Butte is known as the Mining City, with homes built right next to mines and large piles of waste rock. These waste piles contain harmful metals like arsenic and lead. Over time, those metals made their way into soil, homes, and nearby waterways—including Silver Bow Creek. Heavy rain adds to the problem by washing contaminated soil and metals into the storm drains, which flow directly into the creek.
To protect people’s health, the EPA began covering contaminated waste dumps with clean soil and plants. They also partnered with the Montana DEQ, Silver Bow County, and Atlantic Richfield to create the Residential Metals Abatement Program, which cleans up yards and homes with high levels of lead, arsenic, and mercury.
In 1997, Atlantic Richfield started major cleanup work along Silver Bow Creek. This included removing old mining waste, rebuilding the streambed, and installing systems to capture polluted groundwater before it reaches the creek. That work continues today.
Stormwater remains a big issue in Butte, especially during rainstorms. To help fix it, Atlantic Richfield is building large stormwater ponds. These ponds will filter out harmful metals before the water reaches Silver Bow Creek. Some of these areas will also include public features like trails and playgrounds, blending cleanup with recreation. For updates and more details, you can visit: bpsou.com
