The Smith River is not a location for another failed mining experiment.
Montana’s Smith River is renowned for its spectacular scenery, towering limestone canyons, and blue-ribbon trout fishery. It originates high in the Castle Mountains of central Montana, and flows through remote canyons before it empties into the Missouri River about 10 miles downstream of Great Falls.
It is Montana’s only permitted river due to the exceptional public demand to experience its fishing and recreational opportunities. And, it’s an important economic engine – generating upwards of $10 million in economic activity for Montana. A portion of the river is managed as a State Park, featuring an incredible 59-mile stretch of river with only one put-in and one take-out point.
The Smith River and its tributaries provide crucial habitat and spawning grounds for regional trout fisheries. The Sheep Creek drainage accounts for over half of tributary spawning of rainbow trout in the Smith River drainage, and rainbow trout have been known to travel nearly 200 miles round-trip from the Missouri River to spawn!
The Smith River depends on clean cold water from its tributaries to sustain the aquatic life within its banks and the agricultural operations along it. Demands on the river’s waters already often exceed available flows in many years, creating challenges for downstream water users.
A small Canadian company, Tintina Resources, has partnered with Australian mining firm Sandfire Resources and applied for to develop a large copper mine directly adjacent to and underneath Sheep Creek at the headwaters of the Smith River in central Montana.The project, known as the Black Butte Copper Mine, is located approximately 20 miles north of White Sulphur Springs in central Montana.
The proposed mine is particularly a concern because the mine will have to dig into sulfide minerals, which when exposed to air and water, can react to form sulfuric acid in a process known as acid mine drainage. Acid mine drainage is highly toxic to fish and other aquatic life.
Groundwater pumping from mining activities could potentially lower the water table, and create a “cone of depression” that extends to the Sheep Creek alluvium – posing a threat to adjacent stream flows. The Smith River, and Sheep Creek, already suffer from low flows during most years, putting pressure on downstream water users and preventing the fishery from reaching its potential.
Groundwater that is captured in the tunnel will contain arsenic and other toxic substances that pose a serious threat to water quality.
Tintina is also planning a major expansion from their original application materials. Tintina has purchased several additional mineral interests in the Smith River basin, stretching from their original project proposal to the west, and much closer to the Smith River. This expansion could turn the west side of the Little Belt Mountains into an industrialized area.
Map of Potential Tintina Expansion
While Vancouver, B.C. headquartered Tintina Resources is managing the project, Sandfire Resources recently purchased a controlling stake in the proposal, meaning that major decisions will now be made by a board of directors located over 8,000 miles away.
This petition is now closed.
End date: Jan 01, 2021
Signatures collected: 11441
Signature goal: 10000
We collected more than 11,000 signatures to send to former Governor Bullock and Director Livers to let them know that the Smith River is an incredibly important place for the people of Montana and across the country and world, and should not be sacrificed for temporary and risky mining activities.
Check back often for more ways you can help protect this valuable natural resource.
Bumper stickers are still available! Drop us a line if you’d like one. Let us know how many and in what color, and where we can send them.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Derf Johnson
Montana Environmental Information Center
(406) 443-2520
djohnson@meic.org
Bonnie Gestring
Earthworks
(406) 549-7361
bestring@earthworksaction.org
FEATURED NEWS COVERAGE:
The Battle for the Soul of Montana
Rolling Stone, 4/15/2021
Billings Gazette, 10/4/2020
Billings Gazette, 6/12/2020
Missoula Current, 6/7/2020
Helena Independent Record, 10/17/2016
Helena Independent Record, 2/28/2016
Missoulian, 12/16/2015
New York Times, 7/17/2015