Protecting the Gallatin River
Fighting powerful interests in Big Sky, Montana
If the Gallatin Canyon were located in any other state, it would be protected as a National Park. Instead, these blue-ribbon trout waters, once featured in the iconic film "A River Runs Through It," are threatened by powerful developers who seek to build a pipeline to discharge treated wastewater to feed Big Sky's unsustainable growth. Cottonwood's battle to protect the fabled Gallatin River as it snakes its way through the canyon is a modern-day story of David versus Goliath. To fight these powerful interests that are illegally polluting this beloved river, Cottonwood has filed two strong Clean Water Act lawsuits. Beyond stopping the ongoing pollution, Cottonwood seeks to permanently protect the Gallatin from pollution of any kind.
Permanently Protecting the Gallatin River
As Big Sky becomes more developed, the booming vacation town faces an increasing volume of wastewater without the infrastructure to properly contain it. To deal with this growing problem, the Big Sky Water and Sewer District has issued a Request for Qualifications to build a pipeline into the Gallatin River to discharge its treated waste water.
Some conservation groups, including the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, have resisted the push to designate of the Gallatin River as an “Outstanding Resource Water,” a designation which would permanently protect the river from pollution of any kind, since the river being designated as such compromises their relationship with developers.
The ecological integrity of the Gallatin River should be protected, not compromised to please wealthy developers. Cottonwood is asking that no permits be issued to build a pollution pipeline or blow snow pollution at Big Sky Resort until the updated Environmental Impact Statement is complete.
Stopping Ongoing Pollution
Cottonwood has filed a Clean Water Act lawsuit against the Big Sky Water and Sewer District for the illegal discharge of wastewater pollution into the West Fork of the Gallatin River, which is causing a large algae bloom.
Water samples collected on site were analyzed by an Independent lab, which found nutrients and pollutants in the Gallatin River that are regulated by the Clean Water Act. These results suggest that the Water and Sewer District is discharging pollution from their holding ponds, which contain treated wastewater, into the Gallatin River.
Cottonwood is seeking to put a stop to the unlawful discharge of wastewater into the Gallatin River, to keep its water clean, healthy, and safe.