Smith River Protection
What can I do to help save the Smith?
The Montana Supreme Court has spoken and granted Sandfire’s permit, but 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 will continue to need your support in the coming years to protect this special place. 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
-
Protecting trout and clean water is a Montana value
Mining is part of Montana’s heritage, but if mining is going be part of our future, we have to update our state mining laws to represent our Montana values. With citizen’s initiative I-186, Trout Unlimited and our partners in “Yes for Responsible Mining” are working to support mining while also ensuring that the citizens of Montana…
-
DEQ right to protect state from “bad actors”
Department of Environmental Quality officials filed suit this week asking a judge to bar Hecla Mining Co. CEO Phillips S. Baker Jr. from opening any new mines in the state under Montana’s “bad actor” law. Baker was chief financial officer of Pegasus Mining when the firm filed for bankruptcy, leaving the state with tens of…
-
I-186 supporters bring a boat load of signatures to the State Capitol
YES for Responsible Mining, a group backing I-186, have collected 45,000 signatures from across the state and submitted them to election officials. Under Montana election law, the initiative needed 25,468 signatures, including 5 percent of the voters in 34 state House districts to qualify. “Not only do the 15 employees working for us depend on…