| The
Confluence
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June,
2007
Page
1: Never a Dull Moment...Community Adapts to
the New; Celebrates the Old. Park design workshop
preview. Plans for Hooked on Art 2008.
Pages 2-3: A Look at the Plan for Restoring
the Clark Fork River Floodplain.
Pages 4-5: Floodplain Restoration: Rooted in
Research.
Page 6: Cleaner Clean-up Proposed for Clark
Fork River Sediments; River closures.
Page 7: Notes of interest....trail update, pedestrian
bridge design, speed limits, local meeting schedules.
Page 8: President's Corner. "New Direction."
Chuck Erickson reflects on the layoffs at Stimson
and recognizes the help that EPA, Sen. Baucus,
the State of Montana and Missoula County have
provided to the community to lessen the negative
impacts of remediation and restoration.
September,
2006
Page
1: Community at the Confluence, 12:30-4:30 on
September 17, 2006 at the picnic area by Milltown
Dam or Bonner School, if rain. Free. Theme is
"Place of the big bull trout." Salish
tribal members reflect on the significance of
"the place of the big bull trout."
David Schmetterling (FWP) explains the life
of the bull trout. NorthWestern Energy hosts
public powerhouse tours.
Music by LP and the Federales. Concessions sold
by Bonner School Close-up students and Friends
of Two Rivers.
Information about the Superfund cleanup includes
displays by EPA, NRDP, DEQ, USFWS, CFRTAC, Envirocon,
FWP, Milltown Superfund Site Redevelopment Working
Group, plus MT Natural History Center, Historical
Museum @ Ft. Missoula, MT Museum of Art and
Culture.
Pages
2 & 3: "Restoring rivers to a 'naturally
functioning, stable system' a challenging goal"
by Doug Martin, Pat Saffel, Gary Decker, and
Tom Parker. Discussion of the restoration of
the Blackfoot and Clark Fork Rivers.
Pg
4: "Wildlife of the 'Blackfoot Delta'"
by Mike Thompson, FWP. Discusses the opportunity
for benefiting diverse wildlife populations
offered by restoration.
Pg
5: "Removal of Milltown Dam will restore
the potential for native fishes to reestablish
migratory traits" by David Schmetterling
(FWP). Discusses the problems to migratory fish
caused by Milltown Dam and the potential for
fish to reestablish migratory traits and recover
and enhance local populations after the dam
is removed.
Pg
6: "Updates of interest" including
grants awarded, Milltown Monday, Redevelopment
Working Group, CFRTAC/OCPA air quality meeting,
Bonner Community Council
Pg
7: Directions to Community at the Confluence
Pg
8: "In this issue....."
February,
2006
Page
1: Hooked on Art, Bonner School, 10-4 on February
11,2006. Reminiscences about Walter Hook by
Janet Hook Julin, Richard Bush, Vic Hangas,
George Gogas, and Rudy and Lela Autio will be
shared in the school library which has been
transformed into an art gallery displaying the
school's original mural "Bonner Legacy"
and other Walter Hook works on loan from the
Missoula Art Musuem. Also featured is the "Community
Art Market" in the gymnasium with quilts
by the Blackfoot Piecemakers Quilt Guild and
displays by 27 local artists for "show
and sell."
For
more about "Hooked on Art," see these
Missoulian articles:
Walter Hook art inspires community to inspire
art
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2006/02/10/news/mtregional/news06.txt
Artist Walter Hook remembered during daylong
fete at Bonner School
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2006/02/12/news/local/news04.txt
Pages
2 & 3: "User's guide to groundwater"
gives an introduction to our aquifer. Diagrams
show water flow, how wells potentially impacted
by future drawdowns will be evaluated for preventative
action, and the location of wells affected by
the October/November, 2005 drawdown.
Pages
4 & 5: "Welcome to Wells 101."
Master Plumber Chuck Erickson explains how well
casings are installed, what's in a well casing,
types of water pumps commonly used, and well
safety.
Page
6: Schedule of events for "Hooked on Art."
December,
2005
The
Directors review the past year and look ahead
to 2006. In the President's holiday letter.
Chuck Erickson reflects on how uncertain we
feel when we anticipate a big change: "The
rivers will still be there, and they will go
on quietly influencing people's lives, helping
to build memories, different than ours but still
just as precious. My hope is that someday someone
from time to time will be sitting in the park
at the confluence and look back and maybe say
a quiet little thanks to the people of Milltown
and Bonner for going through that scary anticipation
and standing up and doing the right thing."
November,
2005
Page
1: Natural Resource Damage Program (NRDP) representative
Doug Martin outlined the Draft Restoration plan.
Pages
2-5: Details of the Draft Restoration Plan.
Page
6: Photos of the Bonner Dam, 1884 - 2005
Page
7: Community Day at the Confluence photos. Opportunity
news. Redevelopment Working Group adds new members.
"Hooked on Art." In honor of Walter
Hook and our local artists, Bonner School and
Friends of Two Rivers are planning a celebration
of the arts at Bonner School on February 11.
