Big Spring Creek (Montana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big Spring Creek |
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Source of Big Spring Creek
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| Other name(s) | Big Spring Branch Big Spring Fork of the Judith River East Fork Big Spring Creek |
| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| District | Fergus County, Montana |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Judith River 3,379 ft (1,030 m) 47°12′11″N 109°38′29″W / 47.20306°N 109.64139°W |
| Length | 30 mi (48 km) |
Big Spring Creek is a special river in Fergus County, Montana, close to Lewistown, Montana. It gets its name because it starts from a huge natural spring. This spring is one of the biggest in the world! It flows out of the ground at about 50,000 to 64,000 gallons (189,000 to 242,000 liters) of water every minute.
The creek flows for about 30 miles (48 km) before joining the Judith River. It even runs right through the town of Lewistown. For a few blocks, the creek flows in a special channel hidden underneath the streets. This amazing spring also provides all the drinking water for Lewistown, and it's so clean it doesn't need any special treatment!
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History of Big Spring Creek
Big Spring Creek has a long and interesting history. People have lived near and used this creek for many years.
Early Visitors and Settlements
In 1877, during the Nez Perce War, Chief Joseph and his group of Nez Perce people camped by Big Spring Creek. They were traveling to escape the U.S. Army. They even visited a trading post nearby, where they shared stories about their journey.
A few years later, in 1879, families of Métis people moved to the area. They came to hunt buffalo. Two families, the Bergers and the Janeaux, started a settlement right on Big Spring Creek. This spot was important because a major freight road, the Carroll Trail, crossed the creek there. This settlement eventually grew into the town of Lewistown in 1883.
How Lewistown Changed the Creek
As Lewistown grew, people started to change parts of Big Spring Creek. They needed water for farms and to power mills. Some sections of the creek were straightened to make more land for buildings and railroads.
Around 1910, a part of the creek was made straight to create a train yard. This area became known as Brewery Flats. By 1922, the town even built an 840-foot (256-meter) long concrete tunnel. This tunnel carried the creek underneath the main part of town.
Big Springs Trout Hatchery
In 1922, a fish hatchery was built at the source of the spring. A hatchery is a place where fish eggs are hatched and young fish are raised. In the 1930s, workers from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) added rock ponds and bridges to the hatchery area.
Today, the Big Springs Trout Hatchery is run by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. It's the biggest coldwater fish farm in Montana! It can raise about 130,000 pounds (59,000 kg) of fish each year. They raise different kinds of trout, like rainbow, Yellowstone cutthroat, and brown trout, as well as Kokanee salmon.
Cleaning Up the Hatchery
In 2003, a problem was found: high levels of PCBs were in the creek. PCBs are chemicals that can be harmful. It turned out the PCBs came from paint used on the hatchery's fish tanks. When the paint flaked off, it went into the creek. The hatchery stopped raising fish for several years while they cleaned up the problem.
Restoring Brewery Flats
For many years, the Brewery Flats area south of Lewistown was used for different industries. There was a rail yard, a coal mine, an oil refinery, and even a brewery. The creek in this area was straightened and turned into a ditch. This changed the natural flow of the water.
In 1985, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks bought 23 acres (9.3 ha) of Brewery Flats. They wanted to create a public fishing area. Even though nature was starting to reclaim the land, the straightened creek made it hard for the area to fully recover.
In 1998, a big project began to restore Brewery Flats. Many local people and groups worked together to raise money and support. The plan was to bring back the creek's natural curves and bends. The new winding channel would be about 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) long, replacing the old straight 2,600-foot (792-meter) ditch. In September 2000, the water was moved into the new, natural-looking channel. Today, Brewery Flats looks much like it did in the 1800s.
Angling in Big Spring Creek
Big Spring Creek is a very popular place for angling, which means fishing with a rod and line. Many people come here to fish for trout. There are six public fishing spots along the creek, making it easy for people to access.
Fly fishing is a popular way to catch fish here. You can find rainbow and brown trout, and sometimes brook trout in certain areas. Experts estimate there are up to 1,500 catchable fish per mile!
In the past, the creek had Westslope cutthroat trout. But these fish disappeared after rainbow and brown trout were introduced in the 1920s. Anglers have caught some really big fish in Big Spring Creek. The record brown trout caught here was 33 inches (84 cm) long! Most brown and rainbow trout in the creek are usually between 12 to 18 inches (30 to 46 cm) long.
Images for kids
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Source of Big Spring Creek
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Great Northern and Milwaukee Road Spring Creek trestle at mile 12
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Mile 15 of Big Spring Creek
