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Protect the Clearwater
c/o Citizens Bank
P.O. Box 720
Seeley Lake, MT 59868
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Our mission is to safeguard Montana communities, waterways, and ecosystems from the environmental threats posed by expedited permits for opencut gravel mines.
We advocate for citizen participation and government accountability, challenging the Montana Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) practices that neglect consideration of groundwater and drinking well contamination, asphalt plant emissions, conflicts with wildlife, noise pollution, visual impacts, threats to public health, and decreased local property values.
Protect The Clearwater is a nonpartisan grassroots nonprofit founded in 2023. We are challenging Montana DEQ’s actions as violations of the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), the Montana Public Participation Act and the Montana Constitution .
Our team consists of dedicated volunteers who are passionate about protecting Montana’s environment and special places for future generations.
MEPA: November 7th marked 7 months since Judge Leslie Halligan heard our case involving the complaint filed in June 2023 in the 4th District Court for Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) violations by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
A decision is still pending. District Courts have no specific timeline to provide a ruling.
BER: The last step in the 2-year BER (Board of Environmental Review) appeal is filing for a Petition for Judicial Review (PJR) to challenge the permitting process. The case can now be heard before an actual judge (instead of an administrative committee). A hearing set for Tuesday, November 18, 2025, was postponed and will be held at a later date.
At Protect the Clearwater, we are proud to stand alongside the incredible Blackfoot River Community. Together, you’ve helped surpass 2,150 petition signatures in the effort to protect the Blackfoot River corridor — a powerful reminder of what community action can achieve.
This momentum is real because of YOU — your advocacy, your care for this place, and your commitment to safeguarding Montana’s rivers and landscapes.
Let’s keep this energy going.
If you haven’t yet, please sign and share the petition. You’ll also find information on how to contact the Missoula County Commissioners right on the petition page.
From all of us at Protect the Clearwater: thank you for showing up for this river, this valley, and each other. Together, we’re protecting what matters most.
Montana native Shawn Huseby has joined PTC as a 2025 Climate Scholar through the Max S. Baucus Institute. He recently graduated from Montana State University with degrees in Marketing and Hispanic Studies and is passionate about combining strategic communication with meaningful environmental work. His background as a hunter and outdoor enthusiast along with his knowledge of the business world will help us to grow community awareness, strengthen our brand, and expand our network of supporters. He supports PTC’s mission of protecting the local waterways and wild landscapes for future generations.
The Cinnabar Foundation board had voted to award a $5,000 Program/Project Grant to fund PTC's ongoing efforts to preserve the Blackfoot and Clearwater Watersheds and Wildlife Corridor. Thank you so much for the continued support of the Cinnabar Foundation.
On Monday, April 7th at 1:30, Judge Leslie Halligan heard oral arguments in the case filed by Protect the Clearwater against the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The courtroom seats were full with some folks standing to listen.
Our attorneys argued that the DEQ failed in its’ duty to provide an opportunity for public input, did not take a “hard-look” at evidence to prevent harm to the environment, and that because the mine site is located near the lake and river, and may actually not be a "dry-land" operation at all.
The DEQ argued that they did not have time to release a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for public comment, that animals affected by mining would “go somewhere else”, and that the DEQ can rely on the mining company’s declaration that their operation will not affect ground and surface water.
The story was covered by the:
The Missoulian: https://missoulian.com/news/local/article_4d274510-0e35-4571-8496-86adf1e153f3.html
The Missoula Current: https://missoulacurrent.com/clearwater-gravel-pit-2/
The Helena Independent: https://helenair.com/news/state-regional/article_e54e0121-7562-5cca-88e9-10ed456b9465.html
The Seeley Lake Pathfinder: https://www.seeleylake.com/story/2025/04/17/news/back-to-court/10989.html
Elk herds are an iconic sight in Western Montana, charming residents and attracting tourists and hunters alike. A Greenough resident spotted this herd on February 13, directly across from the Blackfoot Clearwater Wildlife Management Area and adjacent to a proposed gravel mine at mile marker 3 on Hwy 83. A stone’s throw from the Clearwater River and Elbow Lake, this is one stop on a westerly migration route used by elk, grizzly bears, grey wolves, and lynx.
Look for a feature story in the spring issue of the Montana Quarterly Magazine on gravel mining in Montana. Thank you to the Montana Quarterly and Laura Lundquist for sharing this story. The article can be found in the documents section on our website
