Science and Progress on Clark Fork Headwaters Superfund Projects

The Clark Fork River Basin Superfund projects span three major cleanup sites (Butte-Silver Bow, Anaconda-Opportunity Ponds and Milltown-Clark Fork River) and over fifteen different operable units. A large number of science based technologies have been applied, and in some cases developed, to address the different types of contamination and mitigation challenges present in the basin. Surface reclamation techniques including soils and revegetation science, engineered cover designs, and urban interface have all been advanced by their application to source control and disturbed area reclamation. Streambank and riparian area remediation and restoration using extensive amendments and removal and replacement have been specifically developed for cleanup along Silverbow Creek and the Clark Fork River as well as other areas. Techniques to address highly toxic smelter site residues in addition to reclamation of billions of tons of tailings have been applied to the Anaconda-Opportunity Ponds while the Warm Springs Ponds continue to be used as part of a remedy that was first initiated in the early last century to control impacts to water quality that had badly degraded the Clark Fork River. The future removal of Milltown Dam will be a pioneering effort in the area of dam removal while the Clark Fork River cleanup will be one of the first aimed at extensive streambank and riparian area restoration. The presentation will present and describe in more detail the scientific methods that have been applied throughout the basin, focusing on sites and applications not addressed in other presentations at the symposium. Sponsored by Clark Fork River Technical Assistance Committee (CFRTAC