The contents of this report do not necessarily represent the views of the U. S. EPA, and no official endorsement of the report or its findings should be inferred. [...] Restoration started at the site shortly after the dam was demolished.1 The dam had been unused, inoperable, and in poor condition for decades, but was left in place as it was too costly to remove. [...] The City of Missoula applied for a Hazard Mitigation Grant from FEMA, and the dam removal process began in the summer of 2020. [...] Rattlesnake Creek Dam History The Rattlesnake Creek dam was completed in 1904.2 It created a reservoir that served as the primary water source for the city of Missoula until 1983, when the water was contaminated with Giardia. [...] The water company, Mountain Water Company, switched to a different water source but maintained the reservoir as a backup until 2017 when the City of Missoula acquired the company.3 The lower-Rattlesnake Creek dam area was then designated as a park preserve.4 Despite keeping the reservoir as a water supply backup, the dam has been in poor condition for decades.
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