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Did you know that the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ holds a stormwater permit to protect the Clark Fork River from contamination? This permit ensures that UM takes necessary steps to prevent pollutants from entering surface waters, which helps reduce pollution. The Clark Fork River, which flows through the heart of Missoula, is currently considered an “impaired” water body by the This classification indicates that it does not meet due to elevated pollution levels, primarily from historical mining activities in the watershed. However, pollutants also come from sources within our community, including pet waste, lawn care chemicals and fertilizers, leaf and grass debris, and automotive fluids.

In the Missoula area, the Clark Fork River has high concentrations of copper, iron, and lead, which can impact recreational activities, pet health, wildlife, and overall ecosystem health. This river is a vital part of our community and keeping it clean benefits everyone. Missoula does not only benefit from the Clark Fork River but also from an aquifer that the uses for its’ sole source of drinking water. Groundwater, such as aquifers, and surface water such as the Clark Fork are inherently connected. So, by keeping our rivers clean we are indirectly saving our aquifers as well. Stormwater is the leading source of contamination in rivers, so as a Griz community, let’s work together to protect it!

 

To prevent pollution, UM implements various measures, including:

- Cleaning storm drains, parking lots, and streets as needed

- Operating a used oil recycling program

- Having a spill prevention plan with on-campus spill response personnel

- Managing hazardous materials storage, disposal, and spill prevention

- Stenciling storm drains to raise awareness

- Educating the campus on stormwater issues

- Monitoring fueling sites for potential leaks

- Involving the public in efforts

- Using a ground-truth system to prevent illicit discharge

Alongside UM’s efforts, there are easy steps you can take to help keep our favorite river spots clean. Start by picking up pet waste so it doesn’t wash into the river, impacting water quality and recreational use. Properly disposing of pet waste can make a huge difference! Another simple action is picking up litter near waterways; litter not only harms wildlife but can also introduce microplastics into the water. Finally, sediment and silt affect aquatic habitats, and studies show that reducing sediment in the flow of the river improves aquatic health. By using designated trails to access the river, you can help limit sediment runoff and protect these vital habitats. Lastly keeping up with automotive maintenance can help greatly. By ensuring your vehicle is not leaking fluids that can be washed into our watershed you are helping to protect the Clark Fork.

Community outreach also plays a vital role in stormwater management. Educating your community and peers is a great way to protect your water source that you rely on. The is a tool that can be used to spread the word and report any illicit discharges that you may notice. They also provide very helpful information about water quality and properties in Missoula. is also a wonderful resource whose mission is to foster knowledge, awareness, and appreciation of watershed health through citizen science, youth and school engagement, as well as outreach to the community.  Another organization that is committed to education and collaboration with the community is the . They are working towards protecting and restoring the countless resources and beauty of the river basin, and incorporating community outreach is a vital part of their mission.

We must continue to do our part in reducing stormwater runoff pollution and continue to educate ourselves and our peers and continue to use the many resources that we are lucky to have provided to us in Missoula. By using these simple rules that further prevent pollution you can make a huge impact on the wonderful resource that we all rely on. To learn more about how the university does its part go to the stormwater page on the UM website.