SPRING TROUT LINE 2016 Newsletter from the Montana Council of Trout Unlimited Ruby River access sites secured by Bruce Farling hen the topic of stream access families, there would be no formal fishing ago. Because of budget constraints, and the Ruby River is raised access sites for 40-plus river miles below some caused by limits imposed by Win Montana it’s often related the Vigilante Fishing Access Site a couple the Legislature, as well as demands at to absentee landowner James Cox miles downstream of the Ruby River Dam. some of the other 330 sites in FWP’s Kennedy from Atlanta and his 15-year Three county bridge popular fishing access legal and political efforts to prevent the rights-of-way provide site program, the public from accessing this great fishery. the only other points department didn’t However, not all stories about stream of access on the lower have adequate funding access coming from the Ruby Valley river. But the bridges to renew the leases for are as distressing as the Kennedy tale. have limited parking. the previous agreed Recently we can thank some civic-minded Plus, Mr. Kennedy upon price. The ranchers and, in part, Montana TU and has contested bridge Doornbos, Barnosky three of its chapters for a bit of good access in court and and Guillame families, news about the Ruby. made getting to the however, graciously Since the mid-1990s, three long- river at those spots agreed to lease the time ranching families in the valley have physically difficult access sites at a much- been leasing portions of their properties with his fencing schemes. So the private reduced price for a year until longer-term to Montana FWP as public fishing land access sites have been extremely funding could be secured. This winter access sites on the river near Alder and valuable to river users. FWP was able to come up with a little Sheridan. Without the cooperation of The leases for the three sites near more than half of the previous price. the Doornbos, Barnosky and Guinnane Alder and Sheridan expired a year see RUBY, page 6 Help monitor effects of major change in fishing regs by staff he wholesale changes Montana This sweeping regulation might FWP made to the 2016 fishing create some local problems and we’re Tregulations include a significant looking for TU members to scrutinize modification for the Central District that how it affects waters you know and care opens all rivers and streams to year- about. round fishing, unless they are closed by The Central District includes all exception. Daily and waters east of the Continental Divide possession limits and west of Highway 19 north of now also apply Roundup and the Bighorn River -- year-round where basically all coldwater fisheries in the harvest is allowed. eastern part of the state. The result is FWP rationalized that tributaries once closed are now this change by open all year long for angling and Image courtesy Amy Jimmerson saying it simplified potentially harvest. Rivers formerly opening, will still be closed seasonally. the regulations and open year-round for catch and release However, it is possible some important creates more angling with seasonal harvest are now available streams were missed. Concerned opportunities. Under for year-round legal harvest. anglers have identified the tributaries the rubric that FWP says it has carefully screened of Hebgen Reservoir, which is now nothing was broken, out critical waters for seasonal closures open to year-round angling and a daily Montana TU did not support this or no harvest as exceptions to the harvest of up to 5 fish, including one change, which reversed the long-standing year-round regulation. And it’s true, a over 18-inches, as an example of waters general regulation that waters were open number of tributaries that are critical for formerly closed seasonally that could to angling from May 15 to Nov. 30, and spawning rainbow trout, which would only open beyond that by exception. be most vulnerable to the year-round see REGULATIONS, page 6 1 FROM THE CHAIRMAN SPRING/16 pring is the time of year when anticipation meets fact. We anticipate that estimates of good MONTANA TU’S snowpackS translate into the consistent and cool river flows wild trout need come MISSION is to conserve, summer. protect and restore Montana’s world- And then there are the claims versus fact regarding Tintina Resources’ class coldwater fisheries and their proposed Black Butte Copper mine in the watersheds. headwaters of the Smith River. Tintina claims it has discovered new and benign Chris Schustrom Founded in 1964, Montana Trout methods of hard-rock mining, and water and fish will be protected. But the claims needs to tackle the next phase of mine Unlimited is a statewide grassroots do not comport with facts. The foreign- permitting: analyzing the environmental organization comprised of 13 