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#233: Sept. 19, 2021
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New Zealand Mudsnails found in Mitchell Slough
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The Montana Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Dashboard. The site, which is updated frequently, shows sampling sites for both plant and invertebrate AIS across the state. The cool site can be manipulated to home in on specific locations. The very recent identifications in the Bitterroot do not appear to be on this dashboard yet. Source: MFWP
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2020 map showing location of invertebrate AIS in Montana. The purple dot near Hamilton denotes the hatchery which harbored snails and was subsequently disinfected. The 2021 NZ mudsnail identifications in the Bitterroot are not shown on this 2020 dashboard. Source: MFWP
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A couple of New Zealand mudsnails adorn a dime. In spite of their small size, these invertebrate AIS can wreak considerable havoc in streams, irrigation diversions and municipal systems.
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This graphic depicts the specific actions that anglers can take to stop the spread of AIS like mudsnails. Source MFWP AIS
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As if low water, high temperatures, and dead fish were insufficient bad news for the Bitterroot River system, BRTU has learned that the invertebrate Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) New Zealand Mudsnails have recently been identified in a tributary/channel of the river. Official reports should surface in the media in the next few days.
MFWP informed Montana TU that the mudsnails were identified after sampling of Mitchell Slough at Victor Crossing and Bell Crossing. No mudsnails were identified in the river itself or on the Teller Wildlife Refuge, and the adjacent landowners have been informed.
Thus, the Bitterroot likely has the distinction of being the first location in the Columbia River system in Montana to be infested with these little nasties. Mudsnails were identified several years ago in a private fish hatchery near Hamilton, but that infestation was disinfected and there does not appear to be related to the new finding.
New Zealand mudsnails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) are one of several kinds of aquatic invertebrate AIS. First found in the Madison in the 1990's, the tiny crustaceans can achieve sufficient density on the streambottom to disturb the ecology, and can form collections that interfere with irrigation systems or municipal water systems. Once identified, they are almost impossible to eradicate and very expensive to deal with. Their ability to spread is well less understood, but they are a serious concern.
The State has a very aggressive program to identify AIS like mudsnails, zebra mussels and quagga mussels. Readers have likely noted the boat inspection stations as they drive around the state. Ominously, the frequency of positive detections is increasing.
Montana TU Executive Director David Brooks informed BRTU about the snails in an email and said "FWP AIS Bureau Chief Tom Woolf called to tell me that they've now been detected in Mitchell Slough. No surface water connection has been identified between the hatchery and the slough and the hatchery was cleaned follow its detection, so FWP does not think the slough detection is from the downstream movement of snails. Instead, it is likely a result of NZ mudsnails hitching a ride on some sort of watercraft, fishing gear or other equipment that someone moved from an infested waterbody to the Bitterroot in or above the slough. These critters are very good and stealthy at attaching to things and being transported. They don't move on their own to any meaningful degree.... NZ mud snails can survive ingestion by birds or fish, as well as survive being out of the water for weeks. If anglers are in water with these critters and don't clean, drain and dry gear afterwards, there's a high risk of spread them."
In other words, there are a number of ways the the mudsnails might have arrived in the valley. The snails do not move on their own and must be transported by things like boats, birds, or boots! Anglers can play a role in the spread of this and other AIS, but we can also play a role in stopping their spread. The mantra is Clean. Drain. Dry. and you can learn how to help here.
Or you can call the FWP Aquatic Invasive Species Bureau at 406-444-2440.
Mitchell Slough is a small spring creek-like tributary of the river that runs through private land on the east side. It was the centerpiece some years ago of an unfortunate controversy over stream access that pitted a number of prominent conservation minded out-of-state landowners against public access advocates. The controversy played out in the courts, and it was concluded that the Mitchell Slough was part of the Bitterroot and fell under Montana's Stream Access Law. Michael Howell, a key player in the very extended affair, has published a personal history "Saving the Mitchell." Copies of the book are available through Chapter One Book Store in Hamilton.
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Selling Georgetown Lake?
If you eavesdrop on a conversation about fishing in the Bitterroot, chances are good that you will hear Georgetown Lake mentioned. Bitterrooters will load up their boats, kayaks or float tubes to travel over Skalkaho pass to Phillipsburg, then turn south up Flint Creek until they pass the dam and arrive at the lovely and exceedingly productive 3700 acres lake at about 6400 feet elevation. The lake was created for hydropower in the late 19th century but it now is a year long recreational destination. The lake, which is relatively shallow and quite weedy, supports a trophy fishery that is exceedingly popular year-round.
