Celebrating Summer 50 years of conservation "#!$ TROUT LINE 1964 - 2014 Newsletter from the Council of Trout Unlimited Fish passage at Fact faces fiction EPA proposed rule clarifies protections under Clean Water Act by Bruce Farling Clark Fork dams he current high-profile flap about federal Clean Water Act protections. a proposed federal rule aimed at These protections include the possibility nearing reality Tclarifying what waters fall under a discharge of pollutants or stream- the jurisdiction of the federal Clean damaging activity might require a permit Water Act is a classic case of hyperbole from EPA or a state environmental over fact. It is fashionable these days agency (in our case, Montana’s to beat up federal agencies, such as Department of Environmental Quality), the Environmental Protection Agency, or, a dredge-and-fill permit from the which has formulated the rule. And as a Army Corps of Engineers. A permit consequence, posturing does not mean denial. It politicians, polluting “EPA is simply saying just means the polluter Noxon Rapids Dam on the interests and over-the-top, if you were okay with or landowner might self-styled private property the interpretation of have to maintain legal ore than 15 years in the groups are having a field the Clean Water Act water quality standards making – much longer than day opposing protections for protecting fish or Mmany thought it would take that for decades have for its first 30-plus drinking water, or, might –construction of a fish passage structure helped keep water clean years, you’ll be okay have to employ protective on the lower Clark Fork’s Cabinet Gorge and trout habitat healthy with this rule.” measures to reduce Dam, and perhaps in the future at Noxon in Montana. damage. This has been the Rapids Dam, could begin next year. That The EPA has proposed a rule to case since Congress passed the Clean is if a dispute precipitated by Montana clarify that intermittent (seasonal) and Water Act in 1972. However, the U.S. Fish, Wildlife and Parks over fish disease ephemeral (natural and flowing during Supreme Court, in split decisions in 2000 risks finally gets settled. high precipitation periods) streams, as and 2005, muddied things by issuing When Avista was awarded a 45-year well as wetlands that are hydrologically confusing rulings as to specifically what federal licenses for the dams in 1999, connected to streams, are subject to see EPA WATER RULE, page 7 see FISH PASSAGE, page 5

Partners revive Jefferson River fishery by Staff ou could say the revival of the tinkering, which provided important Jefferson River fishery started with clues on how to improve the river’s Ya guy and a shovel. True story. In fishery after years of being hammered the mid-1980s, Bruce Rehwinkel, the local by drought. The Jefferson’s flows were Montana FWP fishery biologist, started chronically low most years, stretching tinkering with a small, privately owned from the late 1980s until the project was spring creek that ran into the Jefferson formed. The twin solution: fix tributaries near Waterloo. He used a shovel to tighten and add water to the river. The kicker, up a short stretch of channel that had thankfully, was that Bruce, then retired been dished by years of grazing. And it Fast forward to 2001 when Montana from FWP, agreed to head the project turned out spawning loved TU and TU national partnered to for TU. He partnered with good friend the improved conditions, which increased the Jefferson River Restoration Ron Spoon, the state biologist now rainbow recruitment to the river. Project. Its goal: expand on Rehwinkel’s see JEFFERSON, page 6 ! Join us for Montana Trout Unlimited’s SUMMER/!$ &#th anniversary celebration MONTANA TU’S n 2013 Montana Trout Unlimited TU chapter was chartered in 1964, our is to conserve, Volunteers contributed more than official anniversary date. In the last 50- MISSION 15,870 hours of time to conserve, plus years, TU volunteers, leaders and protect and restore Montana’s world- I protect and restore Montana’s coldwater supporters have achieved much: class coldwater !sheries and their fisheries and their watersheds. They • We have the best laws for didn’t get paid, or receive a tax credit. In watersheds. recreational access to streams and most cases there was not a free lunch or rivers in the nation. a commemorative t-shirt. These hours Founded in 1964, Montana Trout • We have more wild fish and were a gift from one Unlimited is a statewide grassroots improved habitat and Montanan to another; noun \ grat·i·tude stream flows in many of organization comprised of 13 chapters these individuals tüd, - tyüd\ our best waters. and approximately 3,900 TU members. woke up feeling time : a feeling of • Thousands of young poor, like most of appreciation or thanks people -- the next us, and they decided generations of coldwater that the next generation deserves cold, www.montanatu.org conservationists -- have learned clean, fishy water, too. This largely about entomology, conservation and anonymous donation of valuable fishing—better ensuring the first 50 volunteer time by TU members has TROUT LINE is published quarterly years of TU’s work in Montana will occurred since TU’s earliest days starting by Montana Trout Unlimited. endure. in 1959 – even before Montana’s first

