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.
With erosion along the urban reach of the Clark Fork River a growing concern, the Missoula City Council this week approved allocating $1 million from the open space bond to stabilize the banks and create dedicated access sites.
The project has been in the works since 2014 and looks to preserve water quality and wildlife habitat while also acknowledging the river's popularity as a summer recreation site.
The bridge on Rock Creek Road crossing the Clark Fork River was recently found to be “scour critical,” and Missoula County is working to pursue countermeasures to keep the bridge intact and open to traffic.
The Missoula Conservation District has added its voice to those calling for the Environmental Protection Agency to remove the berm that separates the Clark Fork River from the Smurfit-Stone mill site.
Fishing organizations and guides recommend that, even on rivers without restrictions, anglers limit their fishing to early morning to keep Montana’s trout populations strong and healthy.
With a new parking lot set to open later this month, Missoula County has adopted parking restrictions for a portion of Highway 200 near the Sha Ron river access site.