Montana Trout Unlimited works on conserving, protecting
and restoring Montana’s coldwater fisheries
and their watersheds. This work involves advocacy
or education on behalf of clean water, instream flows,
healthy habitat and naturally functioning watersheds
and floodplains. We also promote fishery management
that preserves and improves populations of wild fish,
with a priority on conserving populations of native
species, such as cutthroat trout, bull trout and
grayling. We also work with agencies and landowners
in developing and funding projects throughout the
state that restore water quality, streamflows, healthy
riparian habitats and natural stream function.
Most of Montana TU’s work falls under three
categories: Conservation, Protection and
Restoration. Priority areas under these categories include conservation
of native fish, protection of clean water, protection
of streamflows, conservation education, and national
and state conservation policy.
Here are some of our ongoing issues
and special projects:
Conservation
Speaking for Trout at the Montana Legislature. Montana
TU staff and volunteers maintain a regular presence
at the biennial and special sessions of the Montana
Legislature to ensure conservation of trout and the
watersheds they depend on are spoken for.
Supporting Conservation-based Angling Regulations. Montana TU works to ensure state angling regulations
are scientifically based and that they focus on maintaining
sustainable populations of wild trout.
Conserving and Protecting Montana’s Native
Trout. Montana TU advocates for policies and programs
that enhance populations of Montana’s dwindling
native salmonids, such as bull trout, westslope cutthroat
trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, interior redband
trout and fluvial arctic grayling.
Providing for Education About Wild Trout. Montana
TU spreads the word about the scientific, economic,
recreational and cultural values of wild trout in
a wide variety of ways. This includes sponsoring
a Trout in the Classroom Program for school children,
presenting presentations at symposia and in college
classrooms, providing programs for conservation and
civic organizations, and publishing Trout Line, a
quarterly newsletter.
Protection
Protecting Instream Flows in Trout Rivers. Montana
TU uses a number of different approaches to protect
and improve instream flows for Montana’s Rivers.
In 2003 and 2004, Montana TU went to court to prevent
proposals for new water rights that would dewater
the Gallatin and Smith Rivers. In addition, Montana
TU is continuing its long-standing commitment working
with water users and local TU chapters in watersheds
of the Blackfoot, Bitterroot, Jefferson, Big Hole
and Clark Fork to improve and protect instream flows.
Monitoring and Enhancing the Boulder River. In 2003,
Montana TU renewed its role as the third-party monitor
of the fishery in the Boulder River south of Big
Timber. Montana TU’s fieldwork, in partnership
with state biologists, will better enable us to detect
possible harm to the fishery from a new mine in the
drainage. In addition, our presence in the Boulder
helps us identify other impacts that affect trout.
Among the worst problems we’ve identified is
the loss of fish in irrigation ditches. Montana TU
is working with landowners to rescue fish stranded
in ditches while also funding installation of fish
screens aimed at reducing irrigation-related mortalities.
Protecting Traditional Access for Angling. Montana
TU intervenes in challenges to Montana’s stream
access law that have state-wide precedent. Though
TU is not a recreational organization, it is comprised
of conservation-minded anglers. Protection of traditional
stream access ensures that anglers have places to
enjoy their sport. When anglers have access, they
are motivated to fight for conservation of wild trout.
Restoration
Restoring the Confluence of Two Great Rivers. Montana
TU is helping influence critical decisions to ensure
removal of the dam and contaminated sediments from
the Milltown area, at the confluence of the Blackfoot
and Clark Fork Rivers. Once removal occurs, Montana
TU will work to ensure site restoration emphasizes
natural channel design instead of unnatural, engineered
features.
Revitalizing the Jefferson River. Montana TU continues
to partner with TU national to improve flows and
restore tributary habitat in this signature Lewis
and Clark River. This multi-year effort should produce
more fish and better angling along the Jefferson.
Improving the Middle Clark Fork River. In partnership
with state biologists, Montana TU is helping organize
or helping fund important projects aimed at improving
spawning and rearing habitats in key tributaries
below Milltown. In 2002-03, Montana TU helped complete
construction of fish screens on irrigation ditches
and a fish ladder around a dam on Rattlesnake Creek,
perhaps the highest-quality spawning tributary along
the middle Clark Fork.
Getting Money to the Ground to Restore Habitat. Montana TU, partnering with its chapters, TU national
staff, landowners and state and federal fishery biologists,
is working hard to get state, federal and private
restoration dollars to streams all over Montana that
have habitat or streamflow problems. In recent years,
Montana TU has helped fund or organize projects in
the Bitterroot, upper and middle Clark Fork, Missouri,
Yellowstone, Madison, Blackfoot, Rock Creek and Jefferson
watershed. The total investment runs in the millions
of dollars.
For more information on Montana TU’s Conservation,
Protection and Restoration efforts, contact Executive
Director Bruce Farling at bruce@montanatu.org;
Outreach Director Michael Gibson at michael@montanatu.org;
Conservation Director Mark Aagenes at mark@montanatu.org;Program
Administrator Sara McComas at sara@montanatu.org