EDITING AND DESIGN...... BRUCE FARLING & KATE GRANT Printed on recycled paper using eco-friendly inks.

© 2014 Montana Council of Trout Unlimited.

WHEN Saturday, September 20, 2014 Please join the staff, State Council of Montana 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Trout Unlimited and many WHERE of our best supporters 29 Rock Creek Road, Clinton and previous leaders in Approximately 23 miles east of celebrating 50 years of Missoula, at the confluence of Rock Creek and the Clark Fork River. Montana TU plates are available at dedication to coldwater your county motor vehicle of!ce. conservation. Come as our QUESTIONS / RSVP guest and enjoy BBQ and Kate Grant 406-543-0054 beverages. [email protected]

RSVP by 9/11/14

" Summer "#!$ COUNCIL Darlington restoration completed MONTANA OF udos to the Madison-Gallatin Darlington was created when Chapter of TU and its partners for the Army Corps of Engineers needed TROUT UNLIMITED Krecently completing restoration a borrow source for the 12-mile-long OFFICERS of two miles of Darlington Creek, also flood berm it constructed in 1948 along known as Darlington Ditch, near the the east side of the lower Madison. DOUG HAACKE, CHAIRMAN Cobblestone Fishing Access site on Because the berm made it difficult to Billings the lower . The result (406) 656-4072 divert water from the river for irrigation, [email protected] a headgate was constructed at DAN SHORT, PAST CHAIRMAN the top of the channel, thereby AND NLC DIRECTOR creating an irrigation source Kalispell and a tributary for the river. (406) 250-5064 The combination of river water [email protected] and spring flows created year- CHRIS SCHUSTROM, VICE CHAIRMAN round flow on the lower reach of White!sh the channel. However, channel (406) 862-3440 [email protected] geometry and bank conditions have not been sufficient to BRIAN NEILSEN, SECRETARY Great Falls maintain a high-quality fishery. (406) 240-3715 Darlington Creek, June 2014 An attempt to build sinuosity on brian@!nfetchers.com is much-improved habitat on a reach a short reach of the channel occurred SHARON SWEENEY FEE, TREASURER owned by FWP that should provide in the 1980s, but it didn’t succeed in Livingston for both spawning , and improving conditions. And so, the (406) 579-7735 possibly rainbows, as well as fishing that chapter, with partners Montana FWP [email protected] could emulate a spring creek angling see DARLINGTON, page 7 DAN VERMILLION, NATIONAL TRUSTEE experience. Livingston (406) 222-0624 [email protected] Montana TU camp a success! by Kate Grant e did it again. Volunteers Flint, David Gordon, Roger Harvey, MONTANA TU STAFF donated more than 800 hours Ed Igarek, George Kesel, Larissa making Montana TU’s 2014 Lee, Bert Lindler, Ed Monnig, Chris BRUCE FARLING W EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR and Conservation Camp Nardacci, Ray Ochoa, Elmer Palmer, [email protected] a positive experience for 15 boys and Bill and Penny Ritchie, George and Cindy Stern, MARK AAGENES campers, ranging Chuck Stokke, CONSERVATION DIRECTOR [email protected] from ages 10-14, Eleanor Tinsley, caught and released Davis Waln, KELLEY WILLETT Tim Wiersum, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Mike and Carrie [email protected] aquatic insects, tied Willett, and Ray KATE GRANT their own knots, Wilms. John PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR created their own Herzer and [email protected] Terri Raugland a perch (eew!) and donate materials MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 7186 learned to cast in each year from Missoula, MT 59807 Campers