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The build up of sediment in Prickly Pear Creek in East Helena has area residents concerned.

According to the city's public works director, the sediment was first noticed last Friday when they were plowing snow near the main street bridge.

The sand has accumulated downstream and raised the creek bottom by about a foot.

Residents in the area are wondering if the sediment is due to the Montana Environmental Trust Group opening the gates to the upper dam in November.

The MT Department of Environmental Quality toured the old Asarco site with EPA officials on Thursday morning and determined there is no violation.

DEQ says they've concluded their part in the investigation.

Travis Erny, DEQ Enforcement Specialist, said, "They've done turbidity measurements above stream and downstream of the dam and the numbers have been similar for the two months since they began releasing water through the dam. So we've been unable to pinpoint exactly where the sediment is coming from."

Erny says the EPA and the Environmental Trust Group is still investigating where the sediment may have come from.

They have contacted a stream specialist who mapped the stream last in October to give her opinion.

In the meantime, residents say they are still concerned about potential flooding when stream flow picks up in the spring.

The county Water Quality Protection District coordinator says the excess sand may have to be removed.