Salty Waters, Broken Promises

For five generations, Art Hayes and his family have depended on the Tongue River for their ranch’s survival in Montana—but now, the water is turning salty, threatening crops, cattle, and the river’s ecosystem. Blaming decades of coal mining and methane drilling, Hayes presents evidence of past pollution, even as those industries are long gone. Community tensions run high, with farmers like Vince Muggli spending heavily on salt-resistant crops and new water rights just to stay afloat. While the Decker mine is being reclaimed, regulators prioritize land over water, leaving ranchers to fight for their future. The once-prime fishing reservoir is now choked with low-oxygen, salty water, a warning sign that the river’s health—and their livelihoods—are in serious decline. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/30dbf662d9ce6d63