learn about watersheds before wetting lines Blackfoot wind. , and Fish Wildlife OFFICE LOCATION Montana TU leases Camp and Parks 111 N. Higgins Ave., Suite 500 Watanopa on Georgetown Lake every exemptions to all participants through Missoula, MT 59802 Phone: (406) 543-0054 Program. Montana TU’s Tax ID: 23-7355289 folks are the salt of the earth: Karin see FLY FISHING CAMP, page 4 Montana Trout Unlimited ' Chapter News Pat Barnes – Chapter spent three days fishing throughout caught, and pack lake trout in ice for the The chapter sponsored one participant the watershed. Dozens of community Kalispell Food Bank. FVTU supports efforts for the Montana TU’s Fly Fishing and members and businesses donated by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Conservation CampSTOP in July. Members food, lodging and time to make the Tribes to improve survival of native fish in are working on an awareness campaign event memorable for those that serve Flathead Lake by reducing the population to encourage guides and anglers not to our country. Work to restore the of predatory lake trout there. The Tribes disturb redds. PBMRTUSMITH joined forces original stream channel has begun on netted 5,232 lake trout (with no bull with the Missouri River Flyfishers and Cottonwood Creek in partnership with trout mortality) from Flathead Lake this Trout Montana Fly Shop to oppose the the US Forest Service. Additionally, summer. That’s in addition to the 30,875 Black Butte Mine RIVERplanned in the Smith a road decommissioning and stream lake trout caught in the Spring 2014 Mack River watershed. For a free STOP SMITH crossing rehabilitation project was Days contest. The chapter also supports RIVER MINE sticker, contact Mike at completed at the South Fork of Poorman a proposed fish barrier on Akokala Creek 406-468-9330. MINECreek in early August. Projects on in Glacier National Park. Contact Larry at several other important tributaries of the 406-250-7473. Big Blackfoot Chapter Blackfoot River are underway as well. WestSlope Chapter BBCTU hosted their third annual Project Chapter Healing Waters Fly Fishing trip on the Five Valleys Land Trust held an event In July, BRTU co-hosted a special event Blackfoot River in July. Four veterans with the chapter in June to celebrate with the Bitter Root Land Trust to their partnership to conserve, protect celebrate a new conservation easement at and restore the Confluence Property at Lost Horse Bend. Artist Monte Dolack Rock Creek. Over a dozen volunteers was on hand to dedicate copies of his print from the chapter donated their time “Bitterroot River – Lost Horse Bend.” The and talents to help run Montana TU’s chapter sent two girls from the “Bitterroot Fly Fishing and Conservation Camp in Buggers” to Montana TU’s Fly Fishing July (see article, page 3). Members will and Conservation Camp this summer. join TU volunteers this th Bitterroot TU’s 35 Annual Banquet August to help reduce lake trout numbers and Auction is coming up 9/26/14 in in Swan Lake. Chapter meetings resume Hamilton. See details on page 8. 10/15/14, with a “Fishing for Tarpon” Flathead Valley Chapter presentation from Joel Dickey of Big Pine, FL. Member meetings are 7 p.m. on Several volunteers from the chapter are the third Wednesday of each month at taking shifts to help reduce non-native the Double Tree Inn in Missoula. Contact lake trout in Swan Lake this August. Ryen Neudecker, Project Manager for Jamie at 406-728-0630. BBCTU, oversees construction to restore They will join the gillnetting crew on a stream channel at Cottonwood Creek Swan Lake, help measure and record fish

