FWP Considering Lifting Springtime Closure on Blackfoot River Near Milltown Dam Site

For the last two years, there has been a seasonal closure on the Blackfoot River near the site of the old Milltown Dam, but that may change soon.

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokeswoman Vivica Crowser, the closure was partially due to the dangers posed by high water in the area.

"The bridge piers there, the I-90 bridge piers, have posed some hazards during those spring high-water flows," Crowser explained. "Also, the debris that remains in the river from the former industrial sites there, and we have been working to clear that up, so for those reasons we've closed the river in May and June."

Crowser says a lot of work has cleaned up the site of old saw blades and other tools that littered the river near the dam, and it may be time to open the river to sporting activities year-round.

"Now what we are proposing is that the seasonal closure is probably not necessary moving forward," Crowser said. "So we are looking for comment through September 11 to see what people have to say, but the proposal is to keep that stretch of river open year-round."

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