Groups sue over alleged water contamination in Big Sky

[TexasTowelie]

An environmental law firm is suing the Big Sky Water and Sewer District for allegedly discharging chemicals into the West Fork of the Gallatin River without a permit.

The lawsuit, filed by Cottonwood Environmental Law Center, claims a holding pond in the district’s Water Resources Recovery Facility has been releasing harmful chemicals directly into the West Fork of the Gallatin River. Cottonwood and two conservation groups — the Gallatin Wildlife Association and Montana Rivers — sued the water and sewer district in federal court in Butte on July 10.

“Clean water and healthy rivers are more important than golf and vacation houses,” said John Meyer, attorney for the Cottonwood Environmental Law Center.

Meyer said he heard from an acquaintance that algae mats were growing along the West Fork near wastewater holding ponds on Little Coyote Road. He hired an independent lab to test for contamination in the water near the ponds, he said.

Read more: https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/groups-sue-over-alleged-water-contamination-in-big-sky/article_c65f5e83-e709-5caf-b738-768ec734c4e6.html

[MontanaMama]

1. Paging DUers in that part of the state...

What are you seeing on the ground?

[2naSalit]

2. Been going on for a while.

I haven't spent time over there for a couple years but the ponds have spilled at least once that I know of and it all flows a couple miles to then enter the Gallatin river which is a high volume fishing area, or was. Lots of moose and wild sheep, other wildlife use that water too. Not a good situation and I'm glad they are suing. Big Sky is out of control, they are also the beginning of the major outbreak of the virus in Gallatin County.

Big Sky is built up along a major drainage on a mountainside, everything flows into the Gallatin River from there. When I worked for the Census Bureau, in 2009, I participated in mapping all the new development in that community. I had to draw a lot of maps on my hand-held computer which kept crashing from data overload. That place exploded over ten years and 85% of it had to be added in, it was a nightmare, all those condos and trophy homes, ugh. And it's no wonder they have to sue as there are so many connected wealthy folks that they don't care if they pollute everywhere else as long as their spot is perfect and there's golf nearby... all for the view and planning for such resulting problems was truly an afterthought.

I never had any other reason to go there, really. The results of such growth are becoming evident along the Gallatin River beyond Big Sky, just off the NW corner of YNP, as you drive to Bozeman. I hope something is done, not that this wasn't bound to happen, the pollution and degradation of the river beyond Big Sky I mean.