The city on Wednesday unveiled three design concepts for a significant river project proposed between the Bitterroot Branch trestle and the California Street Bridge.
The 1972 Montana Constitution mandated a uniform water-use system, so the Montana Legislature created the Water Court in 1979 to evaluate, consolidate and formalize more than 240,000 historic water rights in 85 river basins across the state.
Citing concerns over channel migration, Missoula County on Thursday sent a proposed Target Range subdivision back to the drawing board after the developers said they'd be willing to consider a greater setback from the river to protect future homes.
With summer in full swing and blistering temperatures on the way, Missoula County is bracing for a wave of recreation and the planning that comes with it.
David Brooks and Andrew Gorder write, "We’ve come too far to accept a perpetually contaminated Clark Fork fishery, and FWP’s discoveries demand a strong response."
The Caras Park River Access project was included in the latest Downtown Master Plan and is one of the most sought-after improvements to the urban stretch of the river.