Nitrate Contamination in Seeley Lake
Seeley Lake, an unincorporated community in the heart of western Montana, is home to about 1,700 year-round residents. In the summer months, its economy leans heavily on tourism after the towns Mill closed down in 2023. The surrounding chain of lakes has become a playground for recreation—drawing visitors for boating, fishing, swimming, camping, and hiking in the Swan and Mission Valley.
One of the biggest barriers to affordability and growth in Seeley Lake is the lack of a centralized sewer system. Without it, small businesses face increasingly steep costs to install and pump individual septic tanks that sustain essential amenities to the public, including dining rooms and public restrooms. The absence of a sewer system also restricts housing development due to limitations on septic tank density within the designated Sewer District. The most pressing issue is the rising concentration of nitrates in the groundwater, which leaches into Seeley Lake—the town’s primary drinking water source. While most residents now rely on filtered lake water, many still use private wells, and some continue to draw water directly from the lake, putting them at greater risk. The consumption of nitrates has historically led to many health issues, including thyroid issues, blue baby syndrome, complications in pregnancies, and other cancers.
Seeley Lake is politically divided, creating a division between whether or not to implement the sewer system. This has created the fear of the idea of new infrastructure and more city fees. The controversial sewer system is more than just a wastewater treatment center— it’s a concern for human health and what it means to be stewards of the land.
These environmental and economic issues have left many multi-generational families struggling to continue living in the town they’ve always considered home. This is one example of how tourism, while sustaining the local economy, can contribute to pricing residents out. At the same time, the Clearwater Chain of Lakes is the last natural chain of lakes in the Northwestern region, and is at risk of losing its ecological integrity and harming the surrounding watershed. Congressman Ryan Zinke recently requested grant money for the town of Seeley Lake, and the implementation of the sewer. I’d like to continue this photo story by capturing what the process of implementing this sewer system will look like, highlighting the natural growth of a town within a tourism economy.
Seeley Lake, an unincorporated community in the heart of western Montana, is home to about 1,700 year-round residents. In the summer months, its economy leans heavily on tourism after the towns Mill closed down in 2023. The surrounding chain of lakes becomes a playground for recreation—drawing visitors for boating, fishing, swimming, camping, and hiking in the Swan and Mission Valley.
One of the biggest barriers to affordability and growth in Seeley Lake is the lack of a centralized sewer system. Without it, small businesses face increasingly steep costs to install and pump individual septic tanks that sustain essential amenities to the public, including dining rooms and public restrooms. The most pressing issue is the rising concentration of nitrates in the groundwater, which leaches into Seeley Lake—the town’s primary drinking water source.
rate that is quite dangerous, when paired with a warming climate, according to Jeanna Miller, supervisor of the Missoula Public Health Center. More blue-green algae blooms have been noticed in the past few summers then ever, which have been proven to be very dangerous for wildlife and people when consumed.
Dennis Clark has owned his summer cabin on Seeley Lake for 45 years and since retirement, will spend the majority of his year in Seeley. "Me, and I'm sure the rest of the summer residents would love to do our part to pitch in for a sewer," says Clark. He's noticed how divided the town has become, especially between year long residents and summer residents.
Dennis Clark boils water that was pumped directly from a pipe coming out of Seeley Lake on May, 4. Clark has been drinking boiled lake water ever since he started spending time in his cabin.
The most acute health condition that is tied to nitrates is blue baby syndrome, also known as hemoglobin anemia. There has been no cases in Seeley Lake, because the majority of the town has a public water supply, treated water pulled from the northern part of the lake. "Outside of blue baby syndrome, the other health impacts of nitrate are the ones that sneak up on you. Correlations with certain types of cancer, poor liver function, or even limb deficiencies in newborn babies if you're a pregnant woman who drinks water with high traces of nitrates," said Jeanna Miller, supervisor of the Missoula Public Health Center.
Dennis Clark reaches for a plastic container of lake water that he boiled months prior, on May 4. In 2023, Clark took a vial of his sink water to be tested through the Missoula Public Health Center, receiving test results that were positive for coliform bacteria and nitrates.
Rachel Suhs, an environmental health specialist, and Ellen Bedford with the MariCore, test the groundwater downtown Seeley Lake through a monitoring well on April, 22. The Missoula Public Health Center do quarterly testing on the 16 wells in town, looking for traces of nitrates, fluoride, and phosphorus.
Water and Environmental Technologies (WET), installed 16 new monitoring wells around Seeley Lake. The wells that have tested for higher traces of nitrates are in the special management area of town, where there is a higher density of septic tanks.
Mike Lindermier marks what he is most concerned for in regards to WET's plans for a sewage system on April 17. Lindermier is a member of the sewer board, a group of community members that are actively trying to implement a sewer system into town. The board has had three engagement sessions, attempting to include the community on the conversation around the sewer.
Mike Lindermiers, another pillar of the community, drives through the town cleanup offering his help on May 3. Lindermier owns Lindey's Steakhouse in town, as well as the RV dump station. Lindermier's wife is a third generation family on the lake, and they hope that their family will continue to be able to live in Seeley for generations to come, by maintaining the quality of the lake. "It’s frustrating that people have been misled and don’t understand that we’re stewards of the land. We should protect our properties," says Lindermier.
Mike Lindermiers dog sits in the drivers seat of his truck on May 3.
Tourists pump their RV at Lindey's Landing RV Dump Station on April 22. The dump station, owned by Mike Lindermier, is commonly blamed for the spike in nitrates in Seeley Lake by local residents. "“There’s all sorts of rumors I’m the biggest contributor to the nitrates, and the pipe goes into the lake. And if it were a big enough issue, I think people would investigate it. The Missoula County Health Department, everybody would come in and shut me down... I’m licensed. I have the permit."
A group of guys watch an old lawn mower get put into a trailer to be taken to the dump on May 3. Michelle Dunn helped to arrange a community clean up at Mike Lindermier's steakhouse, in attempts to clean up lots around town for those who can't afford to take things to the dump.
Jim Goudzwaard holds a sign that says, "Free Community BBQ," outside of Seeley Lake Baptist Church on May 3.
Heather Myre and Michelle Dunn eat burgers at the church barbecue on May 3. Myre and Dunn are both pillars in their town and have been trying to rebuild the sense of community through neighborhood watch and community engagement meetings. “I'll tell you, if this sewer does not pass again, I won’t be as interested in the workings of the community, because what good is it? What is the fight? I take away from my family time to be involved in these things”
A group of kids fish and talk late into the night on the dock in front of Lindey's Steakhouse, on May 3. "I think it's time for the next generation to take the bull by the horns. And we know we need to make the decision. We'll figure out how to make it work. It's that or you're going to have to leave. And it's very important for us to take care of what we have," said Lindermier.
