SPRING TROUT LINE 2012 Newsletter from the Council of

New Venture Protects Rock Creek Gatewayby Bruce Farling and Grant Kier ivers, people and communities in perpetuity, the gateway to this come together. But only on iconic trout stream. After more Rrare occasions do they merge at than a year of negotiation, the land once and in one place. A new venture trust has reached an agreement to protect the with LEMB mouth of the blue Combined with conservation Co, LLC to ribbon waters of easements on neighboring purchase Rock Creek near properties, the acquisition will 201-acres at Missoula is one of the mouth of those occasions. permanently protect more than Rock Creek for Five Valleys two miles of the Clark Fork River $1.6 million. Land Trust, with and more than a mile of Rock Creek. The site, which the support of also includes Imagine 37 new homes here. Or not. Grant Kier photo Montana TU, the Westslope Chapter frontage along the Clark Fork, had the Clark Fork Coalition and Trout of TU and the Clark Fork Coalition, been slated for a controversial 37- Unlimited to develop a common vision have launched the Rock Creek lot subdivision with an artificial fish for the property. Confluence Project in order to protect, pond at its core. Once the purchase is That vision includes eliminating the complete, Five Valleys will work with See ROCK CREEK, page 7

Partners Fight AIS in Montana by Morgan Sparks and Mark Aagenes rguably, Montana’s most settings. However, Montana TU and Montana has established monitoring important resource is others are focusing now on problem and prevention programs. Among Awater, which drives many species that have yet to arrive in the state agencies, Montana Fish, Wildlife of the state’s largest industries such state. and Parks has the largest reach. Its as agriculture, hydropower and Compared to many states Montana main efforts include a boat inspection recreation. Our streams and lakes face is lucky. Most of the notorious program at boat ramps, state borders a variety of challenges. Among the AIS plaguing other states have not See AQUATIC INVASIVES, page 6 most pressing and controllable are been detected here, or, the threats posed by aquatic invasive they occur only in isolated species (AIS). AIS are waterborne, populations. We therefore non-native organisms that threaten have an opportunity to keep the diversity or abundance of native many invaders at bay. Once species and the ecological stability of established, many AIS can native waters. They also can threaten cause economic havoc. The commercial, agricultural, aquacultural U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services or recreational activities. AIS include estimate that AIS impacts in clams, fish, mussels, plants, weeds and the already cost disease-causing pathogens. AIS can more than $120 billion a year. include non-native sport fish such as In order to prevent This Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks illustration shows key areas to inspect, lake trout and northern pike where the spread of AIS into and clean & dry on any boat. Make sure your watercraft & equipment is they currently occur in inappropriate within Montana, the State of completely drained and dried. Questions? Contact FWP at (406) 444-2449. 1 FROM THE COUNCIL SPRING/12 Bitterroot Trib Gets Repairs by Michael Gibson MONTANA OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR he Burnt n May 5, the day before his TU friends eventually teamed up with Fork of the TROUT UNLIMITED st MONTANA TU’S 91 birthday, Bud Morris died Jim Posewitz, a passionate young Bitterroot, MISSION is to conserve, Ofrom complications triggered state fishery biologist, to defend the longT known for water OFFICERS by a massive stroke. He passed away Yellowstone’s trout rich waters from protect and restore Montana’s wars and degraded in Ennis, close to his beloved Madison powerful energy companies that trout habitat, is DAN SHORT, CHAIRMAN world-class coldwater fisheries River. Along with Dan Bailey, Bud coveted the water for coal development. 164 Juniper Bend Drive getting a makeover. Kalispell, MT 59901 and their watersheds. Lilly and a few other The fishermen won. In 2011 Montana 257-0069 conservation-minded Bud Morris, Other early TU victories TU, the Bitterroot [email protected] Founded in 1964, Montana anglers from Livingston, included hard-fought Chapter and TU West Yellowstone and national battles led by DOUG NATION, PAST CHAIRMAN Trout Unlimited is a statewide Remembered National fenced off AND NLC DIRECTOR grassroots organization comprised Billings, Bud founded the Butte anglers George a mile stretch of the 289 Bowman Montana Chapter of Trout Unlimited in Grant and Tony Schoonen to stop a Hamilton, MT 59840 of 13 chapters and approximately creek from