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Because there's more to fishin' than just fishin'!
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| BRTU major player in fish screens. |
For the last several years, BRTU has been working with TU National's Special Projects Manager Christine Brissette to identify opportunities to install fish screens on the West Fork above Painted Rocks and on the upper East Fork. In spite of the pandemic and all the other hassles this year, Christine has brought one of these projects to completion and the other will be finished this fall.
 Every year, tens of thousands of fish inadvertently end up in irrigation ditches. Our fish screen projects keep fish in the stream where they belong, while making sure irrigators can still access their water. In July we installed a fish screen, irrigation diversion and headgate in the Upper West Fork, working with Enhanced Forest Management out of Corvallis. The West Fork above Painted Rocks is one of the best native trout fisheries in the valley, home to migratory Bull Trout and healthy Westslope Cutthroat Trout. During construction, Bitterroot National Forest's fish biologist sampled the stream adjacent to the project and found over 30 juvenile trout, half of which were Bull Trout! These young fish are at the highest risk for ditch entrainment, and will now be protected for decades to come.
The photo on the left shows the screen being installed and the one on the right shows the screen after installation with the new headgate in the background.
There is also a great video that shows the new West Fork screen at work. Water passes over the top of screen, filtering through the corrugated panel. This screened water heads down the ditch while fish and debris are sent back to the stream through a pipe buried to left. I can't attach it to the newsletter, but if you'd like to see it send me an email, and I will forward it to you.
In October, we'll be installing another screen in the upper East Fork Bitterroot River. This ditch is known to entrain 10-12'' cutthroat trout and hundreds of fry each year and sits just below a several major spawning streams. By removing this threat, we will reconnect 43 miles of critical habitat! Jackson Contractor Group has generously stepped in to donate material and labor for the project.
Bitterroot LiDAr.
Earlier this year, BRTU E-News featured the new LiDAR map of the Bitterroot drainage that National TU Special Projects Manager Christine Brissette developed, in collaboration with Trout Unlimited and Bitterroot Chapter of Trout Unlimited. A number of people have asked me to rerun that information.
This interactive map of the Bitterroot floodplain was created with LiDAR (light detection and ranging) data, a technique that uses an aircraft-mounted laser to survey large landscapes at a very fine scale. The LiDAR survey was completed by the Ravalli County Planning Department between 2008-2013. Trout Unlimited then worked with Montana State Library to convert the survey data into an online, interactive map. The detail of LiDAR maps reveal different things to different people. In it, you can see the paths the Bitterroot River has taken in the past, where it is going and how these natural migrations of rivers and streams influence (and sometimes conflict with) human development like roads, agriculture or towns. The map reveals some really terrific information. If you focus in on places old apple orchards used to be, you can see the imprints from the trees. For trout lovers, it provides a new perspective on our favorite fishing spots, and unique blueprint for identifying and designing restoration projects. The following image basically shows the current and historic river from the level of Golf Course Road south to Lone Pine and the River Ranch "race track."
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| BRTU plans for on-line auction! |
For the last 40 years, BRTU has had a fundraiser, and for the last 20+ years this has been a fall banquet in September or October. With much regret, plans for the 41st annual event in October had to be scrapped due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The board decided it was not prudent to convene 200 or so people while community based transmission of the virus continues in Western Montana. In addition, a number of businesses, artists and craftspersons have been severely impacted, and we were reluctant to do wide scale solicitation.
After due consideration, we have decided to hold an on-line auction. The details are still being worked out. We have already secured some terrific premiums, including some very novel and unique ones! I will be teasing some of these in the future. The date had been scheduled for November 12-16, but it may have to be moved.
The on line auction will be like a virtual silent auction so that people who register will be able to bid on the items of their choice, and they will be informed when their bid is upped. And just as is the case for a regular banquet, you won't have to be a TU member to participate. And this year, supporters who live out of state or cant be in town will have the chance to participate.
The banquets have been our only fundraiser each year to support our education programs, like Bitterroot Buggers and Trout in the Classroom, as well as our conservation and restoration projects like the fish screens being installed in the West Fork and East Fork this month. So, we hope that you will continue to support us during this unusual time.
Stay tuned because more details will be forthcoming in BRTU E-newsletters.
As mentioned, we have already gotten some very cool donations. If you would like to donate a service, item, or donate cash, here is the form you can complete. If you have any questions, please contact Marshall Bloom or Jeremy Anderson. |
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Picture of the Week.
