West Side Soils
Understanding contamination outside urban Butte
The West Side Soils area includes land west and southwest of urban Butte, outside many residential neighborhoods but still deeply shaped by historic mining.
This area contains large waste rock dumps, altered soils, and groundwater conditions that require careful study before long-term decisions are made.
What are West Side Soils?
West Side Soils refers to areas affected by mining activity outside the dense residential core of Butte.
These areas may include:
- large waste rock dumps
- historic mining features
- altered soils
- shallow groundwater influenced by mining
Because land use and exposure pathways differ from residential neighborhoods, these areas require a different approach.
Why this area was addressed later
Superfund cleanup is prioritized based on risk.
Residential areas, where people live full-time and children play, were addressed first through the Butte Priority Soils cleanup.
West Side Soils were scheduled for later investigation because fewer people live directly on the land, exposure pathways are different, contamination is more diffuse, and ecological and groundwater factors are complex.
Addressing these areas later does not mean they are less important — it reflects a careful, risk-based sequence.
The remedial investigation
The first major step for West Side Soils is a Remedial Investigation.
This investigation includes:
- soil sampling
- groundwater monitoring
- surface water evaluation
- ecological risk assessment
- human health risk assessment
The goal is to understand where contamination exists, how it moves, and who or what could be exposed.
This information is essential before cleanup decisions can be made.
Blacktail Creek and related areas
As part of the West Side Soils investigation, contamination in the Blacktail Creek watershed is being evaluated.
Blacktail Creek flows through mining-impacted areas, connects to downstream waterways, and supports ecological systems.
Understanding conditions here helps ensure that cleanup actions protect both land and water resources.
Ecological considerations
West Side Soils include areas that support grasslands, wildlife habitat, recreation, and open space.
Ecological risk assessments examine impacts to plants and animals, food web connections, and long-term ecosystem health.
These assessments help guide cleanup approaches that protect both human and ecological health.
What happens after the investigation?
Once investigations are complete:
- cleanup options are developed
- risks are evaluated
- public input is solicited
- decisions are documented
Some areas may require active cleanup. Others may be managed through monitoring or land use controls.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Public use and access
Many West Side areas are used for hiking, biking, recreation, and scenic access.
Ongoing investigations help ensure that public use is appropriate, risks are understood, and future improvements are safe.
Trails and access may evolve as cleanup decisions are made.
Why careful study matters
West Side Soils represent a different kind of challenge: large areas, complex geology, and overlapping land uses.
Taking time to understand these conditions helps ensure that future actions are effective, protective, and durable.
Patience here supports better outcomes later.