cattle 363-2137 1963. Most were business people. Bud dam proposed for the Big Hole River [email protected] 3,400 TU members. grazing on the Ellison owned the old Parade Rest guest ranch near Twin Bridges, and passing laws to Cattle Company, just on Grayling Creek, near Hebgen Lake. stop uncontrolled damage to streams east of Stevensville. DOUG HAACKE, TREASURER The chapter eventually became the and riparian areas. These guys were 2104 Mariposa Lane www.montanatu.org TU national’s Volunteers staging to plant shrubs along Burnt Fork Billings, MT 59102 Montana Council, or Montana TU, the lions. Heather Whitely 656-4072 shade – thus helping reduce stream [email protected] umbrella organization for the state’s 12 TU was conceived and founded coordinated the project. And now, is published quarterly temperatures and make a reach of the TROUT LINE local TU chapters. Few Montanans know in Grayling, , by a handful of thanks to volunteers from the CHRIS SCHUSTROM, SECRETARY lower Bitterroot’s largest tributary by Montana Trout Unlimited. of the early work of those TU pioneers, prescient anglers who knew we could Bitterroot and Westslope Chapters 504 Spokane Ave. and that’s a shame. They twice stopped do better than ignore habitat protection more trout friendly. Whitefish, MT 59937 of TU, the Bitterroot Water Forum, 862-3440 EDITING AND DESIGN...... BRUCE FARLING dams proposed for the Yellowstone while converting the nation’s streams Sierra Club and others, this section [email protected] This project also became a reality MICHAEL GIBSON near Livingston, and fought similar into annexes for hatcheries where of the Burnt Fork received close to thanks to contributions from the & KATE GRANT proposals for the Middle Fork Flathead anglers could be robotically hooked 1,000 riparian plantings. Volunteers TOM ANACKER, NLC SECRETARY Ellison Family, Trout and Salmon 945 Technology Blvd., Ste. 102 and North Fork Sun Rivers. They forced on sluggish, race-way raised protein. planted native cottonwoods, Printed on recycled paper using eco-friendly inks. Foundation, TU’s Embrace-A-Stream Bozeman, MT 59771-1247 cleanup of pollution sources along the The seeds for the TU idea were tilled dogwoods, willows, golden currant (h) 586-7585 program, Montana TU, the Bitterroot [email protected] Yellowstone, battled the Forest Service in Michigan, but the heartbeat has and chokecherry. Once these riparian © 2012 Montana Council of Trout Unlimited. and Westslope Chapters of TU, and the over industrial-scale clear-cutting in been strongest in Montana, where plants mature they will help stabilize Blackfoot Native Plants Nursery. the upper reaches of the Madison the Yellowstone, Madison, Big Hole banks, decrease sediment and provide MTU STAFF River drainage (one of Bud’s personal and Flathead needed – and always crusades), introduced Montanans to will – anglers of stout will and passion. BRUCE FARLING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR catch-and-release angling and supported Anglers like Bud Morris. [email protected] a couple of far-thinking state fishery Bruce Farling Casting for Recovery offers Free Clinics managers who were getting pummeled MARK AAGENES CONSERVATION DIRECTOR for proposing wild asting for Recovery provides retreats for women of all [email protected] trout management ages and in any stages of breast cancer and recovery, instead of MICHAEL GIBSON and incorporates into the program. CFR will OUTREACH DIRECTOR continued hatchery C [email protected] be holding 44 retreats in 33 states in 2012, two of which are stocking in the in Montana. August 24-26 2012 at Dome Mountain Ranch th KATE GRANT in Eastern Montana (application deadline June 15 ) and PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR – an experiment September 14-16 2012 at Glacier Outdoor Center in Western [email protected] Get your Montana TU plates at your that proved so Montana (application deadline July 13th). Women are selected county motor vehicle office! successful it was at random and may apply online at www.castingforrecovery.org. MAILING ADDRESS adapted state-wide PO Box 7186 Missoula, MT 59807 and has become Anyone interested in volunteering with the Montana programs the national gold may do so by going to the website and filling out a volunteer OFFICE LOCATION standard for trout 111 N. Higgins Ave., Suite 500 application. Local contact is: Peg Miskin, National Program Missoula, MT 59802 management. Director in Hamilton: [email protected]. Phone: (406) 543-0054 Some of Bud’s Yellowstone-region Bud Morris on the Big Hole, 1966 2 Spring 2012 Spring 2012 3 CHAPTER NEWS Joe Brooks Chapter JBTU teamed up with TU’s projects, road elimination work Madison-Gallatin Chapter for Flathead Valley and fish passage improvements Bitterroot Chapter the 