The Whitmore Ravine, which is a normally dry ephemeral stream system, has been eroded by stormwater runoff from Malmstrom Air Force Base to the extent that approximately 470,000 tons of sediment has been deposited in the Missouri River, creating a delta that extends nearly 1/3 of the way across the channel.  The delta can be viewed by traveling the River’s Edge Trail on the south side of the Missouri River downstream from Crooked Falls.  Erosion in the ravine is so extreme that in some places the ravine walls are completely vertical to a height of 50-feet or more.     

The Council has continually supported the Cascade County Conservation District’s efforts to stop the erosion by providing comments to Department of Defense and Air Force officials, testifying before the Montana Legislature; participating in the newly formed Cooperative Conservation Committee (CCC); and providing comments on the Air Force’s draft Watershed Assessment of the Whitmore Ravine.  

The Council is encouraged by the Congressional offices’ involvement in the process as well as recent work by Malmstrom Air Force Base to assess and improve their stormwater system and hire a contractor to design a solutions set for the erosion problem.  With continued stakeholder involvement, open conversations, accurate technical information, and commitment to a solution, the Whitmore Ravine could become one of the area’s greatest cooperative conservation success stories.

Click the attachment below to view The Council's response to the final draft assessment.