BRTU E-News
Because there's more to fishin' than just fishin'!
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#239: Nov. 27, 2021
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This aerial photo shows the proximity of the abandoned Smurfit-Stone settling ponds to the Clark Fork River near Frenchtown. Source: Clark Fork Coalition. |
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Another Time Bomb on the Clark Fork. |
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I can never forget the first time I flew into Missoula back in the early 1970's. It was a late night milk run from Minneapolis on a Northwest Airlines Electra 225 turboprop. The approach was a corkscrew descent to the airport which was then about the size of a Town Pump gas station/mini-mart. As we began the descent the cabin filled with the nauseating smell of various sulfide compounds, including sulfuric acid and hydrogen sulfide. Longtime residents remarked that this was the redolent smell from the Hoerner Waldorf pulp mill at Frenchtown. Due to the atmospheric conditions the smell followed me up the Bitterroot valley all the way to Hamilton.
By the time of my flight, that mill in Frenchtown had been in operation almost 20 years and due to several corporate moves and expansions it was an actual Hoerner Waldorf linerboard production facility instead of simply a pulp mill. The noxious fumes had already galvanized local protests and a lawsuit from the Environmental Defense Fund. Champion bought the operation in 1977 and then sold it a few years later for several hundred million dollars to the Chicago Stone Container Corporation who merged in 1998 with Jefferson Smurfit in 1998 to become part of Smurfit-Stone Corporation. Finally in late 2009, Smurfit-Stone permanently closed the linerboard plant and since then, there have been various failed schemes proposed to repurpose the industrial site.
The site sits idle but the huge settling ponds remain unsupervised just across a berm from the Clark Fork River. These ponds contain a toxic brew of chemicals that are leaching into the river, including dioxins, PCBs, and arsenic. In 2020, MFWP issued an advisory not to consume any Clark Fork fish caught from the Bitterroot River confluence 148 miles down stream to the confluence with the Flathead River!
Missoula County's efforts to wake up the Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency have had as much effect as you might imagine. Obviously, these conglomerations of toxins and sludge are a ticking timebomb for the river and the scale of ecological disaster they pose is patent.
The Clark Fork Coalition, from whose website much of this narrative is derived, formed in the mid 1980's specifically to force some action on this issue! The area is now a proposed Superfund site, but the Coalition and others are convinced that there is sufficient evidence to merit action now.
PCBs, furans and other nasty chemicals are leaching into the Clark Fork from the old Smurfit site. Unfortunately the EPA is slow walking its response. That's why Montana's Natural Resource Damage Program is proposing a study to quantify the problem and to determine the cost of the damage to the public's river. The plan for the study is a bit technical but for those so inclined you can access it here.
Please take a moment to write a note in support of this work. Remember, it is quantity of response, not the length or eloquence of its language, that has the most impact. Comments must be received by November 26th.
Email comments to:
Brian Bartkowiak
Re: Smurfit Assessment Plan Comments
Write to:
Attn: Mr. Brian Bartkowiak
Montana Natural Resource Damage Program
P.O. Box 201425
Helena, MT 59620-1425
Re: Smurfit Assessment Plan Comments
Please note that the deadline for comment was Friday, but I think it is still worth sending a comment if you can.
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Lake Winnebago in central Wisconsin is surrounded by several cities, including Oshkosh and Fond du Lac. Source: terraprints.com. |
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A photo of a happy Wisconsin sturgeon spearer. Source: Wisconsin DNR
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The Sturgeon General Gets Caught with a Fin in the Cookie Jar!
The state of Wisconsin has a special season each year for spearing sturgeon. It is a short season with a defined quota and much of the action centers on Lake Winnebago in the central part of the state. During the season last winter, 1831 sturgeon were speared - close to the quota. These fish can get up to 12 feet long!
The season is highly regulated. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources collects eggs from some of the catch for studies on sturgeon fertility and other research. Sturgeon eggs are also highly prized as a source of rather expensive caviar and commercial processors also collect eggs for that purpose.
The DNR staff person in charge of this program is - of course - known as the Sturgeon General. A recent story told how the Sturgeon General got caught with his hand in the cookie jar - or perhaps a fin in the caviar jar. It seems that some of the "research eggs" were finding their way into expensive caviar, and some of the DNR staff were enjoying the fruits of their harvest. This is an amazing if amusing story and is definitely worth reading! Here is another local perspective from a Wisconsin paper.
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BRTU Meetings to Resume in January 2022. |
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Since this feature will contain regular updates on BRTU Meetings, the Bitterroot Buggers, and Chapter Project reminders, I am going to leave it active and update as needed. |
General meetings of Bitterroot Trout Unlimited came to an abrupt halt in the spring of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic made such gatherings unwise and frankly unsafe!
The pandemic also forced us to cancel the 2020 and 2021 annual banquets. Our online 2020 fall auction proved successful, but it just wasn't the same and the board is contemplating the best of time of year to resume having a banquet.
The BRTU Board continued to meet monthly on Zoom, and conduct chapter business, but they felt that virtual membership meetings would not be that productive or fun!
Now that the nature of the pandemic is better understood and many have received one of the extremely effective COVID-19 vaccines, we plan to start holding regular meetings in January. The current plan is to resume the meetings in January 2022 at the Hamilton Elks Club on the 3rd Thursday of the month.
