In general, the following recommendations emphasize 

 abatement of pollution and careful planning of future basin 

 developments to minimize impacts on water and related 

 resources. Some recommendations require immediate agency 

 action, while others suggest interagency investigations and 

 planning. 



RECOMMENDATIONS 



Upper Clark Fork Reclamation 



A great deal of attention is currently focused on the 

 upper Clark Fork, where elevated levels of metals are 

 prevalent on land and in the waters. Remedial investigations 

 and feasibility studies are underway at the four Super fund 

 sites between Butte and Milltown. While most reclamation 

 activities in the upper basin will be tied to Superfund, the 

 extent and timetable for these activities is not certain. 

 The following section outlines priority issues in the upper 

 Clark Fork. Some of these are already being addressed to 

 varying degrees through the Superfund process. "" ' " 



Butte Mine Flooding 



When the Anaconda Minerals Company ceased operations at 

 the Berkeley Pit in 1982, all dewatering pumpage was 

 discontinued. Since that time, the water level in the pit 

 has risen and there is concern that this poor quality water 

 may encroach into the alluvial aquifer and eventually 

 adversely affect Silver Bow Creek and the Clark Fork. Since 

 1984, water levels in the Travona mine shaft and other mine 

 workings have risen, and there is concern over the potential 

 for discharge of contaminated ground water to the alluvium 

 and/or the ground surface. EPA has several studies underway 

 to evaluate these potential problems. The following two 

 recommended actions are necessary first steps in this 

 process. 



1. Define the geohydrology of the mine area. While 

 some work has been done to characterize the geo- 

 hydrology of the mine area, it is an extremely 

 complex and altered system. More detailed 

 information is needed so that the potential effects 

 of mine flooding can be predicted. 



2. Develop an overall water management system to 

 reduce the inflows to the Berkeley Pit. 



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