The lake is dotted with private development and there are a few highly prized public access sites, like the 362 acre Stuart Mill Bay Fishing Access Site (FAS). In 2003, funds from the Natural Resource Damage Program were used to purchase the property and the public access that the site provides is fiercely guarded by sportsmen.
So, an outcry and controversy from the recreating public should have come as no surprise when MFWP announced plans to sell a small portion of the FAS so that an adjacent landowner can improve his driveway. Chris Marchion, a Board Member of the Montana Wildlife Federation who is also an inductee of the prestigious Montana Outdoor Hall of Fame and a long-time member of the Anaconda Sportsmen Club, voiced the opinion of many when he complained that the sale of public land was being proposed to benefit a single private landowner, and that the interests of the public were not being taken into account.
Marchion is quoted in the news article as saying "Is the department going to stand up for public access to protect our public lands?...To me, that is really what’s disturbing about this case.” The fact that the landowner family is deeply embedded in the Anaconda community and members of several conservation groups, including Trout Unlimited and the Anaconda Sportsmens Club, did not appear to sway the opponents of the sale, who recommend that the issue go back to the drawing board.
Public comment about the proposed sale can be emailed to Sharon Rose at shrose@mt.gov and must be received by FWP by Sept. 30. You can review MFWP's draft environmental assessment about the project here.
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An IED on the Jefferson!
The IED was spotted on a training exercise on the Jefferson River by the Gallatin County Search and Rescue group. This and another nearby access site were closed by MFWP wardens. A, ordinance disposal team from Malmstrom Air Force base was called into detonate the pipe bomb. The access sites were soon reopened after a search revealed no other explosives.
MFWP has cautioned recreationists to be cautious when picking up items that appear to have been discarded. The news reports do not mention possible perpetrators and an investigation is ongoing.
I have not been able to find any follow up articles.
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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.
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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 Edginton, 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.
Sadly, one tradition that we will not be able to restart are the terrific dinners at Spice of Life before our chapter meetings. Long time BRTU supporter Karen Suennen had to close Spice in the early stages of the pandemic, and that closure became permanent. This has left a huge gap in the culinary and social milieu of the valley.
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BRTU Caps and Drybags!
These cool items have sold out, but are being reordered. As soon as they are available, I will post it.
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At long last and just in time for the 2021 fishing season, the new BRTU caps and drybags have arrived.
BRTU President Dave Ward reports that the new BRTU soft cotton caps are now available in 5 pleasing colors.
As you can see from inspecting our professional models, one size fits all. However, we were unable to perfect a canine version.
Included with each hat is a small Montana TU dry bag. The size is perfect for stashing your lunch and phone in the boat.
The price for a hat and a bag is just $20.
The hats may be viewed and purchased at Chuck Stranahan’ s Fly Shop in the Safeway parking lot in Hamilton. Supplies are limited, so don't wait too long!
Chuck has made it very easy! You can pay for your cap and drybag at his shop with cash, check or credit card.
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This week's picture was submitted by my friend Kaci Van Dalen who lives in Colorado.
Stacey, her husband and their 13 year old daughter Annika were night fishing on the Taylor River near Gunnison, Colorado. The river is a tributary of the Gunnison River and supports a trophy tailwater stretch.
Annika was using an #18 Red Copper John down to a Mysis Shrimp when she nailed this lovely brown trout. Kaci noted that the particular spot is aptly called the "hog trough."
Kaci says that they caught 20-30 trout of this and larger size, and it got so stupid that they stopped taking pictures. "Scott’s highlight was just watching Annika reel them in, anyway," Kaci told me. I would say from the look on Annika's face that she has the fever now!
Please send your photos and stories to me. Your picture might end up as the Picture of the Week!
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No correct answers to this Puzzler yet, so here is a hint. The location is not far from where Old Ephraim spent some time this past summer.
This week's BRTU Puzzler was submitted by my peripatetic friend Seth Cooley. Seth took the picture a couple of weeks ago on a hike where he also did some fishing.
These dramatic falls are about 5-6 miles up the trail, but you have to do a bit of off trail scrambling to get a view this good. There is also a nice pool at the foot of the falls that might hold some fish, but it sounds to me like even Spiderman might have a challenge getting there.
The BRTU Puzzler is to name the falls and the precise location where they are located. Please send your entry to BRTU Puzzlemaster Marshall Bloom. The first correct entry will be the winner of this week's Puzzler.
Chuck Stranahan has generously offered a prize of hand tied flies to all winners of the BRTU Puzzler. The winner will be able to claim his prize of hand-tied trout flies by contacting Chuck. Thanks to Chuck for sponsoring 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, 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
Gavin Marston (student board member)
GENERAL FACTOTUM AND NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER
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