chapters controlled company’s guarantees are effects of the proposal. Tintina’s claims are not backed with fact. and approximately 4,000 TU members. simply not backed by the incomplete information it has provided state As members and supporters of the regulators in its mine permit application. state’s leading coldwater conservation The geochemical analysis submitted organization, you need to e-mail, call www.montanatu.org purports to characterize all the materials and write the DEQ and Gov. Bullock the company would unearth, including today. Tell them Montana cannot afford thousands of tons of rock with risky acid- another hard-rock mine that could result producing sulfides. However, the analysis in long-term, perhaps permanent, acidic TROUT LINE is published quarterly is rife with data gaps. Also incomplete discharges and other pollution sources by Montana Trout Unlimited. are data that supposedly describe how that harm ground and surface waters. groundwater and streamflows will The risk is real. Tintina’s claims are not. EDITING AND DESIGN...........DAVID BROOKS not be affected by mining. Reviews by Make your voices heard on the op-ed & KATE GRANT Montana TU’s technical consultants page of your local paper. Tell your friends argue convincingly otherwise. Tintina and neighbors. The Smith River is your Printed on recycled paper using eco-friendly inks. has simply not provided adequate river, too. information to convince Montana’s © 2016 Montana Council of Trout Unlimited. Department of Environmental Quality that it has all the information the agency Chris Schustrom, Chairman How you can help Please tell Montana’s mining regulators at the Department of Environmental Quality and Governor Steve Bullock that Sheep Creek and the Smith River are too important to risk. Governor Steve Bullock State Capitol PO Box 20801 Helena, MT 59620 [email protected] (406) 444-3111 Tom Livers, Director Montana DEQ Montana TU plates are available at PO Box 200901 your county motor vehicle office. Helena, MT 59620 [email protected] (406) 444-2544 To learn more, visit SmithRiverWatch.org Cave-mouth view of Smith River courtesy JanieOsborne.com 2 Spring 2016 COUNCIL Staff changes at Montana TU MONTANA OF s winter turns to spring, we’d like keeps an office in Ennis. He’s working on TROUT UNLIMITED to tell you about a few changes water and land conservation projects in Aat Montana TU. Kate Grant, Southwest Montana, mainly with private OFFICERS our long-time program administrator, lands around the great rivers of the has left the organization. All of you out upper Missouri River basin. Because of CHRIS SCHUSTROM, CHAIRMAN there who know Kate will understand Brian’s experience at the 2015 Montana Whitefish how much we’ll miss her friendly Legislature, we’re slating him to lead our 862-3440 demeanor and hard work. We should efforts there in 2017. [email protected] have her important position filled soon Our newest staff addition is David after you receive this newsletter, if not Brooks. He’s filling a slot left open SHARON SWEENEY FEE, before. So, when you call, you might when Mark Aagenes left last October. A VICE CHAIRWOMAN hear a new voice. Larissa Lee will be Missoulian, David is an environmental Livingston helping us in the interim on a part-time historian with biology training who has 579-7735 basis through May. We first met Larissa researched, written about and taught [email protected] when she worked with TU national’s topics dealing with water quality, water BRIAN NEILSEN, TREASURER restoration staff in Missoula through the rights and environmental liability. He’ll Great Falls Big Sky Watershed Corps, a federally- primarily be working on our efforts to 240-3715 supported program that places talented improve instream flows, water quality, [email protected] young people into jobs involving natural land management and improved native resources. She was a stellar addition to and wild fishery management. LYLE COURTNAGE, SECRETARY that program. New faces. New team. Same great Billings In December, Brian Ohs signed on results – being the state’s leading 671-0572 with Montana TU as our Southwest organization advocating for healthy [email protected] Montana Coordinator. Brian worked rivers and the nation’s best trout DAN SHORT, NLC DIRECTOR with us on contract through 2015. He fisheries. Kalispell lives on the family ranch near Pony and 250-5064 [email protected] DOUG HAACKE, PAST CHAIRMAN Billings Hire a fishing guide July 9 656-4072 and support conservation [email protected] DAN VERMILLION, NATIONAL TRUSTEE Montana TU’s first annual Tip of the Hat Day is Saturday, 7/9/16. Livingston 222-0624 Please support select fishing guides who will donate their tips for one day [email protected] only to Montana TU. MONTANA TU STAFF Check out www.MontanaTU.org for a list of generously participating guides.