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SUMMER2018
Newsletter from the Montana Council of Trout Unlimited
see Native Trout, page 6
November 6, 2018 ballot. Now that MTU, participating TU
chapters, members, and our many partners have cleared this major hurdle, it’s time to inform and turn out voters. We don’t have space in a single newsletter to let you know about all the events and ways there are to get involved. So here’s how to keep apace of what’s happening and how you can help make a difference: Visit the campaign website (https://www.yeson186.org/) to learn more, volunteer, and donate. Visit, share, like, and comment on the campaign Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/yeson186/). Or, contact us directly anytime ([email protected]; [email protected]).
Most of all, remember, MTU is supporting I-186 because it brings a much-needed, common-sense change to hard-rock mine permitting in Montana that will better protect the clean water our native and wild trout depend on. It will also reduce the taxpayer burden of cleaning up and paying for permanent treatment of polluted water. That money is yours and mine and could, and should, be spent elsewhere on the many programs statewide that ensure we have clean, cold, healthy streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands for generations to come.
“Spring” is the most common creek name west of the 100th Meridian. East of that line, it’s “Mill.” Chances are, most of us have crossed, fished, or floated by a Spring Creek. I’ve often walked to the source of the one nearest my home in western Montana. Under deep Ponderosa shade, it seeps to the surface through spongey mats of bright green moss. Slaking a thin riparian ribbon along the way, it tumbles roughly five miles before joining Rattlesnake Creek not far upstream of where MTU is helping our national TU partners remove a dam.One benefit to this dam removal
will be to restore full passage to native westslope cutthroat and bull trout, both of which have spawned in this system since long before Spring or Rattlesnake Creek bore those names. Native
trout restoration is critical to MTU’s conservation mission, and the why is not always obvious. When you start asking around and reading explanations for why we value native trout in their native habitats someone reminds you of Aldo Leopold’s oft quoted mandate that “To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering.” There’s a problem with that machine metaphor.Equating a natural system to a machine
overlooks the fact that one evolved, in many cases without the human hand anywhere in sight, whereas the other is wholly a product of that hand. The metaphor also implies that each part, its relations to others, and the ultimate workings are fully understood. We understand the mechanics of how the drag on a fly reel works.
We are less certain about why each organism in an ecosystem is important, but research clearly makes a case for keeping native trout in their evolutionary homes. Most of that research has focused on places where non-native trout invade, if not replace native trout. Brook and lake trout provide two good examples. When brook trout are introduced
or move into western waters they outcompete the native trout on three fronts. Brook trout achieve a greater density and biomass within streams than many trout native to the West, thus the non-natives simply consume more of the available food. And, the food brook trout eat tends to be mostly benthic insects; whereas a much higher percentage of a cutthroat’s diet comes from terrestrial bugs that land on the
Image courtesy Amy Jimmerson
Why do we care about native trout? by David Brooks
T R O U T L I N E
MTU’s Grassroots Warriors Help Get I-186 on the November Ballot by David Brooks
It takes more than 25,000 valid signatures from registered voters in Montana to qualify an initiative for the ballot. A minimum number of those signatures have to come from at least 34 of the House Districts in Montana. Never before has HD29, which includes Lewistown, produced enough signatures to help an initiative get on the ballot. That changed with I-186 and our Snowy Mountain chapter. After training to be signature gatherers about half a dozen Snowy Mountain chapter volunteers gathered about 150% of the necessary signatures in HD29. That success is an example of the great effort many chapter members put in to bring our campaign total to more than 45,000 signatures and easily qualifying I-186 for the
FROM THE CHAIRMAN
2 Summer 2018
SUMMER/18
Chris Schustrom
I’ve been thinking about how one would define a “good job” in Montana. As Montana TU, our job is to conserve, protect and restore our coldwater fish and fisheries. I-186, our citizen initiative that has qualified for the November ballot, will protect these cold waters and require the mining industry to conserve them as well. As I-186 moves forward we hear from the mining industry that mining jobs are “good jobs.” A good outdoor recreation job is no less a job than a good mining job and vice versa. We know that the work we do to care for cold water and trout helps sustain good jobs in Montana, lots of them. And, vice versa, many of the people who work in good outdoor recreation industry jobs in this state are great champions of our mission and help us accomplish that mission both in and outside of their work life. However, a small vocal group of opponents to I-186 continue to inflate the number of hard-rock mining jobs in Montana, downplaying the vast footprint the outdoor industry has on Montana’s economy. Here’s a more accurate picture: On jobs, the outdoor industry far
outpaces the mining industry:• 1,896 metal mining jobs
in Montana (Source: Montana Department of Labor) • 71,000 outdoor recreation
and tourism jobs (Source: Outdoor Industry Association)
The same holds true in revenues: • $25 million in tax revenues
from metal mining (Source: Montana Department of Revenue, Biennial Report, July 1, 2014-June 30, 2016) • $7 billion per year in
consumer spending and $286 million in state and local tax revenues from outdoor recreation and tourism (Source: Outdoor Industry Association)While these are big differences, the
two industries can co-exist and find success in Montana. I-186 will help us find that balance, protecting both mining jobs and equally important, protecting outdoor recreation jobs by protecting the resource they depend on: clean water. Thank you for your continued hard work as we move I-186 to success in November.
