Missouri River tributary runs dry after restoration project

Helena anglers are expressing concern over the loss of surface flow in Beaver Creek, an ecologically important tributary of the Missouri River, following restoration work conducted by the U.S. Forest Service late last year.

Buzz Helfert, a 72-year-old East Helena resident, said he spoke with a friend who was unhappy about the stream's loss of flow, so he visited last month to see for himself. He found about a mile of the stream had gone "bone dry," a condition he said he's never seen in his lifetime.

"They disturbed the streambed and dried it up," he said. "It's going down a crack in the groun...