fuel producers. The industry is concentrated in the six 

 western counties: Lincoln, Sanders, Lake, Mineral, Missoula, 

 and Ravalli. Between 80 and 85 percent of industry activity 

 occurs in these counties (Johnson 1983) . 



The forest products industry experienced unprecedented 

 growth in the late 1970s. Excellent markets and high prices 

 from 1976 to 1979 boosted economic prosperity in western 

 Montana. The growth rate followed major increases in U.S. 

 housing starts, but the industry stalled when housing starts 

 slowed down in 1979. From 1979 to 1982, the market declined 

 with a resultant economic loss in western Montana. In 1983, 

 the industry rebounded, but growth such as that experienced 

 in the 1970s is unlikely to occur again (Keegan and Polzin 

 1987) . 



The sales value of wood and paper products produced in 

 Montana west of the Continental Divide was estimated to be 

 $745 million in 1986. This represents 90 percent of the 

 sales value of wood and paper products by all Montana 

 producers. Lumber accounted for 40 to 50 percent of the 

 sales west of the divide; pulp, paper, particle board, and 

 fiberboard together provided 35 percent; and all other 

 producers (house logs, posts, poles, and cedar products) 

 about 5 percent (Charles E. Keegan, Bureau of Business and 

 Economics Research, University of Montana, January 1988, 

 personal communication) . 



The forest products industry, with the exception of pulp 

 and paper producers, does not use or affect large amounts of 

 water. Forest harvest and forest management, however, does 

 have a significant influence on the quantity and quality of 

 water resources. Timber harvest and associated activities, 

 such as road construction, can affect water quality through 

 increased sedimentation and elevated water temperatures. 

 Extensive areas of clear-cut forest land can dramatically 

 modify the hydrology of a subbasin with resultant changes in 

 streamflows. Many of these topics are addressed in the 

 section on nonpoint source pollution in Chapter 3. 



The Stone Container Corporation linerboard mill west of 

 Missoula is the largest water user in the Clark Fork Basin. 

 Stone Container pumps approximately 24 million gallons per 

 day (MGD) from the ground for use in various parts of the 

 mill. A small percentage of the water is lost to the 

 atmosphere as steam, while the remainder is treated and 

 percolated to the shallow ground water or discharged to the 

 Clark Fork. 



The mill has expanded in production and product types 

 since 1957, when it was known as the Waldorf Paper Company. 

 At present, the mill employs more than 700 people and has the 



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