Grizzly Gulch Placer Mine Reclamation Project
Lewis and Clark County Water Quality Protection District
Project Overview
The Lewis and Clark County Water Quality Protection District (WQPD) has sponsored the Grizzly Gulch Placer Mine Reclamation Project (project). This project will reclaim the Pretty Girl Placer Mine located in Grizzly Gulch, south of Helena, Montana. For this project, Lewis and Clark County has contracted the RESPEC Company LLC (RESPEC) to perform Consulting Engineer for Construction Administration services needed for the project.
For additional project questions not answered in the information below, please contact Matthew Johnson at Matthew.Johnson@respec.com or by phone at (406) 284 - 2528.
Site History
The project site is located approximately 4 miles south of Helena, Montana (yellow star on map). Grizzly Creek runs through the site as it brings water north toward Helena.
The blue area of the map indicates the Water Quality Protection District boundaries. The black dotted line represents Lewis and Clark County.
Mining
Placer mining took place from the 1870's to the turn of the 21 st century. Placer mining is the technique of separating precious metals from sands and gravels in stream beds.
Unfortunately, the extensive mining has taken its toll on Grizzly Creek and the local landscape.
Image: Placer miners in nearby Nelson Gulch, south of Helena, 1860-1870. Source: Library of Congress.
Environmental Impacts
Where Grizzly Creek historically flowed now resides a series of open pits from the mining operations. These pits disrupt the flow of Grizzly Creek. The image to the right shows the first and largest pit on the site.
The pits are almost devoid of riparian (stream bank) and wetland vegetation that would normally inhabit this environment.
A large embankment at the downstream end of the site is likely contributing additional sediment downstream during floods. This sediment can be harmful to the downstream ecosystems.
Public Safety
The pits are also adjacent to Grizzly Gulch Drive, a public access road for local residents, hikers, and cyclists. The steep slopes around the pits are causing erosion along the roadway. This erosion can lead to unsafe road conditions for pedestrians and vehicles as it can undermine the road surface and guard rail.
The red line on the image to the right shows the road surface of Grizzly Gulch Drive. Note the steep banks to the right of the road surface (blue arrows).
Project Goals
The project aims to restore Grizzly Creek to a functioning stream with a floodplain and riparian area; as well as improve the safety of the public that uses Grizzly Gulch Drive.
OBJECTIVE 1: RECLAIM NATURAL SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER INTERACTION
The remnants of the historic mining activities have left Grizzly Creek disconnected from its downstream channel due to a series of pits. The pits are causing water from upstream flow to be stored on the project site. Reconnecting Grizzly Creek with its downstream channel will improve water quality and water quantity on the project site and downstream.
OBJECTIVE 2: CREATE RIPARIAN AND WETLAND HABITAT
Riparian and wetland habitats are either dysfunctional or nonexistent. Rebuilding these habitats will provide refuge for wildlife, improve streamside shading, increase the natural storage capacity of the local floodplain, and establish a riparian buffer to provide downstream water quality improvements.
OBJECTIVE 3: IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS
Grizzly Gulch is a popular corridor for outdoor recreation (cycling, walking, and running) in addition to being the primary conduit for local residents. The current state of the project area is a hazard and an eye sore for pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Reclaiming the mining-impacted area and establishing user access areas will benefit all users of the Grizzly Gulch corridor.
Project Funding
This project began in 2018 with a Reclamation & Planning Grant through MT DNRC. This grant was to hire a consulting agency to conduct site reconnaissance, historical research and development of draft reclamation alternatives, develop preliminary and final reclamation designs and complete a grant application to the MT DNRC Reclamation and Development Project Grant for the project for the 2021 biennium.
The 67 th Montana Legislature (2021) approved House Bill (HB) 7 which included funds for the Natural Resource Projects Account (Fund No. 02577). Through this fund, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) administered approximately $290,000 for the project.
HB 7 provided funding for numerous projects based on a priority list. The funding for this project was received in 2023 after all funding for higher priority projects was allocated.
Lewis & Clark Conservation District played a key role in securing supplemental funding for the WQPD with a DNRC Conservation District Bureau Planning, Project, and Pollinator Grant. The grant will assist in reseeding and revegetating roughly 2000 feet of constructed bank. Volunteers will harvest willow cuttings along with the local landowner who will also harvest willow clumps from property for planting after construction is complete.
Project Timeline
Planning Grant (2018)
A Planning Grant through DNRC was secured to fund the initial engineering work and application. This work was performed by RESPEC.
Grant Application (2020)
Lewis and Clark County WQPD and RESPEC submitted a grant application to DNRC.
Project Funding (2021-2023)
The Montana Legislature in 2021 approved HB 7 which provided funding through the DNRC for reclamation and development projects. This provided for the approximately $300,000 of project funding.
Permitting (2024)
Permitting includes wetland delineation, Section 404 Permit, SPA 124 and 318 Authorization, and Lewis and Clark County Public Works Encroachment.
Construction Bids (2024-2025)
A public bidding window was provided in December 2024 for the construction work. Prior to the bidding window, a pre-bid conference was held on December 3 rd , 2024. The bid window closed on December 16 th , 2024. The bids were evaluated and the winning construction contractor will be notified on January 7 th , 2025.
Construction and Implementation (2025)
Tentatively, construction will begin early March. The project site will be reshaped using onsite material to reconnect Grizzly Creek with its downstream channel. Following construction, natural vegetation will be introduced to the site to promote a healthy riparian and wetland habitat.
Monitoring (2023-2026)
Monitoring is conducted before and after construction to evaluate improvements to water quality, water quantity, vegetation, and wildlife. The funding provides for 1 year of monitoring once the construction is finished.
Current Project Status?
Updated on January 23, 2025.
As of December 2024, the permitting process has been completed. In December 2024, the window for construction companies to bid on the project work was opened for a two week period. On January 7 th , 2025, the bid winner was announced to be Bullock Contracting, LLC.
Construction is expected to begin in late winter and conclude in early spring of 2025.
Beginning in December 2023, the WQPD began monitoring the water quality, water quantity, vegetation, and wildlife on the project site.
Photos collected from December 2023 through August 2024 prior to reclamation.
In the spring of 2025, the Lewis and Clark Conservation District will be assisting the Lake Helena Watershed Group in a willow harvesting event.
Additional Resources
For additional documentation including the engineering plans and construction bid documentation please follow the link below:
Contact Information
Project Engineer:
Matthew Johnson, PE, CFM RESPEC Company LLC 800 North Last Chance Gulch, Suite 100 Helena, MT 59601 (406) 284 - 2528 Matthew.Johnson@respec.com Project Owner Representative:
Jennifer McBroom Lewis and Clark County 1930 9th Avenue Helena, MT 59601 (406) 457 - 8584 JMcBroom@LCCountyMT.gov
