Clark Fork Coalition Missoula Montana

This is the most recent image of the Milltown Dam Project – new images are recorded every 5 minutes, so visit often or refresh your screen.  Public viewing is also available on the Milltown Bluff, thanks to the Carpenter's Union.  Click here for a map.

The Milltown cofferdam was breached March 28th and the river is now flowing free for the first time in 100 years.  Check out this YouTube video to watch the two rivers joining together during the breach.

The camera is located on the north side of the confluence and aimed at the new temporary channel of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers.  The river now runs through the area where the powerhouse used to stand (see the time-lapse video of powerhouse demolition).  On the opposite side of the river is the remainder of the dam - the dividing block, radial gate and spillway. These structures will be demolished later this year.  The final river channel will flow through the spillway area by early 2009. 

Envirocon is digging out about 43,000 cubic yards of sediment adjacent to the new channel to prevent excessive erosion when the river comes up this spring. On the opposite side of the river they built a temporary rock dam to keep high flows away from the spillway and contaminated sediments, and to keep the spillway area dry during demolition.

As of March 21st, the flow of the Clark Fork river was diverted into a bypass channel (upstream of this image).  The bypass routes the Clark Fork River around the contaminated sediments and prevents them from washing downstream.  The river will remain in this channel until 2010, until all the contaminated sediments are removed and a new natural channel is built through the old reservoir area.  For additional up-to-date information on Milltown and other Clark Fork Superfund projects, check out the Clark Fork River Technical Assistance Committee (CFRTAC) website.

The Clark Fork Coalition is proud to host the Milltown Dam Cam.  We’re grateful for partial funding from sponsors EMC-Squared, PBS&J, River Design Group, Envirocon, Montana Rail Link and Modern Machinery, but we need your help to continue to operate the camera over the life of the project.