Recreation in the Dry Fork of Belt Creek Drainage

The discovery of silver and other valuable metals in the Little Belt Mountains led to a mining boom from ca. 1880-1940.  Mines in the area are now inactive, abandoned and in various states of disrepair and they pose risks to visitors due to dangerous openings, unstable buildings, and large volumes of mining waste. Common industry practices of the time and natural processes like flooding have caused heavy metal contaminants to be spread throughout the watershed. Environmental cleanup is ongoing to protect human health and provide ecological restoration. Heavy metals that pose a risk to human health are still encountered at the historic mine sites, in the water, along shorelines, and within the floodplain. One of the most common contaminants is lead. Exposure to lead and other heavy metals can occur through ingestion and inhalation of contaminated soils. Lead exposure can affect nearly every system in the body and often occurs with no obvious symptoms. Health effects from lead and other heavy metals primarily occur through ingestion and inhalation of contaminated soils therefore good hygiene practices should be used to limit exposure. Lead exposure can harm the nervous system, especially in children and pregnant women.

HEAVY METALS PRESENT

The Dry Fork of Belt Creek is within the Barker Hughesville Mining District National Priorities List (Superfund) Site.  This site was listed on the National Priorities in 2001 because historic mining practices have left mining wastes in the form of heavy metals that have the   potential to impact human health and the environment.  Lead is one of the many heavy metals that may be present at the site.  It is often not possible to determine if there’s lead or other heavy metals present just by looking.

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SUPERFUND PUBLIC HEALTH

The EPA and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) are investigating residential soils in and around Neihart and Monarch to determine the presence of metals associated with the Carpenter Snow Creek and Barker Hughesville Mining Districts Superfund Sites. Both agencies are evaluating contamination in the surface water, soils, groundwater, and sediment by sampling for metals. The results of the sampling will provide the federal, state and Cascade County agencies with a better understanding of contaminated areas and public health concerns that may be associated with the sites.

Protect Yourself: Keep Clean, Eat Clean, Play Clean

· Wash hands and face before eating and limit hand to mouth contact.

· Bring water for drinking, cooking, and washing.  Do not  use water from the stream—even if it is filtered!

· Keep yourself and belongings clean.  Remove dirt from clothes, toys, pets, and equipment before  leaving the area since soil  tracked home from recreational areas can become a source of exposure.

· Wear bandanas or other dust-coverings over  the mouth and nose when riding off-road trails

· Stay on trails and in designated areas

· Eat on a table or on a blanket in grassy areas to avoid accidently consuming soil and dust.

· Do not  harvest edible plants from floodplain areas

· Limit contact with soil along the streambank

· Reference Montana Department of Environmental Quality state guidelines for safe fish consumption.

Heavy metals can be found at:

• Dispersed campsites along shoreline
• Streams and floodplains
• Abandoned mine sites

Need more information? 

Visit:  www.epa.gov/superfund/barker-hughesville for more information on this superfund site or contact the U.S. Forest Service Belt Creek Ranger District at (406) 236-5100.

Last updated: October 3, 2022