Page
8: Profile of Joe Devlin, FOTR board member.
August,
2005
Page
1: Community Day at the Confluence, A Celebration
of Place will be held Sunday, Sept. 25 from
1 - 5 at the picnic shelter at Milltown Dam.
Page
2-3: The Consent Decree announcement was made
Aug. 2 at the Milltown Dam. Comments about the
Monitoring Plan. Opportunity citizens organize.
Bonner School news.
Page
4: The Director's Corner. "The river knows"
by Mary Erickson.
May,
2005
A
copy of the postcard mailed to remind community
residents of the citizen input hearing of the
Missoula County Local Government Input Hearing
and of the Milltown Superfund Site Redevelopment
Working Group presentation.
December,
2004
Page
1: Russ Forba and Diana Hammer (EPA) discussed
remediation at the Milltown Superfund Site.
Doug Martin (NRDP) presented updated information
on the restoration plan. Peter Nielsen (MCHD)
talked about Missoula County's role and the
Milltown Redevelopment Working Group.
Page
2: Features articles on the history of the project.
"Pioneers" discusses the contributions
of citizen volunteers including Len Schombel
and Bob Benson (CFRTAC). Describes the work
of the Clark Fork River Technical Assistance
Committee (CFRTAC).
Page
3: Questions and Answers about remediation and
restoration. FWP Reg. 2 Parks Manager Chris
Lorentz highlights the challenge of protecting
a popular resource. FWP Reg. 2 Fisheries Manager
Pat Saffel describes how the restoration will
improve the fishery.
Page
4: Updates on the work of the Redevelopment
Working Group and on the removal of Stimson
Dam. Newly elected FOTR directors for 2004-2005
are Barb Bush, Chuck Erickson, Mary Erickson,
Kevin Furey, Sue Furey, Cindy Jimmerson, and
Gary Matson.
November,
2004
A
copy of the postcard mailed inviting members
to the Annual Meeting. The program featured
a panel discussion by Dianna Hammer (EPA), Doug
Martin (NRDP), Pat Saffel (FWP), Chris Lorentz
(FWP), and Peter Nielsen (Missoula County).
June,
2004
A
copy of the postcard mailed to urge support
for EPA's revised proposed plan and ideas for
written comment.
May,
2004:
Page
1:"What Has Changed" by Mary Erickson.
Details the changes between the EPA's original
cleanup plan and the revised proposed plan released
on May l7.
Page
2: "Bypass Operation Keeps River Healthy"
by Gary Matson. Describes the bypass channel
for the Clark Fork River and its role in reducing
the amount of sediments released during cleanup.
Page
2-3: "Restoration to Coordinate with Cleanup"
by Barb Bush and Judy Matson. Explains the connection
between remediation and restoration, the next
steps in public involvement for the restoration
plan, and briefly describes the removal of the
Stimson Dam.
Page
3: "The Sediments: Where and How?"
by Sue Furey. Discusses the siting of the repository,
the new rail spur for loading sediments, and
the dust issue.
Page
3: "Public Health" by Barb Bush. The
new plan would reduce short-term risk to local
groundwater quality.
Page
4: "The President's Corner" by Chuck
Erickson. Chuck visualizes the history of the
confluence.
December,
2003:
President's
holiday letter. Chuck reflects on the process
of cleaning up the river: "....As we work
towards cleaning up the rivers, sometimes I
feel like we're the little kid fashioning a
new ornament with the popsicle sticks and glue.
Our sticks are the various agencies and committees;
our little pice of felt, the river junction,
and our glue being our community voices and
opinions. We work to combine them not really
knowing how this thing is going to turn out
in the end, but visualizing a real beautiful
tree with our ornament being right there front
and center...."
December,
2003:
The
directors sum up 2003
and look ahead to 2004.
September,
2003:
Page
1: "Natural Channel Design." Reviews
natural channel design as outlined in the Trustees'
Draft Conceptual Restoration Plan and explains
why leaving the powerhouse in place is inconsistent
with river restoration.
"FOTR Anniversary brings satisfaction,
challenges" by Mary Erickson and Judy Matson.
Reviews FOTR's first year and looks ahead to
the future.
Page 2: "'And a River Runs Through It...'"
Recognizes the rich heritage of the confluence
of the Blackfoot and Clark Fork Rivers.
"Once they thought the earth was flat..."
Ideas can and should change as new information
is learned. The earlier idea that the powerhouse
might be retained as a museum is now known to
be unrealistic because of periodic flooding
and the expense of maintaining it in its current
location.
Page 3: "Something's fishy here."
Explains how the constriction caused by leaving
the powerhouse would negatively impact the river
both upstream and downstream.
Page 4: "The President's Corner..."
by Chuck Erickson. Chuck urges community members
to send their comments to the State by the October
15th deadline and to attend a meeting hosted
by the State on October 9th.
June,
2003:
Page
1: "EPA Cleanup Plan: RSVP by June 20."
Two local citizen's groups each have reasons
for supporting or opposing the EPA cleanup plan.
FOTR urges citizens to become informed and register
their oppinions with EPA by the comment period
deadline.
