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

  • Tintina’s 50+ year mine plan

    The red circle is the current Black Butte project. All of the other colored areas are federal mine claims or private leases owned by the company. You can see what their real plan is, turn this area into a 50+ year mining district right by the Smith River.

  • Is Risking the Smith River Worth the Gamble?

    A Bozeman Chronicle guest columnist asks if Sheep Creek and the Smith River are really places you want to open a copper mine.

  • Anglers asking for Zero Risk on the Smith River

    Read a letter sent to Governor Steve Bullock signed by over 45 businesses and representatives of Montana’s fly-fishing industry and others who share a grave concern regarding the proposed mine in the headwaters of the Smith River. Their plea is to establish a zero-risk threshold and closely scrutinize every detail of the upcoming mine proposal for its…