That's why the Coalition is stepping in to speak up for clean water in decisions on growth and planning throughout the river basin. We're also very active on the Montana Smart Growth Coalition. It's a big job. But we're pleased to be a part of it. For more information on our growth work, contact Karen Knudsen .
Nutrient pollution is the direct result of development and industry.
Algae produces oxygen during the day, but at night, without photosynthesis, the algae takes oxygen from the river, robbing fish and other aquatic organisms of oxygen. In short, algae chokes waterways. As algae dies and decays, sludge forms that also demands oxygen. It also produces that brackish, brownish foam you sometimes see in the river. In the late 1980s, we lobbied Congress for funds to do a comprehensive basin-wide water quality study of nutrients.