Silver Bow Creek Conservation Area : Butte, MT

The Silver Bow Creek Conservation Area represents the final component of a complex environmental remediation project in the heart of Butte, Montana. Over 100 years of underground and open pit mining operations resulted in contamination of soil, surface water, and groundwater.  Remediation actions have been on-going across the Butte Hill for many years and the final phase of intensive remediation work is poised to start soon. This Master Plan for the Silver Bow Creek Conservation Area is a product of community visioning sessions and workshops coupled with oversight from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, and other agencies.  This Master Plan has been developed to prioritize community uses, develop standardization across all project sites, and incorporate sustainability and longevity in design choices. The recommendations within this Master Plan are a guide for the next phases of design and development of the Silver Bow Creek Conservation Area. They identify areas of community input and focus with the goal of accomplishing a project that integrates the final remedy with a community area that ultimately benefits the end users – the citizens of Butte.