MONTANA TU’S MISSION is to conserve, protect and restore Montana’s world-class coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.
Founded in 1964, Montana Trout Unlimited is a statewide grassroots organization comprised of 13 chapters and approximately 4,000 TU members.
www.montanatu.org
TROUT LINE is published quarterly by Montana Trout Unlimited.
EDITING AND DESIGN..........Jessica McCutcheon
Printed on recycled paper using eco-friendly inks.
© 2018 Montana Council of Trout Unlimited.
MONTANA TU STAFFDAVID BROOKS
EXECUTIVE [email protected]
JESSICA McCUTCHEONBUSINESS & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
BRIAN OHSSOUTHWEST MONTANA COORDINATOR
KELLEY WILLETTDEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Blackfoot River fund nearing goal On August 9, 2018 the Logjam
Foundation annouced that they have successfully raised over $70,000 for the Blackfoot River Fund. The goal for the Fund was to reach $100,000 throughout the 2018 Kettlehouse Amphitheater season. $1 from each tichet sold, an amount equal to five percent of gross bar sales, and %100 of the profit from all Blackfoot River Fund merchandise will be donated. To track the progress of the Fund
visit: https://logjampresents.com/blackfoot-river-fund/ There are still more shows scheduled at the amphitheater. Buy a ticket and stop by the Montana Trout Unlimited table.
3Montana Trout Unlimited
On September 5, 2015 Matthew and Laura Churchman lost their newborn son William. At 32 weeks, they learned that, due to major abnormalities, his was not a life compatible outside the womb. His brief moment had a profound impact on their family and friends. Matthew manages Blackfoot River Outfitters Fly Shop in Missoula. Together with the owners, John Herzer and Terri Raugland, they reignited The Blackfoot River Outfitters Memorial Float, founded originally to honor the memory of John’s father, Moe Herzer and longtime fishing client and friend Steve Bryant. This year funds raised will benefit
Montana Trout Unlimited’s efforts to protect the Smith River from a proposed copper mine on its most vital tributary. Coincidentally it was after they had decided to raise funds
to protect the Smith that Laura drew her first Smith River permit. In June with their daughter Ella, Matthew’s father Bill, and two other families, the Churchmans got to experience the treasure of the Smith River, which lies in its preservation not extraction. The Memorial Float will take place
on Saturday, October 13, 2018. Guiding services for full-day fly-fishing and scenic floats are donated so that all proceeds can benefit MTU’s efforts. Boats are filling up, so please reserve your spot soon.Montana’s rivers are special places,
giving us recreation, education, and clean drinking water, but they can also be a place of reflection, healing, and a respite for our worried minds and troubled hearts. To compromise the health of a river like the Smith, to harm it irreparably, would be a loss that we would grieve like any
other. Please join us to honor lost loved
ones and to protect the life-giving waters of our rivers and streams. There are also many ways to give, sponsor or get involved in the Memorial Float. To find out more, please visit www.memorialfloat.com.
