One of the main problems the Bitter Valley faces today is the decrease in the quality of the soil. In the valley, the apple trees were a very good way to turn a profit. The problem with this is that they are known for exhausting the soil if you do too many trees too often. As an experience local rancher, we alternate the from sugar beats to corn to make sure the soil doesn’t get ruined. The soil issue is preventable. But farmers have to know what there doing to not ruin the soil and in the bitterroot valley they didn’t. Causing it to dry up. Another problem the deforestation of the valley. This problem Is historical in nature because in the late 1800s mining industrialize and housing. They burned and used so many trees for timber that they turned the valley into a waste land. Last but not least is the evasive species in Montana. The most famous fish the devastated the fishing industry is the northern pike. In the lakes in the valley the preyed on all the local tout and abolished all of them except white fished which had less of an appeal for the anglers. Mining is notorious for it’s release in toxic waste. Mines in the late 1800 and early 1900 were apart of dumping toxic waste from there minds into rivers which of course devastate the fishery and make it impossible to use the water for near by communities. Times didn’t change until later and people started getting sick from the toxins.
I think the bitterroot valley is a mini version of the world. Because a lot of the problems other countries are having is the same problems the bitterroot valley had before it was devastated by everything in the 1800s. Especially mining. In China, it used to be filled with trees and rolling hills. But without any restrictions, the greed of the mine owners seek profit without responsibilities. They then proceed to release fumes to poison the air and dig up and “trash” the land without attempting to replanting. In terms of water, mines in china release toxins into the water and devastate the fishery.
Your background in farming likely gave you valuable insight into soil Ph and other factors that can devastate local plant populations. The two points you make about soil depletion and erosion play into each other nicely, depleted soil grows less plants which means less roots to hold down said soil in the event of rainy weather. Many nutrients found in soil effect their Base/Acidity, so if soil depleted of nutrients that neutralize Ph get into the river from run-off the water could become acidic from the soil and kill the local fish population.
I agree that it’s very helpful to have a background in soils and how the plants affect them. Personally I have no such knowledge and would have to cite sources and do research to find out what causes the soil problems in the first place. I also agree that the rest of the world should learn from what’s happening in the Valley and also other places around the world. It’s interesting how the mines, soils and deforestation are all connected and not only affect the landscape, but also the animals such as the trout or other popular fish in the area.
I think that your background as a rancher helps give you insight into what goes on regarding farming and its effects on water quality. I’m not sure I agree with your point that the bitterroot valley represents the remainder of the world because the bitterroot valley is such a specific case study. Although the remainder of the world does face similar problems, I think that the sparse population of the bitterroot valley as compared to the rest of the world, such as China, poses a significant flaw in comparing the two. Despite having similar water quality problems, China’s problems are much more dangerous and fast growing, making any long term plans implemented in the bitterroot valley unusable. Another problem is that a majority of the world has much different topography and climactic conditions, creating more difficulties in comparison.