The schedule for next spring is still being developed, but here is what we have so far:
- January 20, 2022 - "How does it work?: a panel on Painted Rocks Lake," featuring MFWP biologist Jason Lindstrom, River Commissioner/Dam Tender J.R. Iman, DNRC Engineer Larry Schock, and irrigator Roger Raynal.
- February 17, 2022 - "The Upper Bitterroot/West Fork Recreation Plan: status report and future prospects," Chrissy Oschell and Jason Lindstrom, MFWP
- April 21, 2022 - "What's up with President Jefferson's River?," Chris Edgington, Jefferson Watershed Project Manager, Montana TU
Conversations are also in progress about resuming Bitterroot Buggers which was another early victim of the pandemic. Watch for details on that, too. Contact Greg Chester if you'd like to help with our flagship youth program. |
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BRTU Caps Available in January!
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The BRTU caps all sold out last summer and they are no longer available at Chuck Stranahan's shop.
However, despair not. A new batch is on order and will be for sale at the January 20, 2022 meeting. They will only be available through BRTU.
Thanks to Chuck for helping us sell out so quickly!
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A recently emerged October Caddis pupa next to its shuck on a stone. I believe the photo was taken on the Lochsa. Photo courtesy Les Korcala. |
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A handful of adult and emerging October Caddis patterns tied by Les Korcala. |
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The 2 stunning pictures for this week were submitted by Les Korcala.
Les, an exceptional photographer, flytier and angler, is a regular contributor of photos for BRTU E-News. Les and his wife Cheryl live along the river down near Florence, and they always take time out from fishing to admire and photograph the environment - no matter where they are fishing.
The pair of photos for this issue of BRTU E-News are of the celebrated October Caddis (Dicosmoecus). One photo is of the natural and the other depicting Les's impeccable ties of the adult and the pupa.
The October Caddis marks western Montana’s and Idaho's last caddis hatch of the year. These juicy and beautiful flies can be upwards of 25mm long, making them the largest caddis on the Blackfoot, Bitterroot River and Clark Fork Rivers and Rock Creek. They can also provide some spectacular fishing on the Lochsa, bringing up the very large cutthroat when the weather condition are a bit overcast. The pupas will move towards the shore after emerging from the shuck, so fishing wet fly patterns, like those that Les tied, can be very effective.
The October Caddis is not really a very strong hatch, but it is fun to fish because the flies are easy to see and when the fish are on, the strikes are brisk.
Please send your photos and stories to me. Your picture might end up as the Picture of the Week! Any photos related to fishing and conservation are welcome. We prefer pictures of released fish in the water rather than in the hand, but won't turn down a great photo.
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This week's BRTU Puzzler was provided by Les Korcala.
Les has sent a photo of a small stream south of Hamilton. This stream is one of only a couple where long-lived native fresh water mussels have been identified by USFS biologist Larry Jakober. The stream also figures in the history of the Corps of Discovery, and is the location for a very early BRTU stream project.
The Puzzler is to identify the stream, the specific date that Lewis and Clark visited this location, and the name of the artist that memorialized the occasion. Send your entries to BRTU Puzzlemaster Marshall Bloom.
The first correct entry will win the BRTU Puzzler. Chuck Stranahan has generously offered a selection of his personally hand-tied flies to winners of the BRTU Puzzler.
If you have a cool fishing or conservation related photo, consider submitting it to BRTU Puzzlemaster Marshall Bloom for the BRTU Puzzler. We prefer photos of actual fish in the water rather than in the hand, but won't decline any.
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Monte Dolack BRTU prints
now available at Joe's Studio.
A small number of Publisher's Proofs of the limited edition "Bitterroot River-Lost Horse Bend" by Monte Dolack are now available at Joe's Studio. BRTU commissioned Monte Dolack in 2007 to create this iconic print of the Bitterroot River.
The remaining Publisher's Proofs are $375 and all proceeds support BRTU efforts to protect trout and streams.
Joe's Studio, a regular sponsor of our banquets, is located in Hamilton at 220 Marcus Street (961-4586, joesstudio@aol.com)
The "U" in BRTU
Unlike many groups, BTRU has no paid staff. We are an entirely volunteer organization. We are always looking for new members to get involved in projects or to join our board and assist with maintaining our focus on native fish, clean healthy streams and education. If you would like to help out, please contact BRTU Chapter President Dave Ward. We could sure use your help!
In other words, how about putting a little "U" in BRTU?
If "U" are not already a member, "U" can join TU today by going to the the BRTU website. chapter number is #080. If you have a question about your membership, please call Clayton at 406-543-0054.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BRTU board meetings are usually being held on ZOOM. They are open to all BRTU members. Date and time vary, so please contact Chapter President Dave Ward if you would like to log in and learn what is going on.
The BRTU Mission statement is "To conserve, protect, and restore the Bitterroot River and it's watershed," directly in line with the Montana TU mission statement.
For your information, here is a tabulation of our current hard-working BRTU officers and board members.
BOARD OFFICERS
Donna Haglund; Vice President; E-mail: haglunddonna@gmail.com
BOARD MEMBERS
Charlie Harris; E-mail: hmgharris@gmail.com
Vacant (student board member)
GENERAL FACTOTUM AND NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER
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