Florence Area
Background and Purpose 
The Bitterroot Valley has been one of the fastest growing areas throughout the State. With the conversion of land from agricultural to residential use, groundwater withdrawals and consumptive use have changed. Residential development has also resulted in increased septic density. The purpose of this project is to determine the potential effect of residential groundwater withdrawals from development east of Florence on groundwater levels and stream depletion in the Bitterroot River and Threemile and Eightmile Creek drainages. Potential groundwater-quality degradation as a result of septic waste drainage will also be investigated.
Project Scope
The study will focus on the Threemile and Eightmile Creek drainages and will address the following:
Florence Wells and Mountainsl
- Changes in the water budget through time
- Historic and current groundwater-level trends and factors that are controlling these trends
- Current groundwater usage and effects on stream depletion
- Predicting the effects of future increased well usage on long-term groundwater drawdowns and stream depletion
- Groundwater and surface-water quality and effects from residential development
Project Duration: December 2009 to July 2013
GWIP Personnel Assigned:
Ginette Abdo – Team leader/Hydrogeologist
406.496.4152
Gabdo@ mtech.edu
Dean Snyder – Hydrogeologist
406.496.4882
Dsnyder@mtech.edu
Project Factsheet (pdf)
Project Updates:
Presentations:
- Bitterroot Water Forum, April 24, 2012, Hamilton, Montana:
- Clark Fork Task Force Water Year 2012 Outlook Conference, May 1, 2012, Missoula, Montana
Project Reports: (none yet available)
Project data available here:
http://mbmggwic.mtech.edu/sqlserver/v11/menus/menuProject.asp?mygroup=GWIP&myroot=BWIPFB&ord=1&
Contact information :
- Where to find us in Butte and Billings
- for general GWIP program information
Ginette Abdo
or 406.496.4152
- for general MBMG information
Cathy McKillips
or 406.496.4167