See Montana’s Most Polluted Lakes And Their Hidden Dangers

What Are The Most Polluted Lakes In Montana?

I did not grow up in Montana, but I did grow up on the Missouri River.

Now I live in Great Falls, where the Missouri River runs right through town. So being around water has always just been part of my life. Thankfully, it has also been clean water.

Why Protecting Montana’s Lakes And Rivers Matters

Keeping it that way here in Montana is not easy.

People come from all over the world after seeing those postcard-perfect shots of Big Sky country. If they showed up to polluted rivers, lakes, and streams, that would not do much for our tourism industry.

So what are the three most polluted lakes in Montana?

The Berkeley Pit Is Montana’s Most Polluted Lake

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first.

The Berkeley Pit in Butte is a designated "Superfund" site and has been monitored and treated by the Environmental Protection Agency since 1983. The water is so toxic that birds are not allowed to land on it because it can kill them within hours.

There is a real chance it may never be safe for wildlife, let alone people.

Flathead Lake

Next up is Flathead Lake. I know what you are thinking. Isn’t Flathead Lake crystal clear? It is. But researchers at the University of Montana have found microplastics in the water, so even our prettiest lakes are not immune.

Lake Koocanusa

Our final lake is Lake Koocanusa. It stretches about 90 miles near the northern border of Montana. According to the Montana Environmental Information Center, the lake has dealt with selenium and other pollutants tied to coal mining according to MEIC.

Pollution is not the only thing to watch out for in Montana lakes. Wait until you see which ones are considered the most snake-infested.