The Gallatin River is the subject of The Montana Headwaters Legacy Act pending now in Congress. It would designate much of the Gallatin as a wild and scenic river. Montana Department of Environmental Quality probably shouldn’t approve any permit for an invasive activity on land adjacent to the river at this time. And once the Act is law, then never.
Rob Sisson – Gateway Conservation Alliance Facebook Page Post
Ah, the latest chapter in the ever-twisting tale of the Gallatin Gravel Saga. It seems our activist friends are at it again, stirring the pot with a new flavor of the week: the health of the Gallatin River. According to them, our beloved Gravel Pit, situated cozily on the Black Ranch site, is the big bad wolf huffing and puffing at the river’s door. But here’s the catch – they’ve got no more evidence than the boy who cried wolf!
Let’s set the record straight. Our family’s love affair with the Gallatin River is filled with gratitude. At this point we’re practically part of the river strata- kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, hiking, rock hounding, photographing, playing and spending more time enjoying it than a brown trout. We clean up trash, pick weeds, and irrigate with its sustaining waters. Our family shares a vested interest in the river’s health because it serves as a lifeline on over two miles of our property borders and you’d be hard pressed to find anyone more grateful than us. It’s well being reflects our well being and we take great pride in keeping it pristine for all of us to enjoy and benefit from together.
But then, like a badly scripted drama, enter our opponents. Cue dramatic music: “The Gravel Pit is going to destroy the river!” they cry. Yet, when pressed for the juicy details, they clamor and stammer, never getting deeper into the subject. Specific examples? Data to support their claims? Pfft. As elusive as a river otter on a foggy day. What these opponents fail to understand is that if they produced specific data that showed our actions will do harm to the Gallatin River we’d be done with the gravel pit faster than a trip down the Mad Mile in June.
Here’s where it gets interesting. TMC Inc. isn’t some reckless teenager at a river party. They’re the responsible adult, working hand-in-hand with the Black Ranch and the Montana DEQ. Their record? Cleaner than those shiny stones my kiddos picked up on the river bank last week. TMC Inc.’s Standard Opencut Mining Permit Application showcases an exemplary commitment to environmental stewardship. By providing comprehensive historical water data for the two sites they’ve operated since 2007, they’ve demonstrated a remarkable level of diligence and responsibility. Impressively, their meticulous records reveal no adverse effects on water levels or quality, underscoring their dedication to sustainable mining practices.
TMC Inc.’s application can be viewed at https://searchopencutpermits.mt.gov/ by entering ‘3462’ in the ‘Opencut#’ search box and clicking ‘Submit’.
But wait, there’s even more of a plot twist! What if our gravel pit is actually the hero in this river tale? Picture this: our operations with TMC Inc. reduce potentially harmful runoff into the Gallatin River, turning our opponents’ arguments into nothing but surface level foam. And here’s the kicker – imagine some of the gravel from our pit being used to build a state-of-the-art water treatment facility in Big Sky. Where there is no shortage of media accounts and cases that paint a picture of the discharge of wastewater pollution into the West Fork of the Gallatin River, which is causing noticeable algae blooms down stream. A depiction that breaks all our hearts including the good folks in Big Sky. Irony, thy name is gravel pit!
Could it be that our dear opponents are simply chanting the ‘Not in My Backyard’ mantra in disguise? A bit of honesty would be refreshing, like a cold dip into the Gallatin River on a hot August day. What if by opposing the gravel pit on our site, they are unknowingly contributing to the harm of the river they claim to be so passionate about stopping?
And let’s not forget their favorite narrative: mankind as the villain in the Gallatin River story. But as shepherds of our land, we see a different tale – one where humans and nature can coexist in a beautiful symphony, harmonizing and each improving the other.
So, as we brace for next week’s apocalyptic claim, we’ll keep our humor handy and the truth locked and loaded. Will it be crickets again from the opposition, followed by a swift topic change? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure – the great hypocrisy drama starring our accusers is playing on repeat! We encourage you to unplug, sit back on the river bank, and enjoy the sunset with us.