Warm Springs Ponds
The Warm Springs Ponds sit at a critical point in the Superfund story: the transition between Silver Bow Creek and the Clark Fork River. They were created to protect downstream waters from mining contamination — and over time, they have become something more: a complex landscape of infrastructure, ecology, and public use.
Why the ponds were built
The first Warm Springs Pond was constructed in 1911 by the Anaconda Copper Company to capture mine tailings and contaminated sediments before they could enter the Clark Fork River.
Additional ponds were added in 1916 and 1959 as mining expanded and tailings volumes increased.
Altogether, the ponds have collected an estimated 19 million cubic yards of tailings and contaminated material.
Their original purpose was simple and essential: protect downstream waters.
Warm Springs Ponds and Superfund
When Silver Bow Creek was designated a Superfund site, the Warm Springs Ponds became a key part of the overall cleanup strategy.
In the early 1990s, the EPA issued an interim Record of Decision, recognizing that final decisions about the ponds should wait until upstream cleanup work was completed.
In the meantime, EPA required ongoing treatment of Silver Bow Creek, upgrades to pond berms, management of water flow, and removal and reconstruction of the Mill–Willow Bypass.
This approach reflects the ponds' role as long-term protective infrastructure.
Ecology and wildlife
Over decades, the Warm Springs Ponds and surrounding wetlands have developed into an important ecological area.
They support migratory waterfowl, ducks, geese, and swans, wading birds, raptors including bald eagles, and a wide range of plant and insect species.
More than 200 bird species have been documented in and around the ponds.
The ponds illustrate how managed landscapes can still support ecological value.
Public access and recreation
The Warm Springs Ponds are also designated as a Montana Wildlife Management Area.
Public uses include walking, biking, birding, and horseback riding.
Approximately 15 miles of trails encircle the ponds and levees. Access points are available from Interstate 90 and nearby roads.
Public use is allowed because risks are managed, access is designed to avoid exposure, and monitoring continues.
Recreation is considered alongside remediation, not in place of it.
What decisions remain?
Final remediation decisions for the Warm Springs Ponds have not yet been made.
Key questions include whether ponds should remain in place, whether tailings should be dredged, how reconstructed landscapes might function, and how ecological value should be preserved or enhanced.
These decisions will be informed by upstream cleanup progress, technical studies, ecological assessments, and public input.
Why patience matters
Because the Warm Springs Ponds sit at the end of the Silver Bow Creek system, decisions made here depend on what happens upstream.
Taking time allows better information, fewer unintended consequences, and stronger long-term outcomes.
This is a place where careful sequencing matters.
How the ponds fit into the bigger picture
The Warm Springs Ponds are the last line of protection before the Clark Fork River, a record of historic contamination, a living ecological system, and a shared public space.
They reflect the full complexity of Superfund: engineering, environment, history, and community, all in one place.