FLY FISHING CAMP, from page 3 watersheds, and Dave Hagengruber Many thanks to the Trout George Kesel teaches campers Unlimited chapters that sponsored These professionals share their campers from various regions of knowledge with campers on their Vivaca Crowser from FWP expounds own time. Mike and Carrie Willett TU also received assistance from two on the differences between wild and prepare a BBQ feast for everyone on Montana hatchery trout and native and non- TU’s Wildlife Federation and the Montana Westslope Chapter. Other volunteers Girls STEM Collaborative Project. identify species. Ryan Chapin from teach campers safety basics, catch and MWF contributed through their Phil Five Valleys Land Trust illustrates release techniques, macroinvertebrate Tawney Hunters Conservation the importance of protecting habitat life cycles, river etiquette, stream and Endowment, which Montana TU used through conservation work. Deana for partial scholarships for 6 campers. DeWire with the Forest Service gives and how to identify and prevent the kids a working understanding of spread of aquatic invasive species. see FLY FISHING CAMP, page 5 $ Summer "#!$ FISH PASSAGE, from page 1 and several other very harmful viruses MONTANA TROUT UNLIMITED the result of a landmark, multi-year not detected in the Pend Oreille system. collaborative negotiation involving two Other partners in the Avista collaborative – Idaho Fish and Game, the U.S. Fish CHAPTERS states, federal agencies, TU and other conservation groups, one of the primary and Wildlife Service and the utility – do & PRESIDENTS outcomes was thought to be, if research not share the same level of concern. And an impasse resulted. Finally, after some supported it, eventual construction of BITTERROOT CHAPTER #80 fish-passage structures on one or both helpful prodding from Gov. Bullock and Ross Rademacher, Corvallis (406) 522-9816 Montana TU, the parties got together last [email protected] dams. These huge dams have blocked www.brtu.org/blog/ migration of and cutthroat winter and spring and began hammering trout from Idaho’s Lake Pend Oreille up out new fish importation rules for BIG BLACKFOOT CHAPTER #544 Montana, as well as revised protocol Scott Gordon, Seeley Lake (406) 546-8420 the Clark Fork since the 1950s. [email protected] Montana TU, TU national and the for fish movement, disease testing and www.bbctu.org Panhandle Chapter of TU in north Idaho monitoring that would allow for cautious upstream movement of fish and enable FLATHEAD VALLEY CHAPTER #85 were principals in the collaboration. All Larry Timchak, Kalispell (406) 250-7473 parties agreed to this: If research indicated construction of a passage facility to [email protected] the spawning-age bull trout and cutthroat proceed. Montana TU has participated trout that annually migrate out of Lake in the discussions. By July the parties GEORGE GRANT CHAPTER #183 Pend Oreille and huddle below Cabinet were close on most points, and close to Rich Day, Butte (406) 723-2307 an accord that will in the least facilitate [email protected] Gorge dam originated in Montana tributaries above the structure, then a free, or volitional, movement of bull trout above Cabinet Gorge dam. The bull trout JOE BROOKS CHAPTER #25 fish ladder, elevator or trap-system would Amy Schilling, Livingston (406) 223-2244 be constructed. Telemetry and genetics could then be trapped, if necessary, to be [email protected] research over the last 10 years indicate that hauled above Noxon dam. That would indeed fish below Cabinet Gorge try to then enable the fish to swim further KOOTENAI VALLEY CHAPTER #683 return to natal waters in Montana. upstream through the new fish ladder at Tim Linehan, Troy (406) 295-4872 linehan@!shmontana.com However, despite years of PPL’s Thompson Falls dam. experimental trapping and hauling For now, a draft agreement allows LEWIS & CLARK CHAPTER #656 that moved bull trout above the for cutthroat movement into tributaries PO Box 903 above Cabinet Gorge, but movement Sheridan, MT 59749 dam, Montana FWP staff in Kalispell www.lctu.org concluded two years ago that moving further above, as well as construction fish above Cabinet Gorge would now of a permanent passage structure at MADISON-GALLATIN CHAPTER #24 Mark Peterson, Bozeman (406) 595-1409 present too much risk to the Clark Fork Noxon Dam, await additional study and [email protected] fishery in Montana. FWP expressed negotiation. www.mgtu.org With some luck, native fish that concern that fish diseases not detected MAGIC CITY FLY FISHERS #582 at all, or at least recently, in Montana once swam unimpeded from Lake Pend Lyle Courtnage, Billings (406) 671-0572 might be present in fish that could move Oreille up the Clark Fork to the Flathead [email protected] above the lower river dams. The diseases River, and even to Missoula and above, include one virus found in could soon reoccupy their historical MISSOURI RIVER FLYFISHERS – but no other fish – below the dam, neighborhoods. Paul Considine, Great Falls (406) 595-7460 [email protected] pc FLY FISHING CAMP, from page 4 PAT BARNES/MISSOURI RIVER CHAPTER #55 Garrett Fawaz, Helena (406) 