8th Annual Chapter that dramatically improved this BRTU provided funding and Clean Up this spring, tackling cutthroat spawning stream. The volunteers to the Bitter Root over 70 river miles with 138 chapter is now working with its Water Forum for a riparian participants. JBTU volunteers have This spring the chapter provided partners installing fish screens restoration project this spring on been mapping weeds along the comments to Montana FWP and fish ladders in headwaters advocating for continuance of a the East Fork Bitterroot River. The Yellowstone River, and the chapter lake trout suppression chapter is helping sponsored a one-day youth fishing project at Swan Lake. the Forest Service camp this spring. A restoration project to improve water quality Results of this project decommission in Fleshman Creek – near and dear could inform similar unneeded, sediment ongoing or proposed to chapter members – is moving bleeding roads in the forward after waiting four years projects at Yellowstone Piquett and Marten and Flathead Lakes. for the Park County Commission The chapter has several Creek drainages to approve the engineering design. on-the-ground projects of the West Fork Join Livingston-area TU members in progress, including Bitterroot. It also on June 30 at a celebration and planting shrubs with helped with a bank fundraiser for river conservation. FWP this spring to help stabilization project Details on page 8. stabilize a bank on the on Skalkaho Creek. Carlos Miera from TU’s Madison-Gallatin Chapter at the Yellowstone cleanup lower Flathead River. This year’s Bitterroot The chapter hosted Buggers program was Magic City Fly conservation and fly fishing at project along the Burnt Fork of the Montana TU’s State very successful. The community events. Bitterroot. The chapter is actively Council meeting on May chapter is sponsoring Fishers supporting the recently announced 19, as well as its annual bull trout Joel Sartore photo two participants Rock Creek Confluence Project. fundraising banquet that Chapter President Lyle Courtnage West Slope Chapter tributaries. It is also advocating at Montana TU’s See article on page 1. Contact night. recently announced MCFF’s for responsible clean-up of the Conservation & Fly Fishing Camp [email protected]. commitment to help save Montana TU’s Conservation and Mike Horse Mine area. The board in July. BRTU also provided funding Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Flyfishing Camp would not happen recognized Stan Bradshaw’s and volunteers this spring for a Big Blackfoot Yellowstone Lake. They’ll host this July without the hard working role as an invaluable steward, riparian planting project along a program in September with volunteers from the West Slope watchdog, volunteer and attorney the lower reaches of the Burnt Chapter Dave Sweet from TU Chapter, who organize, scrounge, for TU’s Montana Water Project, by Fork. See related article, page 3. to learn more about a large-scale counsel, instruct, chaperone and Twenty years of TU restoration presenting him with the chapter’s The chapter’s Annual Banquet & YSCT restoration effort in the do most of the heavy lifting for the work on Chamberlain Creek is Mun McNulty Conservation Auction will be in Hamilton, Fri., park. Dave’s presentation covers 5-day event. See Upcoming Events, now complete, thanks to the many Award in early June. Check out the Sept. 28, 2012. The chapter will history, science and conservation page 8. WSTU members put on a partners who contributed to the chapter’s new site at Employee Contributions host Montana TU’s next State surrounding the non-native successful casting clinic in early conservation easements, planting www.bbctu.org. Council meeting on Sept. 29. spring in Missoula The chapter is lake trout’s arrival and resulting Does your company match employee now partnering with TU national’s decimation of Yellowstone contributions to nonprofits? Many cutthroat in the park. This will Casey Hackathorn on a project in Harvey Creek, an upper Clark businesses will match charitable donations MONTANA TU STEWARDSHIP DIRECTORS be part of MCFF’s fall kickoff made by their employees and retirees. Some meeting, free & open to the public, Fork River tributary. TU placed Dr. Marshall Bloom Bud Lilly Roy O’Connor fish traps in Harvey Creek and an even double the money. It’s an excellent way Hamilton, MT Clinton, MT 9/11/12, 6:30 p.m. at the Billings Three Forks, MT Neale Streeks irrigation ditch to count westslope to stretch your conservation dollars with a Great Falls, MT Rod & Gun Club, west of Logan Drs. Robert and Peggy gift to Montana TU. Monte Dolack Craig & Jackie Mathews International Airport on Rod & cutthroats and bull trout migrating Missoula, MT Ratcheson K.C. Walsh West Yellowstone, MT Hamilton, MT