BRTU E-News
Because there's more to fishin' than just fishin'!
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#237: Nov. 7, 2021
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Status of the Smith River Mine.
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A typical afternoon vista floating the Smith River in a good water year. The scenery, geology, petroglyphs, wildlife and fishing make a trip down the Smith a highly sought and uniquely Montana experience.
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A good example of the mine drainage left by an abandoned mine that had promised a clean environment and good jobs! A recurring story!
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A multi-day float trip down the Smith River between Camp Baker and Eden Bridge is thought by many to be the most iconic fishing experience in Montana. A permit system helps regulate the traffic and provide a modicum of solitude. And recent requirements are designed to reduce human waste problems and conflicts with the Smith's athletic black bear populations, which learned that a camp of unwitting anglers presents a smorgasbord of easy vittles.
Of course, in severe drought years like 2021, the floating season can come to an abrupt and very early stop in mid-June when the water is too low to float a size 14 stimulator, much less a 14 foot Sotar. Climate predictions suggest that years with warm water, low flows and short float seasons will occur more often, but the Smith faces an even more certain existential threat; the Black Butte Copper Mine currently in early phases of roadbuilding and construction near the upper reaches of Sheep Creek, an important headwater tributary of the Smith.
Terms like viable, responsible, commitment to the community, and environmental protection adorn the webpage, billboards, ads and fliers, but seasoned Montanans recognize this old bait and switch tactic that has been a bromide and siren song of mine proponents for more than 100 years. So what's the status of the mine?
In the summer of 2020 after the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued a hard rock mining permit to the Australian Sandfire Resources, a coalition of National TU, Montana TU, Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC), American Rivers, and Earthworks took DEQ to court. The coalition's analysis indicated that the Environmental Impact Statement was deficient and didn't offer sufficient safeguards for the environment in general and the river in particular. There was a hearing last summer in White Sulphur Springs, and all parties now await the judge's order.
The scope of this mine is really huge and the aggregate mining claims amount to more than 2000 acres and a reach 12 miles long, presaging a project that go on for 50 years! Regrettably, Montana government seems to be reverting to times where killing a goose that lays the golden eggs seems like a sound approach to economic development.
Montana TU and MEIC are committed to protecting to the Smith, and sending Sandfire back to the billabongs and kangaroos. It's going to take the kind of dogged long-term commitment that Montana TU and MEIC are known for. This type of tenacity was able to stop a gold mine with cyanide leach pads on the Blackfoot River and it will take a similar sustained effort this time.
The Save Our Smith website has a lot of good information, bumper stickers and ways that you can help stop this atrocity. The Montana TU website has a terrific video. So, please take a minute or 2 to get better informed on this topic and help us out.
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A simplified map showing the additional lands that the BCSA would protect, and how critical they are to watershed protection for the Blackfoot. Source: Wild Montana
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Signed copies of John Norman Maclean's new book Home Waters are available at Chapter One Book Store in Hamilton.
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John Maclean speaks out for the Blackfoot!
Norman Maclean's exquisite 1976 novella A River Runs Through It and the 1992 movie based on the story had an almost unimaginable impact on flyfishing in Montana and made the Blackfoot River a household name. Between the early 20th century years that Maclean wrote about and the time his book was published in 1976, the river and its trout were hammered and degraded by a series of abuses, including over-logging and mining in the headwaters. The river would run chocolate during high water and leaking mine wastes depopulated fish in much of the stream.
By the start of the 21st century, extensive efforts by the Big Blackfoot Chapter of TU, concerned landowners, conservation minded outfitters like the late Paul Roos, artists like Monte Dolack and others had restored the river to one of the best fisheries in Western Montana. Although Norman Maclean died in August of 1990, his son John Norman Maclean maintained a watchful eye on the river, the fish, the Maclean family cabin on Seely Lake, and the surrounding environment. A journalist and author of several important books on wildland fires, John published "Home Waters - a Chronicle of Family and a River" earlier this year to wide acclaim and considerable success. In addition to an intimate view of his family's history and links to the Blackfoot, John's passion for the river, the fish and the landscape rings loud and clear.
So it should be no surprise that John has come out forcefully for Senator Jon Tester's Blackfoot-Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA). As described in this informative piece by Wild Montana, the scope of that act would protect the 4 key headwater streams of the Blackfoot River and expand the Bob Marshall, Lincoln-Scapegoat and Mission Mountain by about 80,000 acres. It would, in addition, enhance recreational opportunities and protect habitat for lynx, grizzly bears, elk and other wildlife, as well native trout species.
Sound like a good idea? Well, according to a 2020 survey 75% of Montanans surveyed thought so. Smooth sailing, right? Not quite. Unfortunately, Senator Steve Daines refuses to support the BCSA, holding it hostage to another unrelated piece of legislation. John Maclean calls him out, saying
"I'd like to send a personal message to Senator Daines, who has personally held this up for a very long time. My family goes back over a century in this state. The Stewardship Act is supported by 75% of the people of Montana. It's good for the people. It's good for the fish. It's good for the river. Why isn't it good for Congress? Why isn't it good for you Senator Daines? Why isn't it good for you? It is time to pass the Act."
If you'd like to learn more why John Maclean is so impassioned on this bill or send Senator Daines a message to support the BCSA, details can be found here.
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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 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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This week's picture was submitted by Dave Homma.
Dave caught this bruiser of a fall chinook salmon in early October in Tillamook Bay, Oregon. Dave is an avid flyfisherman but admits that he was trolling with spinners on this very successful outing.
Please send your photos and stories to me. Your picture might end up as the Picture of the Week! 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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There have been a couple of guesses on this BRTU Puzzler, no correct ones yet. So, I will leave it active until the next newsletter. Another hint is that these AIS were not native to South America.
This week's BRTU Puzzler was submitted by an anonymous reader.
BRTU E-News has reported on a number of invertebrate Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) that are showing up in spite of diligent preventive efforts. In fact, a recent issue announced that New Zealand mud snails had been identified in Mitchell Slough, a tributary of the Bitterroot, and we have not been able to yet confirm their presence in another location on the West Fork.
This week's BRTU Puzzler is another AIS. The photo was taken somewhere south of the Hamilton wastewater treatment plant. To win this week's contest, please provide the name of the AIS, the location where it was found, what this makes so ominous, and the likely source of the invader.
And if you ever see something suspicious of an AIS in the river, a ditch, a tributary or pond, please send me the precise location and a photo so we can relay the information to the MFWP AIS bureau and try to track it down.
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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