Blackfoot River Outfitters Memorial Float by Laura Churchman
Montana Council ofTrout Unlimited
O F F I C E R SCHRIS SCHUSTROM, CHAIRMAN
Whitefish862-3440 [email protected]
SHARON SWEENEY FEE, VICE CHAIRWOMAN
Livingston 579-7735 [email protected]
BRIAN NEILSEN, TREASURERGreat Falls
240-3715 [email protected]
LYLE COURTNAGE, SECRETARYBillings
671-0572 [email protected]
Harry Murphy, NLC DirectorBozeman
580-7115 [email protected]
DOUG HAACKE, PAST CHAIRMAN Billings
656-4072 [email protected]
DAN VERMILLION, NATIONAL TRUSTEELivingston
222-0624 [email protected]
STEWARDSHIP DIRECTORSDR. MARSHALL BLOOM
Hamilton, MT
MONTE DOLACKMissoula, MT
PAUL MOSELEYMissoula, MT
CRAIG & JACKIE MATHEWSCameron, MT
ROY O’CONNORClinton, MT
DRS. ROBERT & PEGGY RATCHESONHamilton, MT
PAUL ROOSLincoln, MT
PAUL STANLEYBozeman, MT/Piedmont, CA
K.C. WalshBozeman, MT
DR. IRVING WEISSMANHamilton, MT/Redwood City, CA
Image courtesy James Quirk, 2016
Image courtesy James Quirk, 2016
Blackfoot River fund nearing goal
Summer 2018
Chapter NewsFlathead Valley Trout UnlimitedFlathead Chapter Veterans
Coordinator Jim Borowski and his wife Jo are the proud recipients of Trout Unlimited Distinguished Service – Veterans Service Partnership Award. The award recognizes “Your work with veterans through Flathead Valley TU’s VSP program, with the national VSP program on the Silvertip couples trip, and through Jim’s participation in the Sun Valley volunteer training event, and of course, all you both have done to support Warriors and Quiet Waters, an important VSP partner, is exemplary of this award! Congratulations! “ Jim recently organized a successful veterans float trip on the Flathead.The chapter continues to engage in
development of a Comprehensive River Management Plan for the Wild and Scenic forks of the Flathead River. We are also supporting a Montana State grad student who is tagging spawning size lake trout in Swan Lake to better define spawning habitat.FVTU and
the larger fly fishing community of Montana lost a good friend and a cherished member with the passing of Jim Johnson on July 28th.Following a successful career, Jim
and Sally settled in their dream home overlooking Flathead Lake where Jim could pursue his passion for fly fishing.Jim was a master fly tier, a certified
casting instructor and expert rod builder. He was the driving force behind fly tying classes held every winter by FVTU. Jim was a long time board member of Flathead TU and his expertise, knowledge and passion were greatly appreciated.Jim carefully cultivated a misleading
curmudgeonly attitude and often grumbled when he thought the chapter wasn’t doing enough to help our native fish populations. When the need arose, we could always depend on Jim to be front and center, stepping
up to help and guide our volunteer efforts. Flathead Valley TU extends our
sincere condolences to his wife Sally, his children, grandkids and great-grandkids. His absence will felt by us all, but we celebrate his life and many contributions.
George Grant Trout Unlimited The George Grant Chapter (GGTU)
has had several accomplishments including seeing the completion of the Smith Slough on the lower Bighole that we hope will bring more Rainbow and Brown trout spawning habitat to the lower stretches of the river that have historically lower trout numbers. We have supported three additional habitat projects including the North Fork of Dry Cottonwood to reduce sediment load and improve westslope cutthroat habitat, the Divide Creek fish ladder, and a new project near Notch Bottom in the lower Bighole which will improve spawning ground for Rainbow trout. We are very pleased to be the lead
group in securing public access at the Basin Creek reservoir south of Butte. This reservoir has the purest strain of westslope cutthroat in Montana and we have put Water Environmental Technologies (WET) to task ensuring we do this right the first time. It will not be open for public use until in 2020, but will be a great outdoor resource. Montana FWP has agreed to
move forward with a controversial project to install a fish barrier in French Creek that will now provide over 40 miles of habitat solely for westslope cutthroat and fluval arctic grayling. While many felt this was a unnecessary project and a waste of a current Brown and Rainbow fishery to kill off the non native fish, GGTU and several other organizations pushed hard for this project to ensure these two native and threatened species have the opportunity to succeed in a time when so much habitat is being lost! Thanks to a solid chapter banquet
this past year, which was the largest in our chapter history, we are able to provide funding and get matching grants for all of these projects.
