Is This Popular Lake Is The Most Polluted In Montana?

Montana is known for it's beautiful waterways.

We have lakes, streams, creeks, and rivers. Some of those are are famous for their clear waters and colorful stones. All and all, we have over 170 thousand miles of waterways here in Big Sky Country.

One of the best things about Montana is our waterways. It's something both locals and tourists enjoy, especially in the summer months. Whether you're skiing on Flathead or floating on the Madison, its all part of that Montana charm.

READ MORE: Is Montana in store for a long, hot summer?

However, not all of those lakes and streams are clean, in fact some are just downright dirty.

Before we reveal the dirtiest lake in Montana, let's take a look at a few hidden lakes you need to explore:

Which lake is the dirtiest in Montana?

Many will say the Berkley Pit, located in Butte. For those not familiar with the Berkley Pitt, up until 1982 the pit was used for copper mining, however, over the years it has filled up with water and that water is highly toxic.

While it's no doubt that the pit is filled with all kinds of nasty things, it's technically not a lake, so it doesn't count. So, if it's not the Berkley Pit, then which lake is the dirtiest in Montana?

The dirtiest lake in Montana is located near the Canadian border and is 90 miles long. Lake Koocanusa near Libby has been named the most polluted lake in Montana by National Today. The source sites the presence of selenium pollution due to the mining that took place in the Libby area. If you're unfamiliar with selenium and the affects it can have, it is capable of causing "deformities, reproductive failure in fish and wildlife, and poses health risks to humans" (sciencedirect.com)

Oh, and if you're curious about the name, it's a combination of Kootenai, Canada, and the USA.

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