Lewistown creates snow-policy committee after watershed group warns of pollution risks

City commissioners appointed a committee to review Lewistown's snow policy after members of the Spring Creek Watershed Council urged the city to stop storing snow in floodplain areas.

Bill Baldus, who identified himself as representing the Spring Creek Watershed Council, told the commission that dumping snow in or near floodplain areas can carry road salts, heavy metals, hydrocarbons and tire-wear particles into Big Spring Creek. "It contains road salts, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, sediment, tire wear particles," Baldus said, adding that some chemicals used in tires break down into harmful compounds.

City staff described multiple snow-storage locations the city and contractors use, including sites "outside of the city limits, off of Upper Spring Creek...in the area of the wastewater treatment plant" and parks used when volumes are large. Staff said some contractor and MDT locations are outside town and that drainage patterns and infiltration potential are considered when choosing sites.

Commissioners discussed forming a community committee to review and propose snow-storage policies. The mayor announced appointees to the committee: "I've appointed Commissioner Day, Commissioner Rubes, and Commissioner Robertson," and asked that the group include citizen representatives and members from the different wards.

Public commenter Richard Patrick raised safety concerns about piled snow in the middle of busy streets and asked why crews sometimes place snow there. A staff member replied: "It's easiest in those areas where we haul it off frequently to pile it in the middle of the road...That way the equipment can just gather it up, blow it out of there, or use a loader and load it and get it out of there."

Speakers referenced guidance from other states and permitting frameworks. Baldus said the watershed group has sought Montana DEQ guidance and shared snow-removal municipal guidance from Minnesota and Michigan that the group thought could inform city policy. Staff suggested checking MS4 stormwater permitting requirements, which typically apply to municipalities above 10,000 population, and to coordinate with county and state agencies when identifying final storage sites.

Ending: Commissioners asked the committee to solicit citizen input and to return recommendations to the commission for any policy or ordinance changes.