Saving the Milk

Story and photos by Nikki Carlson

On THE MILK RIVER - Water sloshing against the river banks and bending around rocks gives the Milk River a fine-tuned heartbeat. This rhythmic dance whispers the river's past and future.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service watershed specialist Warren Kellogg says the Milk River is a precious "jewel in our back yard" and its legacy should continue for future generations.

"You feel like you've gone back in time" when you're on the river, Kellogg said.

NRCS's mission is to educate people about conservation, management and improvement of the environment and natural resources. Last Friday, 15 nature enthusiasts - including three members of the Hill County Conservation District board of supervisers, staffers, family members and guests - grabbed their paddles and floated an 8-mile stretch of the Milk River. Among them was conservation district administrative assistant Shannon Patterson.

"We just wanted to keep (the float) educational for the supervisors and people who might find it interesting," Patterson said.

The weather was sunny and complimented the 5-hour float.

As they moved downstream, they noted improvements that can be made in the areas of safety, wildlife habitat and conservation. They observed pump sites, bank erosion and weeds.

"Having a waterway like this 100 years ago was very important for other reasons than right now," Kellogg said. "Right now, the importance is community recreation, tourism, municipal water and irrigation."

Rows of rusty antique cars lining parts of the riverbank are one issue the conservation district and NRCS are concerned about. The cars were initially placed on some riverbanks about 50 years ago, Kellogg said, as a preventative measure against erosion. Kellogg said the car bodies should be replaced with rock as a safer and more attractive alternative.

"People used to use them a long time ago as riprap. Aesthetical and water quality-wise, this isn't a practical practice." Conrad Nystrom, conservation district chairman, said the state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is planning to remove the car bodies this fall when the water level drops.

"(The cars) are an eyesore, pollutant to the water, a hazard for recreationists, rafts, and there's erosion going on behind the car bodies," Nystrom said. "It really didn't solve the problem as well as people thought it would."

Another topic was a non-native shrub known as Russian olive that's growing along the riverbanks. Why all of the shrub talk? Kellogg said this particular shrub "invades and crowds out native plants" in the area.

"They're very adaptive to dry areas, but it's also on river water and it's kind of a nuisance," Kellogg said. "If it's allowed to go, eventually you could have 100 percent Russian olive on this river bottom."

On a positive note, the cottonwood tree is also making a comeback along the Milk River. At a stopping point, Kellogg pointed out young cottonwoods along the bank.

"They're starting to come back now due to a change in management over the years," he said.

Years of erosion have left the roots of some cottonwoods naked along the riverbank, clearly suggesting that they will eventually fall over into the water. In order to prevent that, Kellogg suggested the trees be cut down and the roots left alone so even more erosion will not occur.

Barbed wire fences gliding down the slopes beneath the river's surface were another cause for alarm for the supervisors because of the hazard they create for boaters.

After the guided canoe tour, the group had gained a lifelong experience on the Milk River.

So what's in store for the Milk River? Now its whispers are being heard.

"I think it's a beautiful trip, beautiful day, and nice company," said Nystrom. "I appreciate Warren being here and giving us lots of good information."