Projects

Project Name

Clark Fork River Restoration

Category
Construction Management
Client / Agency
Montana Natural Resource Damage Program
Partners
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
Location
Bonner, Montana
Date
2003 to Present
Project Description
From 2003 to 2011, RDG provided planning, design and construction oversight services to the State of Montana Natural Resources Damage Program for the restoration of the Clark Fork River following removal of Milltown Dam.  The project included nearly 3 miles of channel restoration and approximately 200 acres of floodplain restoration.  Activation of the new river and floodplain occurred in December 2010.   The final implementation phase is planned for fall 2011.

Related Content

  • Stretch of Clark Fork River closed for Milltown cleanup to reopen
    Stretch of Clark Fork River closed for Milltown cleanup to reopen by Rob Chaney April 30, 2013 TURAH – Raise an oar to a new reach of river. On Wednesday, seven miles of off-limits water reopens to public floating [ View ]
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Project Images

Aerial view of the upper restoration reach on the Clark Fork River during spring runoff A sequence of structures on a restored meander of the Clark Fork River prior to flow activation Construction of an engineered large wood structure on the Clark Fork River Use of GPS-equipped machinery to grade a point bar per the design digital terrain model
Aerial view of the upper restoration reach on the Clark Fork River during spring runoff
Aerial view of the upper restoration reach on the Clark Fork River during spring runoff.
A sequence of structures on a restored meander of the Clark Fork River prior to flow activation
A sequence of structures on a restored meander of the Clark Fork River prior to flow activation.
Construction of an engineered large wood structure on the Clark Fork River
A restored meander of the Clark Fork River at bankfull discharge (3,200 cfs).
Use of GPS-equipped machinery to grade a point bar per the design digital terrain model
Use of GPS-equipped machinery to grade a point bar per the design digital terrain model.
An aerial view of the Milltown Dam partially removed on the Clark Fork River in Montana. Significant restorationof the Clark Fork River upstream of the dam was completed in 2009-2011 based on planning and designs by RDG.
2011 post-construction condition of the Clark Fork River and floodplain one mile upstream of the confluence with the Blackfoot River. Aerial image by Gary Matson.
2011 post-construction of the Clark Fork River confluence with the Blackfoot River. Aerial image by Gary Matson.
2011 post-construction of the Clark Fork River and floodplain one mile upstream of the confluence with the Blackfoot River. Aerial image by Gary Matson.
A downstream view of the restored Clark Fork River through the former Milltown Dam and reservoir site follow a 30-year flood event in 2011.

Related Videos

2011 Subaqueous videography of the Milltown Restoration Reach of the Clark Fork River.
Video courtesy of Judy Matson. Flight May 19, 2012.