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Latrine removal operation on Smith River ushers in new era of human waste management
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A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.
Spotlight
Latrine removal operation on Smith River ushers in new era of human waste management
- THOM BRIDGE Helena Independent Record
- Apr 27, 2024
- Apr 27, 2024 Updated Nov 7, 2025
- 0
- 10 min to read
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After more than 40 years and 1,200 holes, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has dug its last pit latrine on the Smith River.
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In early April, personnel from the U.S Forest Service, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and volunteers from the Montana Vet Program embarked on a five-day trip down the Smith River to remove and raft out all the latrines from boat camps, officially ushering in the new era of recreational management on the river.
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Volunteers with the Montana Vet Program, James Gallagher, left, and David Berube, haul a toilet pedestal away after decommissioning a latrine site at a Smith River boat camp on April 9.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
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Colin Maas on the past, present and future of management of the Smith River
MONTANA UNTAMED: As management of the Smith River enters a new era, the river's manager talks about what's in store.
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Patrick Long, a Smith River recreationist, uses the latrine at the Rock Creek boat camp on the Smith River on April 9.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
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Smith River ranger Thuy Tran navigates the river with stacks of latrine pedestals wrapped in a tarp on her raft during a latrine removal project on the river on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
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Smith River State Park manager Colin Maas uncovers a pair of underwear while filing in a decommissioned latrine site at a boat camp on the river on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
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Lead Smith River ranger Chris Freistadt, left, plans the day of work with volunteers from Montana Vet Program on April 9 during a latrine removal project on the Smith River.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
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Smith River Ranger Thuy Tran removes a latrine sign from a Smith River boat camp during a latrine removal project on the river on April 9.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
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Ben LaBarge, a volunteer with Montana Vet Program, replaces a latrine sign with a privacy screening sign at a boat camp on the Smith River on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
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Volunteers with Montana Vet Program prepare breakfast before a day of work on April 10 during a latrine removal project on the Smith River.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
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Volunteers with the Montana Vet Program, Bryon Gustafson and Chris Whitley, saw the seat off a toilet pedestal during a latrine removal project on the Smith River on April 8.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
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Montana Vet Program volunteers Chris Whitley, left, and James Gallagher secure their groover to a SCAT Machine at the Eden Bridge take out on April 12.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
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The Smith River requires all float parties, private and commercial, to pack out their human waste from the Smith River corridor. This requirement is similar to many other river systems in the West and necessary to maintain the integrity of natural and cultural resources. (Video courtesy of Montana FWP)
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Chris Freistadt, lead recreation river ranger on the Smith River for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park, navigates the river with stacks of latrine pedestals wrapped in a tarp on his raft during a latrine removal project on the river on April 9.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
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Smith River State Park Manager Colin Maas, left, and river ranger Thuy Tran work to decommission a latrine site at a Smith River boat camp on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
kAm|22D[ E96 A2C< >2?286C[ 42? D66 E96 7FEFC6 36?67:ED @7 E96 A@=:4J 492?86 A=2J @FE :? 9:D 9625 — E9:?8D =:<6 2 C65F4E:@? :? E96 ?2EFC2= C6D@FC46 :>A24ED[ 2 C65F4E:@? :? A@DD:3=6 H2E6C 4@?E2>:?2E:@? 2?5 2 >:?:>:K:?8 @7 E96 :>A24ED E@ AC:G2E6 =2?5 :? E96 4@CC:5@C]k^Am
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kAm“%96 $>:E9 #:G6C :D 2 DA64:2= A=246 7@C >6[” uC6:DE25E D2:5] “}@E ;FDE 3642FD6 :EVD 2 362FE:7F= A=246[ 3FE :E :D 2 C62==J 8@@5 6I2>A=6 @7 FD:?8 @FC H2E6C C6D@FC46 :? 2 >2??6C E92EVD C6DA@?D:3=6[ 2?5 E92E AFED E96 AF3=:4 :? E92E C6D@FC46 D@ E92E E96J 42? >2<6 E96:C @H? 564:D:@?D 23@FE H9J E96J 6?;@J :E 2D H6==]”k^Am
A Smith River brown trout caught on the fly on April 11.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Forest Service employee Tim Olsen cuts up a wooden latrine base at a boat camp on the Smith River on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Volunteers from Montana Vet Program and personnel from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park and the U.S. Forest Service float down the Smith River during a latrine removal project on the river in early April