422-4426 [email protected] Math) covered tuition for this year’s female campers. These generous SNOWY MOUNTAIN CHAPTER #610 groups made it possible for many of the Mike Chapman, Lewistown (406) 538-2517 [email protected] burdening their families. WEST SLOPE CHAPTER #56 Montana TU’s next Fly Fishing Happy campers outside the “Girls’ Cabin” Jamie Short, Missoula (406) 728-0630 and Conservation Camp is scheduled [email protected] volunteer, watch for details at for July 12-16, 2015. If you know of a www.montanatu.org starting potential camper, or wish to donate or January 2015. Montana Trout Unlimited & JEFFERSON, from page 1 helped craft a drought responsible for the Jefferson. They proved management plan that to be an extraordinarily effective team. enabled irrigators to Today the result is achievement of voluntarily reduce diversions what Bruce predicted back in 2001 but when the river got low and few believed could be done for the hard- hot, as long as anglers agreed hit river: Create a fishery with more than to reduce their pressure on a thousand catchable wild trout per mile. the fishery during these times. In the early 2000s, the numbers in the The strategy has provided Waterloo reach were around 288 fish per important survival flows mile. The goal seemed unattainable. But for fish and wildlife during not only was the goal achieved, it has been low-flow years. Many local Jefferson River, April 2001 image courtesy drought.mt.gov exceeded. This year’s population sampling ranchers made it happen, in the same reach – which is a reference especially council Chairman Gary Nelson, flows from leaky canals don’t improve river point for the upper river – indicated there Bob “Peachy” Lombardi, Mark Franich, Joe flows significantly. are about 285 brown trout per mile, and Schlemmer, Dean Hunt and John Kountz. There were other indispensable folks another 929 rainbows, totaling 1,214 fish Working with Ron and Bruce, these guys involved, including former TU national per mile. began to claim ownership of the Jefferson staffer Whit Fosburgh who, in the early Now that’s effective fishery restoration. River revival. They have been solid partners. days believed in the project enough, and Bruce and Ron have had Bruce and Ron then went to the people involved, that he found money lots of help. Landowners like Willow Springs Creek, and nearby to keep it going. He had a lot of help from Alan and Dolly Carroll chipped Parsons Slough, and improved the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in. Back in the 1990s they more damaged channel. They and conservation-minded contributors like let Ron, with funding from a fenced out livestock. Spawning the owners of the Ruby Springs Fishing number of sources including returns rose dramatically. They lodge on the . Montana TU TU, revamp their irrigation put together additional projects and local chapters chipped in with money, system. Flood irrigation was in other streams, including and helped ensure important sources of converted to more efficient Fish Creek, Antelope Creek and restoration funding stayed whole. The Sappington Spring Creek. They sprinklers, and a fish screen was Bruce Rehwinkel Orvis Company provided a matching fund installed at their diversion on constructed a fish ladder on the of $50,000 early on as seed money. The Hells Canyon Creek, eliminating the loss of Boulder River, and revamped another investment has been rewarded. thousands of young rainbows that would structure called the Kurnow Overflow, to The end result is a much-improved end up in ditches. The Carrolls then leased reduce fish entrainment in a ditch. Bruce fishery on one of Montana’s signature the water they saved to FWP to keep it in the experimented with a ditch sealant on one rivers. The key will be sustaining it so creek. The rainbow numbers in that reach of of the huge irrigation canals, in an attempt that the results of the hard work of Bruce the Jefferson increased almost immediately. to reduce leaks so that more water could Rehwinkel, Ron Spoon and all the other Working with the Jefferson River be saved at the headgate. He contracted for contributors endure. Watershed Committee, Ron and Bruce a study that determined irrigation return Your support matters. Please contribute to Montana TU. Montana TU gratefully accepts gifts of cash, checks and Your tax-deductible donation supports Montana TU’s securities. Credit card donations can be made online at conservation work and professional advocacy throughout www.montanatu.org, or by calling Kelley Willett toll- free at 888-504-0054. Gifts can be sent to Montana TU such as restoration projects, education or advocacy, you at P.O. Box 7186, Missoula, MT 59807. can do so using one of our established funds. Please contact Kelley Willett or Bruce Farling toll free at 888-504-0054 or Montana’s trout waters now and after you are gone. [email protected]. Options include bequests, gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts and contributions to Montana TU’s permanent endowment. Please keep us in mind when you create or update your estate plan. Missoula. Montana TU’s Tax ID # is 23-7355289.