Pages
2-3: "EPA Community Question & Answer
Session." Russ Forba, EPA Project Manager
for the Milltown Reservoir/Clark Fork River
Superfund Site, held a question and answer session
for community members on May 28th.
Page
3 and insert: "Trustees present draft Restoration
Plan for the Clark Fork and Blackfoot."
Doug Martin (Natural Resource Damage Program)
and Pat Saffel (Fish, Wildlife, and Parks) presented
the State's proposed river restoration plan
which recommends restoring the Clark Fork and
Blackfoot Rivers to a natural channel design.
Page
4: "The President's Corner" by Chuck
Erickson. Even though it's summer, Chuck encourages
folks to take time to consider the restoration
plan.
Restoration
plan insert. "State
officials answer questions about river restoration."
FOTR
Membership Drive insert. It's never
too late to join the Friends of Two Rivers!
April,
2003:
Page
1: "Go, Dog, Go!" (newsletter committee)
Gives information on how to participate in the
EPA comment period for the proposed plan for
the Milltown Reservoir and Dam.
Pages 2-3: "Clean-up Proposal Out at Last!"
(newsletter committee) Describes the long awaited
EPA "Superfund Program Clean-up Proposal
of the Milltown Reservoir Sediments Operable
Unit."
Pages 3-4: "Concerns voiced about details."
Because he cannot speak for EPA, Peter Nielsen
was unable to answer all of the concerns raised
about the proposed plan. He is familiar with
many of the details and offered individuals
his help in gathering more information.
Page
4: "The President's Corner" by Chuck
Erickson. A long-time area resident, Chuck reminisces
about the past view of the area and what the
future might bring. As a Viet Nam vet, Chuck
wishes board member Kevin Furey good luck in
his military tour of duty in Iraq.
Poll
Questions. Friends of Two Rivers
polls its membership about EPA's proposed cleanup
plan.
February,
2003:
Page
1: "Hot 'dam'...It's a Party!" by
Mary Erickson. Friends of Two Rivers combats
cabin fever with a best "dam" chili
contest and silent auction.
Page
2: "The Milltown Dam: Safety Really is
a Concern" by Sue Furey. Describes the
history of safety concerns about the Milltown
Dam.
Page 3: "The Future is Now." Encourages
readers to participate in the Working Group
for the Milltown Superfund Site Redevelopment
Initiative to help create a redevelopment plan
to offer to the community.
Page 4: "The President's Corner" by
Chuck Erickson. At Gov. Martz's invitation,
Chuck and Mary Erickson, Kevin Furey, and Gary
Matson attended the State of the State address
in Helena where the Governor made her announcement
in support of cleaning up the Milltown Reservoir
and removing Milltown Dam.
January,
2003:
Pages
1-2: "Graphing Groundwater" by Mary
Erickson. Describes the information about the
Milltown Reservoir's groundwater gathered by
Dr. Christine Brick in conjunction with Dr.
Bill Woessner, both of UM. Chris is currently
staff scientist with the Clark Fork Coalition.
Page 2: "Well Logs Provide Info Related
to Groundwater Levels." Peter Nielsen of
the Missoula City/County Health Department reports
on his study of the well logs in the area and
how land owners can obtain specific information
about their wells.
Page 3: "Five Feet High and Rising...."
A history excerpted from "Floods on the
Clark Fork River" by Steve Blodgett and
Len Schombel, written for the MTAC News, August,
1994.
Page
4: "The
President's Corner" by Chuck Erickson.
Chuck encourages folks to become informed and
involved in supporting the cleanup of the rivers
and the Milltown Reservoir.
Insert:
"Unbalanced Weights" by Bob Benson,
member of the Clark Fork River Technical Assistance
Group (CFRTAC). Bob writes a guest editorial
discussing EPA's ranking of alternatives 3A
and 7A in the cleanup plan.
December,
2002:
Page
1: "The Story of Arsenic" by Sue Furey.
Describes the concerns raised by high arsenic
levels at the Milltown Reservoir where in Area
1 the sediments are 30 feet thick and the primary
source of contamination in local wells.
Pages 2-3: "Len Schombel" by Gary
Matson. As a geophysicist, Len has helped us
understand the geology under the dam and its
inherent weaknesses.
Page 4: "The President's Corner" by
Chuck Erickson. What happens after the toxic
waste is cleaned up? Chuck describes the work
and membership of the local Steering Committee
formed under the EPA Superfund Redevelopment
Pilot Program.
November,
2002:
Page
1: "In the beginning...." by Mary
Erickson. Describes the founding of Friends
of Two Rivers.
Pages 2-3: "Why remove the Milltown
sediments and dam?" by Gary Matson. Discusses
the need for the cleanup and related safety
issues.
"Meeting with Governor Martz" by Kevin
Furey. Recounts the Oct. 24, 2002 meeting with
the Governor and Natural Resource Advisor Todd
O'Hair.
Page 4: "The President's Corner" by
Chuck Erickson. New president Chuck Erickson
introduces himself to the membership.
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