State files formal proposal to list Gallatin River main stem as water quality impaired (copy)

Helena Dore Bozeman Chronicle

State officials have proposed to list 40 to 50 miles of the main stem of the Gallatin River, from the border of Yellowstone National Park to the confluence of Spanish Creek, as impaired due to excessive algal growth.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality wrote in a news release on Thursday that it officially submitted a proposal to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency seeking to list the middle segment of the river as impaired, based on years of scientific data and visual evidence.

“Excess algae is impacting recreation and aquatic life on this portion of the river,” said Lindsey Krywaruchka, DEQ Water Quality Division administrator. “A science-based plan will help provide a roadmap to improve water quality and protect the river for future generations.”

Before there can be an official impairment designation, the EPA first has to approve the state agency’s proposal. If that occurs, the listing will appear as an addendum to the 2020 Integrated Report, which identifies impaired bodies of water in Montana.

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Assuming the EPA approves the proposal, the state agency will devote significant monitoring resources to study the Gallatin River over

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