Smith River Protection

What can I do to help save the Smith?

While we await the final decision by the Montana Supreme Court, regardless of the outcome we will remain staunch defenders and watchdogs of the Smith. Additionally, we are working with Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks on identifying restoration opportunities to improve water quality and quantity for the future.

MTU continues to incur significant costs in our fight to defend the Smith. Please visit our donation page to make a contribution today.

Smith River Protection Timeline

A visual history of our fight to protect the Smith.

Learn More About the Smith River and the Mine

  • Join MTU and others to rally for the Smith River

    Sign up to catch a bus to Helena from Bozeman or Missoula to attend Montana DEQ Public Hearing on the Black Butte Copper Mine or tow your boat to the Capitol and join our boat procession and rally on the Capitol lawn.  Learn more and sign up here.

  • Great Falls stands up for the Smith River

    More than 100 people attended a meeting at the Great Falls Civic Center on Monday about a controversial copper mine proposed in Meagher County. About 30 people spoke, with the majority raising concerns about the environmental impacts of the mine, called Black Butte Copper project. You can read more about it in the Great Falls Tribune here. Public…

  • What exactly is “EIS scoping”?

    Before a mine can start moving minerals an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) must be completed.  The first step in the process is scoping.  Scoping is the initial process of determining what issues should be studied in the EIS.  Public comment is an important part of the process.  As part of the scoping process, the Montana…