Year of Award
2026
Document Type
Professional Paper
Degree Type
Master of Arts (MA)
Degree Name
Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism
Department or School/College
School of Journalism
Committee Chair
Ray Fanning
Committee Co-chair
Joe Eaton
Commitee Members
Lisa Eby
Keywords
trout, superfund, water, Clark Fork, pollution, copper
Subject Categories
Journalism Studies
Abstract
A dramatic and mysterious decline in brown trout populations in the upper Clark Fork River between its headwaters and Deer Lodge, Montana has become the catalyst for growing doubts and frustrations about the management of the river and the ongoing Superfund remediation and restoration work taking place on it. Part of the country’s geographically largest Superfund site, the river has long struggled with copper tailings and other mining contamination brought down the river from Butte, Montana. However, the river appeared to be on the road to recovery until a steep decline in brown trout populations in its upper section started in 2015. This piece looks at both the scientific efforts to find the, currently elusive, explanation for this decline and the impacts of this decline on the people and partnerships dedicated to restoring the river.
Scientists working on the decline remain unsure of what is driving it and are struggling to find answers. However, many residents and local recreationalists tie the decline to the ecological damage caused by the Superfund cleanup process, which removes much of the vegetation and woody debris along the riverbanks in the process of removing the metal contaminated soil. These people feel that the damage this does to trout habitat is likely a driver of their decline. Scientists and agency managers disagree, but are struggling with how to motivate locals to pursue restoration on their properties when trout numbers are dropping and their own restoration work may be responsible.
Interviewing scientists, managers, residents and anglers, the piece depicts a community under strain, where the long, slow progression of the Superfund cleanup and the sudden decline of trout are driving frustrations and divisions in a tight knit group. However, the ties have not fully broken and collaboration continues as the various groups try to find a way forward to fix the river they all care about.
Recommended Citation
Pike, Joshua Ethan, "Coming Up Empty: Doubt and Trout on the Upper Clark Fork" (2026). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 12713.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/12713
© Copyright 2026 Joshua Ethan Pike