Testing History - Part 1

In both 1993 and 1995, the Department of Geology at the University of Montana did a study called "Cumulative Effects of Domestic Sewage Disposal on Groundwater of Missoula County: An analysis of Carrying Capacity" for the Missoula County Commissioners.

There were testing sites throughout the county, but the ones we are interested in are those in Seeley Lake. They monitored the area by the airport, downtown and Camp Paxson.

AIRPORT: The earth materials are glacially derived unsorted sand and gravel, more commonly known as glacial till. There are two airport subdivisions involved in the study. Of the 26 homeowners involved in the study, five homeowners lived within the 40-acre Seeley Lake Pines subdivision on two-thirds of an acre lot. The remaining homeowners lived throughout the 320-acre Seeley Lake Estates subdivision on five-acre lots. The average households had approximately three people. The topography is relatively level and the groundwater flows from the north to the south. The study was bounded on the west by a small ridge and on the east by Trail Creek.

From 1993 - 1995, elevated nitrate and chloride concentrations in domestic wells indicate the possible presence of septic effluent contamination.

NEXT MONTH TESTING HISTORY Part 2

Information taken from: Executive Summary Phase II Cumulative Effects of Domestic Sewage Disposal on Groundwater of Missoula County: An analysis of carrying capacity. Prepared for: Missoula County Commissioners. Prepared by: Woessner, King, Lambert, Michael, & Hinman, Dept of Geology, UM. July 31, 1995