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Photos: Latrine removal operation ushers in new era on the Smith River
Volunteers with the Montana Vet Program, James Gallagher, left, and David Berube, haul a toilet pedestal away after decommissioning a latrine site at a Smith River boat camp on April 9.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Chris Freistadt, lead recreation river ranger on the Smith River for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park, navigates the river with stacks of latrine pedestals wrapped in a tarp on his raft during a latrine removal project on the river on April 9.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Smith River Ranger Thuy Tran removes a latrine sign from a Smith River boat camp during a latrine removal project on the river on April 9.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Chris Freistadt, lead recreation river ranger on the Smith River for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park, hauls two toilet pedestals from a Smith River boat camp to his raft on April 9.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Patrick Long, a Smith River recreationist, uses the latrine at the Rock Creek boat camp on the Smith River on April 9.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Ben LaBarge, a volunteer with Montana Vet Program, replaces a latrine sign with a privacy screening sign at a boat camp on the Smith River on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Montana Vet Program volunteers Chris Whitley, left, and James Gallagher secure their groover to a SCAT Machine at the Eden Bridge take out on April 12.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Volunteers from Montana Vet Program and personnel from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park and the U.S. Forest Service float down the Smith River during a latrine removal project on the river in early April
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Smith River State Park Manager Colin Maas, left, and river ranger Thuy Tran work to decommission a latrine site at a Smith River boat camp on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Forest Service employee Tim Olsen cuts up a wooden latrine base at a boat camp on the Smith River on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Montana Veterans Project volunteer Chris Whitley hauls a toilet pedestal from a boat camp on the Smith River during a latrine removal project on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Montana Veterans Project volunteer Chris Whitley sanitizes a groover using the SCAT machine at the Eden Bridge takeout on the Smith River on April 12.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Volunteers with the Montana Vet Program, Bryon Gustafson and Chris Whitley, saw the seat off a toilet pedestal during a latrine removal project on the Smith River on April 8.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Smith River Rangers Chris Freistadt, left, and Thuy Tran stack toilet pedestals while packing them for transport during a latrine removal project on the river on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
The human waste disposal station at the Eden Bridge takeout along the Smith River houses the SCAT machine where floaters sanitize their packable toilets.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
A Smith River brown trout caught on the fly on April 11.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Montana Veterans Project volunteer James Gallagher visits a latrine site at a Smith River boat camp on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Smith River State Park manager Colin Maas uncovers a pair of underwear while filing in a decommissioned latrine site at a boat camp on the river on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Smith River ranger Thuy Tran navigates the river with stacks of latrine pedestals wrapped in a tarp on her raft during a latrine removal project on the river on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Smith River Rangers Chris Freistadt, left, and Thuy Tran wrap toilet pedestals in a tarp while packing them for transport during a latrine removal project on the river on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Smith River State Park manager Colin Maas fills in a decommissioned latrine site at a boat camp on the river on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Smith River State Park manager Colin Maas fills in a decommissioned latrine site at a boat camp on the river on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Smith River ranger Thuy Tran navigates the river with stacks of latrine pedestals wrapped in a tarp on her raft during a latrine removal project on the river on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Smith River ranger Thuy Tran navigates the river with stacks of latrine pedestals wrapped in a tarp on her raft during a latrine removal project on the river on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Volunteers with Montana Vet Program prepare breakfast before a day of work on April 10 during a latrine removal project on the Smith River.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Montana Veterans Project volunteer David Berube tosses the cut up pieces of a latrine base into a pit on April 10 during a latrine removal project on the Smith River.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Montana Veterans Project volunteers unload at a Smith River boat camp on April 10 during a latrine removal project on the river.