4
BITTERROOT CHAPTER #080Greg Chester, Hamilton
[email protected]/blog/
BIG BLACKFOOT CHAPTER #544Scott Gordon, Seeley Lake [email protected]
FLATHEAD VALLEY CHAPTER #085 [email protected]
www.flatheadtu.org
GEORGE GRANT CHAPTER #183Mark Thompson, Butte
[email protected] www.ggtu.org
JOE BROOKS CHAPTER #025www.joebrookschaptertu.org
KOOTENAI VALLEY CHAPTER #683Mike Rooney, Libby
LEWIS & CLARK CHAPTER #656Mike Geary, Twin Bridges [email protected]
MADISON-GALLATIN CHAPTER #024Kris Kumlien, Bozeman
[email protected] www.mgtu.org
MAGIC CITY FLY FISHERS #582Lyle Courtnage, Billings 896-1824
MISSOURI RIVER FLYFISHERS Bob Warneke, Great Falls
missouririverflyfishers.org
PAT BARNES-MISSOURI RIVER CHAPTER #055
Will Trimbath, Helena [email protected]
www.patbarnestu.org
SNOWY MOUNTAIN CHAPTER #610Mike Chapman, Lewistown
WESTSLOPE CHAPTER #056Mark Kuipers, Missoula
MONTANA TROUT UNLIMITED
CHAPTERS& PRESIDENTS
5Montana Trout Unlimited
Montana Trout Unlimited once again hosted 20 campers, aged 11-14, at Camp Watanopa on Georgetown Lake. Early concerns regarding high stream flows where quickly set aside as the fishing was excellent both on surrounding streams and on the lake. Students successfully learned the basics of fly tying and fly
fishing thanks to the expertise of our volunteers. We had the additional opportunity to meet with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service field staff to complete hands on stream restoration in critical bull trout habitat. Campers where able to learn about the characteristics of healthy streams and rivers and their importance to wild and native trout by getting into
2018 Conservation & Fly Fishing Camp by Jessica McCutcheon
What is I-186?I-186 will ensure that new mines in Montana operate responsibly. It will hold mining companies accountable and no longer allow them to leave behind a toxic mess requiring perpetual treatment of water contaminated by acid mine drainage and heavy metals. Montanans spend millions each year cleaning up toxic pollution left behind from both historic and modern mines. Montana has 3,500 abandoned mines, more than 200 of which are known to be discharging contaminants and polluting our clean water. Our state has nearly 2,500 miles of streams polluted by acid mine drainage, lead, arsenic, and mercury from abandoned mines.
(a very cold) tributary to build pools and remove obstructions to improve habitat that provides both coldwater refuge and spawning habitat for bull trout. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks generously sent an education program intern to stay at camp for a few days.It is our goal to continue a program that provides a
foundation for coldwater conservation through fly fishing. Youth leave our camp understanding that excellent fishing doesn’t happen without a dedication to protecting the resource. Email [email protected] for more information on supporting or participating in camp.
Summer 2018
water. Finally, since brook trout spawn in the fall, their fry hatch earlier and are ahead on the growth curve compared to the spring-spawning cutthroat. All of these differences mean that brook trout devour benthic insects, resulting in fewer aquatic organisms emerging from the water. More brook trout than native cutthroat in a system causes a cascade of effects up the terrestrial food chain. Amphibians, spiders, and songbirds, for example, suffer a diminished food source when brook trout invade cutthroat streams. Recent efforts to suppress
non-native and highly invasive lake trout from Yellowstone Lake illustrate this cascading effect that a change in native
NATIVE TROUT, from page 1
to non-native trout populations unleashes. Lake trout are similar to brook trout in the ways they outcompete Yellowstone cutthroat. Lake trout also spend most of their lives in deeper water than the natives. So when the former replace the latter, piscivores from raptors to grizzlies fare poorly. Yellowstone National Park biologists and partner researchers have seen a rebound in Yellowstone cutthroats, birds of prey and big bears around Yellowstone Lake soon after innovative suppression of lake trout eggs began reducing the non-native population. Although we don’t know all the relationships, it’s clear that protecting and restoring natives helps maintain complexity and
diversity. Survivability and
sensitivity are two other reasons to care for native trout. Because native trout have adapted over centuries and millennia in specific environments, they are, in many cases, more likely to survive the extremes of those places. Having passed through the crucible of a specific system’s cycles of drought, flood, and
wildfire a native trout species may be hardier than non-native
fish. Conversely, native trout are often more sensitive to physical and chemical changes
in their natal waters. Thus, they perform the role of “canary in the coal mine.” While being able to survive and even thrive during and after wildfires, native Yellowstone cutthroat and bull trout are highly sensitive to chemical pollutants and over-sedimentation. They are indicators of stream health. If we pay attention, they are an early warning sign
of how we are treating our
streams, rivers, and lakes. As Thomas McGuane put it in The Longest Silence: “Whether it is the trout or the angler who is more sensitized to the degeneration of habitat would be hard to say, but probably it is the trout. At the first signs of deterioration, this otherwise vigorous fish just politely quits, as if to say, ‘If that’s how you want it…’” Well, that’s not how we want it. The need that native trout have for clean, cold water should be a mirror or reminder of our own needs for this vital resource.Then there’s the other reason.
