~SAVE SILVER GATE ~

Silver Gate Montana (elevation 7389 ft.) is a quaint, legendary hamlet deep in the mountains bordering Yellowstone National Park. Suddenly, Silver Gate is threatened. On our doorstep is the precise type of danger our founders explicitly sought to prevent.  

This special town was built by visionaries in the 1930s who imagined a place of natural respite from the pressures of modernity. Silver Gate transports. Peaceful solitude in a pristine alpine ecosystem is sacred. In addition to being valuable in and of itself, Silver Gate businesses offer alternative economic models and have deliberately respected, to great expense, the limits of our natural resources. 

FOREVER MARRED:

A Sewage Dump, Septic pipeline, and Housing Unit have been proposed adjacent to Silver Gate and Yellowstone. Cooke City, a mining community to Silver Gate's east, has long faced a wastewater and housing challenge.

~NOT FOR SALE~

Cooke City’s Sewer Board has applied to purchase thirty two acres of old growth forest in Silver Gate for their sewer system including construction of a drain-field, power-lines, housing and/or other potential development. The project would rely on a three mile long effluent pipeline.  One of the casualties of the flood of 2022 was a burst sewage pipe between Mammoth Hot Springs and Gardiner, Montana. 

WHERE: 

Wastewater would be piped along Highway 212 (Scenic approach to Yellowstone, Lamar Valley, Beartooth and Chief Joseph Scenic Highways), through Silver Gate to a National Forest Service parcel that the CCSB has applied to buy. 

This parcel is sensitive. It is old growth forest near our community water system and BORDERS Yellowstone. It also shelters residential wells, Silver Falls hiking trails, routes for ski and ice climbing Meridian/Cut-off Mountains. It is close to world-class fishing and cutthroat trout habitat on the recently restored Soda Butte Creek. These priceless waters feed into Lamar Valley. The land is linked into one of the world’s most important wildlife corridors, providing safe haven for moose, wolves, bears, bison, eagles and more.

The thirty two acre parcel is currently wooded with old-growth trees that would be bulldozed and clearcut.

We know better from past mistakes, we must do better!

TIME SENSITIVE: 

A letter serving as an application to purchase Silver Gate’s forest has been before the Forest Service since June 1, 2022 (Per the Townsite Act 36 CFR 254.20).

Special use permit/s have been issued.

Test sites have been constructed. Access roads have been built, ATV and truck traffic increasing. 

WHO IS HARMED: 

Visitors, residents, and businesses, including the Log Cabin Cafe in operation since 1937. 

Loss of old growth forest solitude and habitat 
Loss of safe drinking water...sewage near Silver Gate’s newly constructed well is bad! 
Loss of livelihood/income from customers seeking sustainable commerce & wilderness retreat
Likelihood of pipeline break such as in 2022 between Mammoth and Gardiner
Loss of site specific appeal...rustic, vernacular architecture and town history, imagined and built intentionally 
Loss of quiet and scenery... not the place for power lines and bulldozing
Loss of home, history and culture unique the world over
Pollution of ground and surface water
Loss of wildlife habitat and travel corridor

Loss of property value... Silver Gate's residents have made wise investments not to be squandered. We have promoted beautification, refused overbuilding and respected our natural resources...

The construction process alone will disrupt the short tourist season when visitors reroute itineraries to avoid noise, pollution and delays. 

THE DECISION MAKERS:

Gallatin National Forest is currently considering sale of Silver Gate's forest to CCSB. Despite intense public pushback and viable alternatives, the Cooke City Sewer Board, Park County Commissioners/Sanitation, MT DEQ, U.S. Forest Service and Yellowstone National Park are still considering this dangerous and shortsighted proposal.  

SAVE SILVER GATE...With your signature...

Tell the Forest Service:

• cancel special use permit/s
• refuse to sell forest to CCSB, deny application letter now
• protect Silver Gate's forest for perpetuity

Tell the Cooke City Sewer Board:

• withdraw its application to purchase Silver Gate forest dated June 1, 2022
• pursue their sewage dump elsewhere on sites closer to wastewater's origin 

Tell the MT DEQ, Park County and Yellowstone National Park Service to refuse further consideration of this short sighted proposal

WIDEN YOUR IMPACT

gather info: https://ccsgsewerdistrict.com/​            https://concernedcitizens838.org/

Contact decision makers directly....Cut - paste - email this petition (OR print and mail) to:

COOKE CITY SEWER BOARD MEMBERS:

Deb Purvis – Board President
deb.purvis@ccsgsewerdistrict.com

 

Gary Brown – Board Vice President
gary.brown@ccsgsewerdistrict.com

 

Bill Grover
bill.grover@ccsgsewerdistrict.com

 

Jenny Heckathorn
jenny.heckathorn@ccsgsewerdistrict.com

 

Beth Woodson
beth.woodson@ccsgsewerdistrict.com

USFS:
MIKE THOM michael.thom@usda.gov

District Ranger

805 Scott Str.

PO Box 5

Gardiner, MT 59030

406-848- 7375, x 22

 

Mary Erickson, Forest Supervisor, Custer/Gallatin National Forest

mary.erickson@usda.gov

P.O. Box 130

10 E Babcock Ave Bozeman, MT 59771

Phone: 406-587-6701

(406) 587-6949

 

Triple Tree Engineering

Brad Koon, PE

406-461-0692

bkoon@tripletreemt.com

Jason Crawford, PE

406-461-2115 

jcrawford@tripletreemt.com

1145 Cap Road
Helena, MT 59602

 

Park County Sanitarian

Kaleb Pierson

414 E. Callender St.

Livingston, Mt 59042

KPearson@parkcounty.org

 

Montana DEQ

STEVE LIPETZKY

1520 E. 6th Avenue

Helena, MT

406-444- 4368

CHRIS BOE

cboe@mt.gov

1520 E. 6th Avenue

Helena, MT

406-444-6752

 

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Cameron Sholly

Superintendent

PO Box 168

Yellowstone National Park 82190

grace_stephens@nps.gov