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“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.” — Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It

On September 19, 2025, a 64-acre sand and gravel pit with a crusher and hot-mix asphalt plant was proposed by Riverside Contracting at 14815 Highway 200, approximately 4 miles upstream of Bonner and 7 miles downstream of Johnsrud Fishing Access Site in the Blackfoot River corridor (maps and images below). This stretch of river is a year-round community hub and vital habitat for vulnerable wildlife, including bull trout, westslope cutthroat trout, grizzly bears, and countless other species. It is a place deeply woven into the identity, economy, and wellbeing of western Montana and it deserves immediate protection.

 

 

History has shown us the long-term consequences of poor land-use planning. Butte’s ongoing Berkeley Pit contamination and the Clark Fork River’s Milltown Dam removal stand as reminders of what happens when industrial development outpaces environmental safeguards and public oversight.

 

 

We support responsible development, but this special waterway demands the highest level of protection- there is plenty of gravel elsewhere. As Robert Redford once said, "It’s not about opposing mining everywhere, just not here". The risks to our river and community are too great.

Because House Bill 599 fast-tracks DEQ permits, we must act now to give our community time to gather facts and protect the Blackfoot River before it’s too late.

Water & habitat: Industrial extraction and asphalt emissions risk sediment, runoff, and habitat harm in a cold-water fishery.
Air & health: Dust and asphalt plant emissions travel, affecting nearby homes, schools/Bonner elementary, and recreation areas.
Traffic & safety: Heavy truck trips on HWY 200 E increase crash risk and noise; turning/pull-out lanes often shift costs to taxpayers.
Quality of life & economy: The corridor’s beauty and quiet are core to recreation and local businesses; once industrialized, it’s impossible to reverse.

This is not just about one project. The proposed AI data center, the truck stop in Bonner, and a proposed gold mine in the Upper Blackfoot all point to increasing industrial development pressure in and around this special watershed. Without clear zoning in place, the Blackfoot River corridor remains vulnerable to incompatible industrial uses. This petition calls on Missoula County to close this gap by initiating corridor planning and enacting interim zoning to protect the Blackfoot River before irreversible impacts occur.

 

 

 

We are calling on the Missoula County Commissioners to act now by:

• Starting a planning process for the Blackfoot River corridor and enacting interim zoning to guide development while long-term protections are put in place, consistent with existing county land-use planning.

This process should evaluate cumulative impacts, environmental risks, public safety concerns, community compatibility, and long-term land-use consequences, resulting in clear, enforceable protections for this high-amenity river corridor.

This is about thoughtful planning, ensuring community voice, and putting safeguards in place before incompatible development occurs.

We will continue advocating until meaningful protections are in place.

Please call and email the commissioners today urging them to protect the Blackfoot River from any proposed gravel pit, asphalt plant, or industrial development. It's important we keep our momentum growing.

📣 Call & Email:   (406) 258-4877       bcc@missoulacounty.us

Copy and past the message below to the following link:

https://www.missoulacounty.gov/departments/commissioners/contact-us/ 

Hello Commissioners,

I am writing as a Missoula County resident to ask the County to take proactive steps to protect the Blackfoot River corridor.

Because much of this area remains unzoned and vulnerable, I urge the County to begin a planning process for the corridor and enact interim zoning to guide development while long-term protections are developed, consistent with existing county land-use planning.

These steps would help evaluate cumulative impacts, environmental risks, public safety concerns, and community compatibility before incompatible industrial development moves forward.

Thank you for your time, leadership, and service to Missoula County.

We are not giving up. Our movement continues to grow every day. Thousands of Missoula County residents and supporters from across Montana and the world have joined this effort, and we are not going anywhere. We will continue showing up to protect the Blackfoot River because industrial development does not belong in a place this special and irreplaceable.

If Riverside Contracting truly values this community and what it means to be Montanan, they now have a clear opportunity to listen, step up, and lead by example by pursuing conservation-oriented protections for this 64-acre parcel that reflect the Blackfoot River’s irreplaceable importance to our people who depend on it.

Visit us and sign up for our newsletter: blackfootrivercommunity.org

Please donate for lawn signs at our GoFundMe Protect the Blackfoot River campaign. 

Stay Connected: Blackfoot River Community Facebook Page 

Instagram: @blackfootrivercommunity 

The Blackfoot River and all lifeforms Thank You for your support 🌊♥️🌲

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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