3D image of the shafts, tunnels, and Berkeley Pit beneath Butte, MT

It is said that there are over 10,000 miles of tunnels underneath Butte, Montana.  This amazing Image, created by the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, shows the vertical shafts, horizontal tunnels, and the Berkeley Pit.  The red rectangles above ground represent the big black headframes you see all over town.

All of these tunnels and the Berkeley Pit are now filled with toxic groundwater that is laden with all sorts of metals and has a pH of about 2.

Montana Fly Fishing Connection

Last night, Joe Sowerby from Montana Fly Fishing Connection gave a great presentation on the Smith River of central Montana.  Bruce Farling of Montana Trout Unlimited opened the event by highlighting the potential threats posed to the Smith by a proposed copper mine in the watershed. The underground mine could potentially have serious, never ending, effects on this fabled and loved Montana stream, which is an important tributary to the Missouri River.

 

To show us all what is at stake, Mr. Sowerby put together a slideshow of fantastic pictures, fish porn, and fisheries data.  Joe did a really wonderful job and is a great public speaker.  If you are planning a guided trip to western/central Montana, especially on the Smith, I'd seriously recommend checking these guys out. 

 

If you give a damn about the trout streams of Montana and America, please join Trout Unlimited today!

 

I'd like to thank Montana Trout Unlimited for having me as a guest fly tier for the event.  It was my first time doing such a big event.  I'm not going to lie, I was terrified for the first couple minutes but after people started to show some interest in my weird flies, it was really fun.  The other guest tier was a professional fly tier and a guide which really put on the pressure.

 

Thanks to all of the folks that mentioned my little blog.  It was extremely humbling to know that some of the people who I look up to actually read it once and a while. 

 

I'm currently going through a major life transition and relocation and my posting has slowed down more than I'd like.  Please stay tuned as I'm piling up back stories and making new ones everyday.  It's just me here at RBM Chronicles and I've currently got the weight of the world on my shoulders.