Water

Arlene Montgomery writes, "Bull trout are in a precarious situation in the Swan Valley, non-native lake trout and mysis shrimp pose a threat in Holland Lake. Lack of clean water shouldn't be another hazard they have to navigate."

Richard Manning writes, "At the very least, the lands’ management needs to be forcibly amputated from the parks department and entrusted to a separate, stand-alone entity run by restoration ecologists."

While one should never say never, fire officials are feeling optimistic that the end of the 2023 fire season may be at hand.

With persistent heat and little moisture, Gov. Greg Gianforte on Wednesday asked the federal government to declare a drought disaster for 11 parched Montana counties, including Missoula and Ravalli.

The impacts of an increasing homeless population and urban camping along the water is taking a greater toll on the Clark Fork River.

While the bulk of the region's fire resources are working the Colt fire northwest of Seeley Lake, several new fires were reported Tuesday morning north of Missoula.

The option agreement approved on Tuesday sets the purchase price for the 160-acre Izzy Dog parcel at $1.8 million.

The record low lake level this year is part of a pattern of anomalies in runoff and water supply that is hardly new, according to Energy Keepers, Inc., which manages the Salish Kootenai Dam in Polson, on the south end of the lake.

One attorney says the state had not shown any compelling interest as to why it should be allowed to continue ignoring greenhouse gas emissions from energy projects.

Environmental groups say Montana’s House Bill 576 and Senate Bill 392 flout federal regulations to protect the environment and punish citizens who challenge mining permits in good faith.