Beyond the Immediate Aftermath
In May and June of 1908, Western Montana was inundated with 33 days of rain and snow. This culminated in the then Missoula River, now Clark Fork River, reaching a record high of 17 feet 6 inches of water. This is 4 feet 6 inches above what is considered a major flood stage for the river. This record has yet to be beaten.
Flooding at Its Peak
Newspapers, oral histories, and personal written reminiscences of the flood describe the event with an air of jollity and amusement. Watching the effects of the flood was likened to a sporting event or the circus coming to town. The long lead up to the flood allowed residents to evacuate their families and household goods to higher ground. Much less property than expected and no lives (according to most newspaper accounts) were lost during the flooding that occurred between June 5 and June 7, in Missoula.
The Daily Missoulian. 05 June 1909. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
Rebuilding
All river crossings in the city of Missoula were destroyed or made temporarily impassable. Over 12 homes were swept off their foundations and destroyed during their travels in the river downstream. The Northside residential area was completely cut off from the Southside business district for 24 to 48 hours before a temporary suspension bridge was constructed on June 7th, 1908. A sturdier suspension bridge was built at the Higgins Avenue crossing to the tune of $9,000 (approximately $298,500 today) while permanent bridges around Missoula were reconstructed or repaired. The flood was an expensive event to recover from, yet the entire tone of the newspaper coverage was patriotic and uplifting. Touting the strength and spirit of Montanans in the face of adversity.
100 Years Later
It wasn’t until the 1980s that the final consequences of the 1908 flood were uncovered. During the height of the flooding 48,000 cubic feet of water per second gushed over Milltown Dam’s spillway at a height of 15 feet. The Dam held, despite all expectations, and in the process trapped around 3 million cubic yards of contaminated mining sediments that washed downstream from Butte and Anaconda behind its walls. These sediments settled into the Dam’s reservoir and started to leach heavy metals into the wells and streams used by locals. The Clark Fork River watershed was designated a Superfund site in 1983 and the final clean up from the flood began.
According to the US Geological Survey, “a partial settlement was reached with the responsible party in 1998 in the Stream Side Tailings [Operable Units] Consent Decree providing funds to the Clark Fork River Basin Trustees. With a site covering over 120 miles of stream, many Trustees were affected including the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, specifically the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, and the State of Montana… The responsible party, the State of Montana, and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have been working to create over 1,200 additional acres of wetlands as well as work on the bull trout restoration within the Clark Fork River Basin.” Various habitats are in need of restoration and although work is ongoing it is anticipated to take an additional 10 years to complete.
University of Montana
The subject of floods (specifically, the 1908 flood of the Missoula River) was chosen for the Missoula portion of the traveling exhibit and was possible by Erin Baucom, Digital Archivist, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library at the University of Montana.
The University of Montana was the third stop for the exhibit which was on display from December 2022 through February 2023, with hosting duties followed by Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS.
