Grasshopper Creek Mine Tailings Bank Stabilization - Future Fisheries Environmental Assessment

Mar 1, 2024 12:00 AM

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is seeking public participation and comment on a project to fund a bank stabilization project on Grasshopper Creek (near Bannack State Park) through the Future Fisheries Improvement Program. This project would re-armor the mine tailings along the streambank, while removing tailings from the opposite side of the stream to allow for stream movement. Failing mine tailings would be addressed to prevent a massive failure. Vegetation would be incorporated within the riprap with the intention to create some shading and reduce water velocities. The goal is to reduce current sediment and waste inputs from the failing tailings pile and to prevent a massive failure event that would release sediment and toxic mine waste. The benefits are to reduce current sediment inputs and improve current fish habitat while protecting the fishery in Grasshopper Creek and the Beaverhead River.