into the Clark Fork. Volunteers will Bozeman, MT Gun Club Road. MCFF volunteers For more information on how you can make a gift to Dr. Stanley Falkow continue to teach Billings-area help determine what percentage of Tom Morgan Paul Roos Montana TU, please contact us. Hamilton, MT and Dr. Irving Weissman those fish are being entrained and Portola Valley, CA Manhattan, MT Lincoln, MT kids how to fly fish, and have Hamilton, MT and lost in the irrigation ditch. WSTU is 111 N. Higgins, Ste. 500 Redwood City, CA expanded their program Jerry Lappier Paul Moseley Paul Stanley to include 14 schools. They’ve also also helping finance and donating Missoula, MT 59802 Craig, MT Missoula, MT Bozeman, MT and volunteer time to a restoration Toll free: 888-504-0054 or [email protected] Piedmont, CA been busy promoting trout habitat 4 Spring 2012 Spring 2012 5 AQUATIC INVASIVES (from page 1) ROCK CREEK (from page 1) the Clark Fork River and more than a mile AIS Threats to Montana by Morgan Sparks MONTANA TROUT UNLIMITED and roving roadside checks. FWP also pond, controlling weeds and restoring native of Rock Creek. has extensive monitoring efforts at Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum grassland, cottonwood and riparian habitats. Achieving the vision, however, more than 600 sites on waters across depends on Rock Creek advocates CHAPTERS spicatum) -- “Milfoil” Also being contemplated is converting a the state. FWP’s educational outreach portion of the property’s irrigation water coming together to raise an estimated & PRESIDENTS is anchored to its “Inspect. Clean. Milfoil is a non-native aquatic plant rights to in-stream flow. The confluence $2 million for purchase and restoration. that grows in dense mats on the Dry.” campaign. It also is developing partnership plans on working with locals, Opportunities like this come along very BITTER ROOT CHAPTER #80 surface of shallow portions of lakes rapid response plans for dealing the Missoula community and recreationists rarely. Join us and help permanently Cassie Buhl, Hamilton with new AIS outbreaks. Montana’s and ponds as well as in slow reaches [email protected] on a long-term public access plan that both protect the confluence of two of Montana’s 360-2080 Department of Agriculture’s role is of rivers and streams. It can impede protects Rock Creek’s blue ribbon fishery greatest waters. primarily oriented towards preventing aquatic recreation and damage aquatic BIG BLACKFOOT CHAPTER #544 ecosystems by reducing critical while allowing for public recreation and Scott Gordon, Seeley Lake the spread of noxious plants, such as For more information, contact Bruce dissolved oxygen in the water column perhaps outdoor education opportunities. [email protected] Eurasian Watermilfoil. It also helps Farling at [email protected] or Grant 677-8420 and by overwhelming habitat that is Combined with conservation easements on connect weed prevention districts to Kier at Five Valleys Land Trust at crucial for fish and macroinvertebrates. neighboring properties, the acquisition will FLATHEAD VALLEY CHAPTER #85 private landowners. The agriculture [email protected]. Chris Schustrom, Whitefish Milfoil Courtesy HCRC&D permanently protect more than two miles of department has a noxious weed Didymo (Didymospenia geminata) [email protected] 862-3440 trust fund to help fund projects. It -- “Rock Snot” also participates in boat inspections. GEORGE GRANT CHAPTER #183 Finally, Montana’s Department of Didymo is a freshwater diatom -- a Bob Olson, Butte form of algae -- that forms as a mass of [email protected] Natural Resources and Conservation 560-3791 oversees a large portion of state AIS individual cells on stalks. It can attach to structures such as rocks, sediment JOE BROOKS CHAPTER #25 funding, most of which comes from the or wood on river bottoms. Mats can Sharon Sweeny Fee, Livingston Legislature and is used for contracted [email protected] completely cover stream bottoms 579-7735 detection and control efforts. causing aesthetic, ecological, and Montana Trout Unlimited’s recreational issues. Didymo is within KOOTENAI VALLEY CHAPTER #683 immediate goal for AIS prevention Travis Lee, Kalispell its native range in Montana, but is [email protected] centers on advocating for establishment considered a nuisance species when 291-1242 of a statewide invasive species council. large blooms appear. Didymo Courtesy New Zealand DOC LEWIS & CLARK CHAPTER #656 Ideally, the council would be comprised Bill Fraser, Sheridan of individuals from agencies with AIS Zebra Mussels (Dreissena [email protected] programs, members of the general polymorpha) and Quagga Mussels 842-7442 (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) public and legislators. It would be MADISON-GALLATIN CHAPTER #24 responsible for establishing programs Dreissenid mussels are infamous for Rock Creek Mark Aagenes photo Mark Peterson, Bozeman that prevent new invasive species from [email protected] establishing in dense colonies (as many 595-1409 being established, and for ensuring as 700,000 individuals per square-meter species already here don’t spread. of surface area). They have clogged MAGIC CITY FLY FISHERS #582 Another Montana TU priority is Lyle Courtnage, Billings water intakes on power plants in the TU Memberships [email protected] helping secure a permanent trust Midwest, costing industry millions 896-1824 of dollars . Mussels also filter an fund for AIS work, potentially from a RIVER FLYFISHERS combination of industry and recreation inordinate percentage of phytoplankton Invasive mussels Courtesy USGS Need to renew or join? Sam Wike, Great Falls sources. from the water and release pollutants in Log on to www.tu.org and [email protected] 761-6623 Many of the invasive species their waste. be sure to indicate your chapter plaguing other states, with the PAT BARNES/MISSOURI VHS (Viral Hemorrhagic number, listed on the right side exception of milfoil, have yet to be RIVER CHAPTER #55 Septicemia) -- Egtved Disease of this page. Garrett Fawaz, Helena detected in Montana. Only public [email protected] 422-4426 vigilance will prevent their spread to Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia is a tay informed and help and within the state. TU members can highly contagious and fatal disease prevent the spread of To join via phone, call TU’s SNOWY MOUNTAIN CHAPTER #610 be part of the solution by supporting for fish. VHS can adversely affect least invasive species. Visit Membership Service Line Mike Chapman, Lewistown 50 fish species in the U.S. including S [email protected] establishment of a statewide AIS the Clean Angling Coalition, toll-free at 800-834-2419. 538-2517 council and trust fund. And, by making popular sport fish such as trout, a program of the Invasive it a habit to inspect, clean and dry your salmon, bass, walleye and pike. VHS Species Action Network, at WEST SLOPE CHAPTER #56 can have an 80-100 percent mortality Carey Schmidt, Missoula boats and fishing gear after a day of www.cleanangling.org. Thank you for your support. [email protected] VHS die-off Courtesy New York DEC angling. rate in some species. 360-5256 6 Spring 2012 Spring 2012 7 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID MISSOULA, MT PERMIT NO. 569

Montana Coucil of Trout Unlimited PO Box 7186 Missoula, MT 59807 THIS ISSUE: Confluence Protection Page 1 ------Bud Morris Remembered Page 2 ------Montanans v. Aquatic Invasives Page 1 ------TU Chapter Updates Page 4

Spring TROUT LINE 2012 UPCOMING EVENTS www.montanatu.org Burgers, Beer & Bluegrass Bitterroot TU’s 33rd Annual Banquet & Auction 6/30/12 5-9 p.m. at the band shell in Sacajawea Park, Livingston. 9/28/12 5 p.m. at the Bitterroot River Inn, Hamilton. Gourmet Celebrate with Joe Brooks TU on the banks of the dinner at 6:30 p.m. Event features live auctions, silent Yellowstone. Music, good food, drinks & great raffles. auctions, door prizes & raffle drawings. Reserve $50 $25 adults; $15 kids under 12. Contact Sharon at tickets with Marshall Bloom at [email protected]. 406-579-7735 or go to ticketriver.com. Montana TU’s State Council Meeting Montana TU’s Conservation & Fly Fishing Camp 9/29/12 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Hamilton, hosted by TU’s Bitterroot 7/8/12 July 8-12 at Camp Watanopa on Georgetown Lake. Still Chapter. All TU members welcome. Includes lunch. openings available. Call Kate at 406-543-0054. Details at Contact Kate for details at [email protected] or montanatu.org. 406-543-0054. Casting for Recovery Retreat at the Glacier TU Chapter Annual Reports Open 9/14/12 Outdoor Center 10/1/12 Online forms available for chapters to complete until the A free, 3-day retreat for women with any stage of breast 11/15/12 deadline. TU training available for treasurers/ cancer or recovery. July 13 application deadline. Visit chapter leaders 10/17/12. Contact Rob Keith at castingforrecovery.org for details, or contact peg. [email protected] or 703-284-9425. [email protected]. See related article, p. 3. Yellowstone Lake Native Fish Conservation Training Trout Unlimited National’s Annual Meeting 10/9/12 TU offers this free web conference to members, 6 p.m. 9/14/12 Sept. 14-16 in Asheville, N.C.. Details and registration at Mountain Time. Contact Rob Keith at [email protected] or tu.org/events. 703-284-9425.

WANT OVER 3,400 MONTANA TU MEMBERS TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR EVENT? www.facebook.com/ Contact Montana TU at 888-504-0054 or [email protected] to get the word out in Trout Line UPCOMING@montanatu montanatu