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Lead Smith River ranger Chris Freistadt, left, plans the day of work with volunteers from Montana Vet Program on April 9 during a latrine removal project on the Smith River.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Decommissioned toilet pedestals ready to be loaded during a latrine removal project on the Smith River on April 8.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Montana Veterans Project volunteer David Berube hauls a toilet pedestal away after decommissioning a latrine site at a Smith River boat camp on April 9.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Volunteers with the Montana Veterans Project, James Gallagher, left, and David Berube, decommission a latrine site at a Smith River boat camp on April 9.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Ben LaBarge, a volunteer with Montana Veterans Project, replaces a latrine sign with a privacy screening sign at a boat camp on the Smith River on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Lead Smith River Ranger Chris Freistadt wraps toilet pedestals in a tarp while packing them for transport during a latrine removal project on the river on April 9.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Lead Smith River Ranger Chris Freistadt hauls tools to a latrine site on April 8 during a latrine removal project on the Smith River.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
A pit latrine at a Smith River boat camp on April 8.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Lead Smith River Ranger Chris Freistadt decommissions a latrine site at a Smith River boat camp on April 9.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Forest Service employee Tim Olsen cuts up a wooden latrine base at a boat camp on the Smith River on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Bob Gliko, a recreation manager for the U.S. Forest Service looks into a latrine on April 8 during a latrine removal project on the Smith River.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
A latrine sign at a Smith River boat camp on April 9.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
The latrine removal crew relive the day’s work in conversation around a fire in a Smith River boat camp on April 10.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Thom Bridge is a photojournalist with the Independent Record and Montana State News Bureau. He also hosts the Montana Untamed podcast.
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Volunteers from Montana Vet Program and personnel from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park and the U.S. Forest Service float down the Smith River during a latrine removal project on the river in early April
- THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
A Smith River brown trout caught on the fly on April 11.
- THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Smith River State Park Manager Colin Maas, left, and river ranger Thuy Tran work to decommission a latrine site at a Smith River boat camp on April 10.
- THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Chris Freistadt, lead recreation river ranger on the Smith River for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park, navigates the river with stacks of latrine pedestals wrapped in a tarp on his raft during a latrine removal project on the river on April 9.
- THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Montana Vet Program volunteers Chris Whitley, left, and James Gallagher secure their groover to a SCAT Machine at the Eden Bridge take out on April 12.
- THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Volunteers with the Montana Vet Program, Bryon Gustafson and Chris Whitley, saw the seat off a toilet pedestal during a latrine removal project on the Smith River on April 8.
- THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Volunteers with Montana Vet Program prepare breakfast before a day of work on April 10 during a latrine removal project on the Smith River.
- THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Smith River Ranger Thuy Tran removes a latrine sign from a Smith River boat camp during a latrine removal project on the river on April 9.
- THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Lead Smith River ranger Chris Freistadt, left, plans the day of work with volunteers from Montana Vet Program on April 9 during a latrine removal project on the Smith River.
- THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Smith River State Park manager Colin Maas uncovers a pair of underwear while filing in a decommissioned latrine site at a boat camp on the river on April 10.
- THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Smith River ranger Thuy Tran navigates the river with stacks of latrine pedestals wrapped in a tarp on her raft during a latrine removal project on the river on April 10.
- THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Volunteers with the Montana Vet Program, James Gallagher, left, and David Berube, haul a toilet pedestal away after decommissioning a latrine site at a Smith River boat camp on April 9.
- THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Patrick Long, a Smith River recreationist, uses the latrine at the Rock Creek boat camp on the Smith River on April 9.
- THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Ben LaBarge, a volunteer with Montana Vet Program, replaces a latrine sign with a privacy screening sign at a boat camp on the Smith River on April 10.
- THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Forest Service employee Tim Olsen cuts up a wooden latrine base at a boat camp on the Smith River on April 10.
- THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
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