Bridges over the Blacktail

By Justin Post - 05/16/2008

Construction workers lower the final section of a steel bridge into place Thursday morning at the exit of Eagle’s Nest picnic ground in Thompson Park.

Improving trout habitat is the goal of a culvert-replacement project in Thompson Park south of Butte.

Work to replace three culverts with bridges began Thursday and will reduce the amount of sediment entering Blacktail Creek, home to native westslope cutthroat trout, said Jocelyn Dodge of the U.S. Forest Service, Butte district.

“The sediment just impairs the habitat for the native fish in there,” Dodge said, adding that culverts reduce spawning areas and the stream’s natural flow.

The culverts also are inadequate for the stream’s flow and providing safe traffic crossings, she said.

The project is moving forward with approval from the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, which reviewed work plans and issued a permit.

Because of runoff issues, the state agency stipulated the work must be complete before June 1.

“The timing was perfect since we had a slow runoff this year,” Dodge said.

On Thursday, crews with Gilman Excavating of Butte installed the first of three 35-foot bridges over Blacktail Creek to access the Eagle’s Nest and Lion’s Den areas in Thompson Park, she said.

This is the first segment scheduled for the rehabilitation of Thompson Park being funded from a $988,000 Natural Resource Damage Program grant awarded to Butte-Silver Bow in 2007.

The next step will be to complete maintenance work on the roads to further reduce sediment and improve the road conditions, Dodge said.

Established in 1922, Thompson Park is one of the only congressionally designated city parks inside a national forest.

The 3,500-acre area includes land owned by the Forest Service and Butte-Silver Bow. The two agencies have an agreement to manage the park jointly.

— Reporter Justin Post may be reached via e-mail at justin.post@lee.net.