We should consider caring for native trout not because we are intelligent tinkerers,
who know how it all works and what removing one piece might do to the whole, but just the opposite. Keep them all because we don’t know. Much of our world, especially when it comes to the world of water is yet unknown. There’s still some mystery to places like the source of Spring Creek, high enough on the mountainside that it’s hard to find a weed or a bubblegum wrapper. In spite of having dubbed such places with all-too common names, we have many reasons to continue fighting for their unique, native qualities.
6
Images courtesy Fish Eye Guy Photography , westslope cutthroat and bull trout; Rob Roberts, grayling.
7Montana Trout Unlimited
Take action and tell Congress to #SaveLWCF The Land and Water Conservation
Fund (LWCF) is our country’s premier program to fund public access, fish and wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation. Since 1965, LWCF has
poured more than $16 billion into local communities – including $597 million in Montana – to provide funding for everything from public land acquisitions to developing local outdoor recreation
sites. Chances are that if you have spent
time outdoors at a fishing access site, state park, local open space, or public lands, you’ve directly benefitted from the LWCF. In fact, when you float fish in Montana you’re probably using an LWCF-funded access site, since half of all such sites in the state have benefitted from this funding source. Unfortunately, LWCF is set to expire on September 30th unless Congress takes action to reauthorize the program. Montana’s delegation supports
reauthorizing LWCF, but they need to know that the program is a top priority for sportsmen and women. Contact our members of Congress and urge them do all they can to permanently reauthorize LWCF before it expires. A phone call takes just a minute
but can make a big difference, so call today. Senator Tester: (202) 224-2644; Senator Daines: (202) 224-2651; Representative Gianforte: (202) 225-3211
What is LWCF?The Land and Water Conservation fund (LWCF) was established in 1964. This fund invests earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing and is not taxpayer funded. LWCF was a committment to protect natural areas, water resources, cultural heritage and to provide recreational opportunities.
LWCF in MontanaMontana has received nearly $600 million in LWCF
funding since the birth of the fund. LWCF dollars have been used for countless fishing access sites, forest project and large land purchases, including the Tenderfoot Creek aquisition, which provided more that 8,000 acres of recreation access along the Smith River.
Hellgate Hunters & Anglers hosts a great interactive map of LWCF funded projects in Montana. Visit http://map.mtbullypulpit.org/ and slect the LWCF map layer.
Big Sky Watershed Corps member makes gains for native trout Montana Trout Unlimited joined with United States Forest Service
to hire a Big Sky Watershed Corps member to work from the USFS Region 1 office. This joint venture has been a success for both Montana Trout Unlimited and USFS, while being especially beneficial for native trout.Stream miles protected for native species:
Westslope Cutthroat - 319Yellowstone Cutthroat - 10Bull Trout - 62Arctic Grayling - 8
Number of Forest Service reserved water rights:
Filed - 22Prepared to file - 31Total cubic feet per second of water protected by FS reserved water rights = 168.2
Big Sky Watershed Corps member, Riley, taking stream flow measurements in the Blackfoot watershed as part of the FS filing for reserved water rights.
SUMMER2018
NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE
PAIDMISSOULA, MT PERMIT NO. 569
Montana Council of Trout UnlimitedPO BOX 7186 MISSOULA, MT 59807
UPCOMING EVENTSTROUT LINE
Why we care about native trout 1Page 1
---------------MTU’s grassroot warriors help get I-186 on the
November ballot Page 1
--------------Memorial Float, Chapter Updates, LWCF
Pages 3-7
THIS ISSUE:
www.montanatu.org
8
9/22/18
11/6/18
10/13/18
MTU State Council MeetingLewistown, MT
Blackfoot River Memorial FloatVisit www.memorialfloat.com for details.
Election DayVote Yes on I-186
