The Big Hole River has had issues with nutrient pollution that cause severe algal blooms and harms the river’s fisheries in recent years. Upper Missouri Waterkeeper and the Big Hole River Foundation earlier this year petitioned the state to list the river as impaired.
The listing means a water body fails to meet healthy water quality standards. Last week, Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality rejected the petition.
An impaired listing means the state will create a cleanup plan to address degradation, identify pollution sources and allocate funding towards restoration projects
Guy Alsentzer is the Executive Director of Upper Missouri Waterkeeper. He said that should be happening in the Big Hole.
“This is going to result in significant delay. It's a terrible tragedy for local river based communities that are 100% dependent upon clean and healthy rivers, and it's equally terrible for our cold water fisheries in southwest Montana”, said Alsentzer.
In a statement to MTPR, a DEQ spokesperson wrote that the agency determined more information was necessary and has been responding to events on the Big Hole with monitoring since 2020.
Alstenzter said the standards already in place, coupled with the data from the groups is enough
evidence to justify an impaired listing.
At the core of this issue is an ongoing debate over how the state measures nutrient pollution. Lawmakers are currently debating what approach should be taken.
