BRTU E-News
Because there's more to fishin' than just fishin'!
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January 24, 2021
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Mike Horse Mine restoration!
Nestled in the headwaters of the Blackfoot River drainage east of Lincoln are Mike Horse and Beartrap Creeks. In the late 19th century, a lead and zinc mining operation was started in the Mike Horse drainage, and was expanded so that in 1938 the Mike Horse Mining and Milling Company leased the mine. They built an 150 tons/day flotation mill, and then constructed a 6 story high dam across Beartrap Creek to contain the mine tailings.
What could possibly go wrong here, right?
In 1975, the dam was partially destroyed by heavy rains and high water, releasing a torrent of the contaminated tailings into the headwaters of the Blackfoot River for about 10 miles downstream. This led to significant impacts on aquatic life and put the hurt on cutthroat, bull trout and other fish populations.
After decades of legal wrangling, the US Forest Service and the State of Montana jawboned a multi-million dollar settlement with ASARCO and Arco to coordinate a cleanup and move all the poisoned soils to a "safe" repository where they would not threaten the river again.
Actual reclamation work and dam removal began in 2014. About 1 million cubic yards of contaminated tailings and old mine waste were relocated and the dam was removed. You can read a detailed overview here.
On January 21 - a mere 45 years after the disaster-, Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MTDEQ) announced that the cleanup was virtually complete and that the area was open for recreation again. The Blackfoot Challenge plans to install a self-guided natural resources tour of the area that will include the deadly mining legacy. Both KPAX and Montana Public Radio had nice stories on this project.
This oft repeated story about a mine with a relatively short life span that leaves a generations long legacy of pollution, environmental destruction, and expensive remediation is a cautionary tale. So when the city slickers come to town touting all the benefits of a new mine, like the one in the Smith River drainage, remember that the benefits are transient, but the impacts can last forever!
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The Montanan's Fishing Guide.
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To say that fishing has changed over the decades in the Bitterroot and everywhere else in Montana is an understatement of outrageous proportions.
One way to get a feel for the changes is to read books and articles from by-gone years. Recently a friend gave me a window into the "old days." It was a copy of the first edition of Dick Konizeski's "The Original and Only Montanan's Fishing Guide," which "tells where to go and where to get em." It sold for $1.95. Konizeski updated this several times and the compendium got bigger and bigger. In this first edition, the only river described that is east of the Continental Divide is the Big Hole.
Each drainage had an introductory overview, and then briefer descriptions of the various reaches, tributaries and lakes in each watershed.
The section on the Bitterroot was written by someone named Lyle Johnson from Missoula, who was clearly a hardware and bait angler. Here is Mr. Johnson's overview of the Bitterroot which barely sounds like the river with which we are familiar. I am not including the blubs of the tributaries and lakes, but, based on the descriptions, it seems clear to me that the writer did not visit all the places he wrote about. If anyone knows anything about Lyle Johnson, please let me know.
My plan is to present photos and descriptions from this first edition in future newsletters.
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This week's picture is one of Monte Dolack's pieces of art dating from 1991. The particular image is a print, but the print was made from a limited edition lithograph of the same image. I am lucky to have one of the original run of lithographs.
The title is "Big Fish, Small Pond," and like many of Monte's pieces, at first glance it is very whimsical. The image is of a large trout jumping out of a bathtub to catch an insect. Several ducks, including a yellow rubber ducky, are in the bathroom as are a frog, a snake, a salamander, and a turtle; all in front of a landscape-themed shower curtain.
However, there is a very serious message in this amusing piece of art, as there is in so much of Monte's work. The survival of all the critters in this scene are dependent on human activities and it is people that will control their destinies. If the water is shut off and bathtub plug is yanked, all these animals that depend on a healthy aquatic environment are in serious trouble.
Monte has been a strong supporter of TU and especially BRTU for more than 30 years. Our chapter had the privilege of working with Monte in 2007 to design and publish "Bitterroot River- Lost Horse Bend," which you can read about a couple of articles down. That print turned out to be extremely popular, and there are now fewer than a 1/2 dozen left. Monte is itching to do another one with BRTU, and it is an intriguing idea.
Monte and many of the other outstanding artists that BRTU works with provide some of the most important advocacy for our natural world and resource protection. It is not simply a bromide that "a picture is worth a thousand words."
You can view all of Monte's artwork at his terrific website. My house almost looks a gallery of his work!
Please send any photos of fishing, fish or other cool stuff to me. I will try to include them in the BRTU Picture of the Week spot.
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This puzzler is proving to be a real doozy. I have had a number of entries, but so far noone has correctly identified the fly or the materials. We'll give it until the next issue of BRTU E-News.
This week's BRTU Puzzler was submitted by the indefatigable Les Korcala. The puzzle is an unusual trout fly.
To win the Puzzler, you must guess the name of this fly and all the materials used to dress it.
Chuck Stranahan has generously offered a prize to all winners of the BRTU Puzzler. The winner will be able to can claim a prize of hand-tied trout flies by contacting Chuck.
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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 Jeremy Anderson. 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 now being held virtually on ZOOM. They are open to all BRTU members. Date and time vary, so please contact Jeremy. 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
BOARD MEMBERS
Gavin Marston (student board member)
GENERAL FACTOTUM AND NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER
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