( Summer "#!$ EPA WATER RULE, from page 1 Farm Bureau Federation and developers waters were protected. Some, including who want to bury streams and wetlands agency regulators, interpreted the rulings – are distorting the issue. They say the Take action now to mean seasonal- rule will require

flowing streams and ranchers to http://ww2.epa.gov/uswaters wetlands not directly get permits to connected on the use irrigation surface to a river ditches, or they delegation today and tell them you support the were not protected. won’t be able to spray weeds, or economy – and it does so by not adding any But that’s not what new burdens to agricultural producers or other do any number industries. Congress intended. of activities they Now after did without years of confusion regulation before [email protected] and uncertainty the Supreme for developers Court ruled. and landowners, EPA has written a rule Notably, some of these folks were the clarifying that intermittent streams very interests asking EPA for clarification and some wetlands indeed, as Congress in the first place. Their opposition is ill- and thank them for opposing legislation intended, fall under the jurisdiction of founded. that would scuttle the common sense rule the Clean Water Act. That’s how it was for The rule is needed to ensure years until the Supreme Court inserted intermittent streams, which are addresses are: itself. Basically, EPA is simply saying if you headwater sources for drinking water, www.tester.gov/?p=email_senator were okay with the interpretation of the irrigation and fisheries, are protected. www.walsh.senate.gov/contact.cfm Clean Water Act for its first 30-plus years, Intermittent streams are crucial you’ll be okay with this rule. Included in spawning and rearing waters for many the original interpretation were a slew Montana fish species, including cutthroat and clean water by dropping his opposition to of exemptions for agricultural activities. trout and prairie fishes, in many of our the rule. Contact him at: These exemptions are clarified further in watersheds. The new EPA rule will help daines.house.gov/e-mail-me1. the new rule. Unfortunately, politically protect these fish and the values they motivated opponents – including Montana produce for Montanans. For more information, contact Montana TU: [email protected] or legislators, chambers of commerce, [email protected]. Congressman Steve Daines, the Montana

