Anaconda washed down the Clark Fork River and were deposited in the Milltown Reservoir near Missoula, at the confluence of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers. More specifically, considerable volumes of mine…

Mine wastes washed down the Clark Fork River from Butte and Anaconda were spread throughout the floodplain, settling in deposits called “slickens.” Slickens can be easily observed throughout the Deer Lodge Valley today; typically, they are dry, sandy areas with…

The Upper Clark Fork Basin, which stretches 120 miles from Butte to Missoula, was heavily impacted by mine wastes washed down Silver Bow Creek and the Clark Fork River from Butte and Anaconda, settling throughout the floodplain and backing up…

The three Warm Springs Ponds cover 2,400 acres at the confluence of Silver Bow, Mill, Willow, and Warm Springs creeks. The ponds were constructed by the Anaconda Company between 1911 and 1959 in an attempt to trap tailings before they…

History From the discovery of gold on Silver Bow Creek west of Butte in the 1860s, the Clark Fork River and surrounding ecosystems of western Montana have been heavily impacted by mining and smelting. With the discovery of gold and…

Latest News from CTEC Take a look at the CTEC Blog for a complete listing of recent news and updates from CTEC, and refer to the In the News and Public Health News pages for links to the latest media…