Sheep Creek mine update calls for 2,200 helicopter flights in first season

By: Keila Szpaller

Outlets: Daily Montanan

Published: July 8, 2026

Words: 1,649

Last Updated: 2 weeks ago

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STEVENSVILLE — From the sky, the Painted Rocks Reservoir stretches long and blue, and it looks immense under the timbered mountains around it.

Alex Ocañas, with the Bitterroot Water Partnership, wants to put that vastness in perspective in light of a mine that could pollute a valley dependent on its waters.

The reservoir is one square mile, but Ocañas said it would be dwarfed by the mining claims should a project move forward.

“Just imagine …

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