HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-09-26 Public Comment - D. Cox - Municipal Watershed Alert_ Upstream BNSF Road Project Threatening East Gallatin TributaryFrom:Delmer @ Astelier
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:Bozeman City Clerks Department
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Municipal Watershed Alert: Upstream BNSF Road Project Threatening East Gallatin Tributary
Date:Tuesday, June 9, 2026 12:34:39 PM
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[ATTN CITY CLERK: Please route a copy of this public comment to the Stormwater Division and
Watershed Managers for technical review.]
Dear Mayor and City Commissioners,
While the proposed BNSF infrastructure bundle at Milepost 129.4 sits just east of the city
limits in Gallatin County, its design poses a direct environmental and financial threat to the
City of Bozeman’s downstream water infrastructure.
BNSF is proposing an unnecessary, secondary connecting road south of the tracks that cuts
through the deep bed of Timberline Creek. This creek is a critical direct tributary to Rocky
Creek, which feeds into the East Gallatin River corridor. To build this road, BNSF plans to haul
in an immense volume of fill dirt to culvert a steep, active stream channel.
The immediate result of this construction will be severe upstream bank destabilization and
massive sediment loading. This heavy siltation will flow directly downriver into Bozeman’s
municipal watershed boundaries, complicating urban stormwater management, degrading fish
habitat, and compounding water quality issues that the City spends substantial public
resources to mitigate.
I urge the City Commission and municipal watershed engineers to proactively review this
county-level proposal and coordinate with the Gallatin Conservation District to protect our
shared downstream waters from corporate grant-driven degradation.
Sincerely,
Delmer Cox
Timberline Creek Resident
406-223-3905