Impaired but Not Hopeless: How Montana Conservation Groups are Targeting Gallatin River Pollution"

Photo Source- Google.com

Montana officials have classified miles of the Gallatin River as "impaired" due to pollution-induced algal blooms.

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Montana conservation groups have found a beneficial side to the "impaired" listing, as it allows for targeted cleanup.

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Nutrient pollution, wastewater discharges, stormwater runoff, and fertilization are the main causes of the river's impairment.

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The Montana Department of Environmental Quality made the classification after studying years of scientific data and visual evidence.

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The Gallatin River will undergo treatment once it receives an official designation.

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If approved, the cleanup plan will revitalize the health of the Gallatin from Yellowstone National Park downstream to Spanish Creek.

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The cleanup plan will also set a limit on how much pollutants can the river tolerate.

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The state, local groups, and landowners will collaborate together to develop the cleanup plan.

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Restoration of the Gallatin River is essential for the survival of fish species and river health.

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