DARLINGTON, from page 3 complexes are much friendlier for trout. Missouri-Madison dam projects (and with With some monitoring and tweaking, it minimum bureaucracy!). Special thanks go and PPL Montana, invested in creating will only get better over time. to Buddy Drake, long-time TU volunteer more natural width-to-depth conditions Besides the Madison-Gallatin TU and fishery biologist, who helped with the while increasing velocities so that sediment Chapter’s major investment in the project, contracting and made sure the project went moves through the system better and keeps thanks go to FWP for helping steer the smoothly. gravel scoured. Willows are already moving project, and PPL for supporting it with in and overhead cover and pool-to-riffle $50,000 from its mitigation fund for its MONTANA TU STEWARDSHIP DIRECTORS Paul Moseley Dr. Marshall Bloom Bud Lilly Paul Stanley Missoula, MT Hamilton, MT Bozeman, MT and Three Forks, MT Piedmont, CA Roy O’Connor Monte Dolack Clinton, MT Missoula, MT Tom Morgan Manhattan, MT K.C. Walsh Bozeman, MT Dr. Stanley Falkow Paul Roos Drs. Robert and Peggy Lincoln, MT Hamilton, MT and Dr. Irving Weissman Portola Valley, CA Ratcheson Hamilton, MT and Hamilton, MT Craig & Jackie Mathews Jerry Lappier Redwood City, CA West Yellowstone, MT Craig, MT Montana Trout Unlimited ) NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID MISSOULA, MT PERMIT NO. 569

Montana Coucil of Trout Unlimited PO BOX )!*( MISSOULA, MT &+*#) THIS ISSUE: EPA proposes rule to clarify Clean Water Act Page 1 ------Jefferson River revival Page 1 ------50th anniversary celebration, chapter news, Darlington Creek and more Pages 2-7

Summer TROUT LINE "#!$

UPCOMING EVENTS www.montanatu.org */"'/!$ Madison River Cleanup +/"(/!$ Bitterroot TU’s 35th Annual Banquet and Auction Organized by TU’s Madison-Gallatin Chapter. Meet 12:30 p.m.at the 5 p.m. at the Bitterroot River Inn, 139 Bitterroot Place Drive in Trapper Springs Pavilion. Contact chapter president Mark Peterson at Hamilton. Featuring suds from Bitterroot Brewery and gourmet [email protected] or 406-595-1409. organic dinner by Riversong Catering. Event includes live and silent auctions, door prizes, raf"es and awards. Contact Ross at +/'/!$ Trout Unlimited Annual Meeting [email protected] or Marshall at [email protected]. Sept. 3-7 in Santa Fe., NM at the Eldorado Hotel & Spa. Workshops, conference activities, conservation tour, banquet and hosted !shing. !#/!/!$ Pint Night with WestSlope TU Chapter Details and registration at www.tu.org under “get involved.” 5-8 p.m. at Brewing Company, 6201 Brewery Way in Lolo. The brewery will donate $1 for every pint sold to Westslope TU. Montana TU State Council Meeting and Celebration +/"#/!$ Join Montana’s past, present and future TU volunteer leaders in Missoula to celebrate 50 years of conservation. The quarterly State Council meeting !#/!&/!$ Embrace-a-Stream Grant Application Training is open to all TU members 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Party at the con"uence or 6 p.m. webinar with national TU staff. Contact Jeff Yates at Rock Cr. and Clark Fork River, 4-7 p.m. See details, p. 2. [email protected] to register. Wild Trout Symposium IX !#/!&/!$ Final day to submit Chapter Mini-Grant request +/""/!$ Sept. 22-25 at the Holiday Inn in West Yellowstone. This conference on Appllications for TU chapters in Montana available at wild trout science, philosophy and management is open to the public. www.montanatu.org under “Who We Are. / Chapters.” Contact Kate Registration and details at www.wildtroutsymposium.com. Grant at [email protected]. Monthly membership meetings traditionally start back up in September and October, so check your local paper or chapter’s Facebook page, website or newsletter to stay active in your watershed!

WANT OVER ',+## MONTANA TU MEMBERS TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR EVENT? www.facebook.com/ Please contact us at 406-543-0054 or [email protected] to get the word out in Trout Line @montanatu montanatu *