This week's picture of Painted Rocks Lake was submitted by DNRC Civil Engineering Specialist Larry Shock. The photo was taken on September 9, 2020.
Larry sent the photo and following information on September 17:
These pictures were taken on 9/10, and the reservoir is currently 6 ft. lower than these picture show. The small island that is left center of the second photo is now fully exposed, and the reservoir is still expected to drop an additional 3-4 ft by the time that the contract water releases are terminated.
Contract Water Releases
Contract releases have just about been fulfilled and will be terminated next week.
The outflows are currently about 220 cfs and are gradually expected to tail off to about 200 cfs by next week as the reservoir empties and the head pressure declines.
The inflows are currently around 90 cfs and they too are naturally declining as the summer comes to a close.
The outflows will be reduced to match the inflows with two adjustments. The first adjustment will be on Sunday September 20th , with the second adjustment coming on Wednesday September 23rd .
Exploratory Drilling
The DNRC will be conducting some minor work below the dam as we gather geotechnical information for the design of the proposed bridge across the West Fork of the Bitterroot River. The bridge will provide access to the toe of the dam for safety and maintenance purposes, and for future rehabilitation work on the dam. The bridge construction work is tentatively set to begin late summer or early fall of 2021. The bridge will be crossing the river downstream of the current boat launch area.
In order to prepare the final design of the bridge abutments, test borings will be needed on both sides of the river. Tentatively, the test bore holes will be drilled the week of September 30th. It is expected that the contractor will mobilize equipment to the boat ramp location on September 30th and drilling will begin that day and continue on October 1st.
In order to accomplish the drilling, equipment will have to ford the river at the boat launch location. To help facilitate the river crossing, the river flows will be temporarily reduced to the 50 cfs range when the equipment fords the river. After the drilling has been completed on the far side of the river, the river flows will be returned to match reservoir inflows.
Annual Dam Safety Inspection
The annual safety inspection of the dam will occur on October 14th. This will require that the outflows from the dam to be temporarily terminated for a few hours.
In preparation for the inspection, the outflows will be reduced to the 35-50 cfs range on October 13th.
After the inspection has been completed on the 14th the outflows will resume and will be set to match the inflows.
Thank you for your time in attending to this matter.
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The BRTU Puzzler.
The photos comprising this week's BRTU Puzzler were submitted by MFWP Fisheries Technician Leslie Nyce.
The photos show a gorgeous mountain valley and a very chunky rainbow that Ken caught fishing on the river there. The location is somewhere south and a little bit east of the Bitterroot Valley.
If you can successfully identify the mountain and the river, you will win the BRTU Puzzler.
Submit your entries to BRTU Puzzlemaster Marshall Bloom. If you are the first person to correctly identify the location, province and country, you will be the next BRTU Puzzler winner.
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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Upcoming events of interest.
This short block is a new feature to BRTU E-News that will mention projects and events that other local groups have scheduled. If you belong or are affiliated with another conservation group or other worthy organization, please send me the details of your upcoming event and I will post a link here.
The Bitterroot Land Trust has several upcoming events, including a virtual event to replace their annual barn dance. Read about it here. |
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Monte Dolack BRTU prints
now available at Joe's Studio.
A small number of Pubisher'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 BRTU website. Our chapter number is #080. If you have a question about your membership, please call Clayton at 406-543-0054.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemi, 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
Dr. Jeremy Anderson; President; E-mail: mtwildtrout1@gmail.com
Dave Ward; Vice-President; E-mail: dward451@comcast.net
Marissa Sowles, Secretary (acting); sowlesm@gmail.com
Keith Mullan, Treasurer; E-mail: keithcmullan@hotmail.com
BOARD MEMBERS
Donna Haglund; E-mail: haglunddonna@gmail.com
Marlin Lewis; E-mail: Lewism@hsd3.org
Shelia Bryan; E-mail: shoe6561@gmail.com
Gavin Marston (student board member)
GENERAL FACTOTUM AND NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER
Dr Trout (Marshall Bloom); E-mail: drtrout@mtbloom.net
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We're currently in the planning stages of our Annual Fall Event. This has historically been one of our biggest fundraisers of the year, and we could always use more help. To learn more about how you can volunteer, please email Rick Todd at email@constantcontact.com. . Learn More. |
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