BRTU E-News
Because there's more to fishin' than just fishin'!
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#241: Dec. 19, 2021
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These are the trout fry in Andrew Shulstad's classroom at Darby High School. They'll stay in the net until they all come up for the food, then comes the critical aspect of monitoring water quality in the tank as the fish develop and mature. Thanks to donors like you, we were able to expand Trout in the Classroom to Darby and Florence this year. |
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A group of Bitterroot Buggers learn what makes a good fly from BRTU Past President Doug Nation. Your donation will help us keep the Buggers going. |
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Help BRTU Help the Trout: There's still time! |
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Dear members and friends of Bitterroot Trout Unlimited:
In spite of the pandemic, our chapter has accomplished a great deal in 2020 and 2021. We are planning to expand projects and activities so that we can do even more in 2022.
Featured projects include:
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Trout in the Classroom. You've seen some of the photos in our BRTU E-Newsletters. We now have four high schools in the Bitterroot Valley that are actively engaged in the program. We want to expand the program to six or more classrooms in 2022.
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Bitterroot Buggers program. Once again, we will be doing our flagship Buggers program where we teach young men and women the basics of fly tying, casting, and fishing. They can all leave the program with a nice fly rod outfit. More details in the story below.
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Stream improvement projects. We successfully completed a major improvement project at the West Fork Fishing Access Site in conjunction with the Bitterroot National Forest, as well as a stream project on a ranch east of Hamilton. We can do more of these projects in cooperation with the Forest Service, other agencies and private landowners.
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Aquatic invertebrate inventory. We are considering engaging with an aquatic invertebrate or "bug" inventory on the main stem of the Bitterroot as another way to track stream health. This program could tie in nicely with our Trout in the Classroom program.
These projects are only possible due to the efforts of our volunteers and to the funds we have available. For example, the fishing access site project alone required $3000 worth of gravel.
We are rapidly coming to the end of the year and would like you to consider donating to BRTU to help us expand these projects and programs. As you know the COVID-19 pandemic prevented us from holding our usual fund-raising banquet in both 2020 and 2021. So, we will be stretched thin financially to do the work we want to do.
As noted in this newsletter, we look forward to resuming chapter in-person meetings, even if we have to offer an option for virtual attendance. Meetings will feature programs of interest to anglers and conservationists. We also anticipate providing opportunities for chapter members to become involved in new projects in the coming year.
Remember, BRTU is an all volunteer organization. Your support and involvement are the keys to BRTU being a robust and successful organization.
Please consider helping us help the trout by donating on line or by sending a check to:
Bitterroot Trout Unlimited
PO Box 262
Hamilton, Montana 59840
Thank you so much.
David Ward, President
Bitterroot Trout Unlimited
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A photo showing the extensive dewatering of the Madison River below Hebgen Lake dam. Source: Kelly Galloup. |
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Dead trout are visible in the dewatered stretch of the Madison River. Source: Kelly Galloup. |
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Update: Dam Debacle on the Madison
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Northwest Energy notified the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) of 2 license violations relating to the debacle that led to a rapid and severe dewatering of the Madison River downstream from Hebgen Dam according to recent media reports.
- The FERC license conditions for the dam specify that Northwest Energy must maintain a flow of 600 cfs 12 miles below that dam at the Kirby Ranch. However the flow dropped as low as 395 cfs on December 2.
- The license also mandates that outflow changes are to be less than 10% per day, but Northwest Energy allowed the flow to drop 57% in 15 minutes according to USGS measurements!
- Northwest Energy submitted this information to FERC in a letter and is awaiting a response.
- The letter notes that damage to the fishery may not be evident immediately.
- BRTU E-News will provide additional information as it becomes available.
Trout lovers, anglers, outfitters and business people across Montana were horrified to wake up on the morning of Tuesday, November 30 to news of a dewatered Madison River below Hebgen Lake. Due to a malfunction in the damworks overnight, the flow below the dam careened down from 650 cubic feet/second (cfs) to 195 cfs. The photos showed exposed brown trout redds and fish that were either stranded or dead.
Northwest Energy owns and operates the dam and was unaware of the debacle until an angler alerted nearby flyshop owner Kelly Galloup and they were able to rouse staff from Northwest Energy. Once photos were posted on line by Montana Trout Unlimited, Kelly's phone started ringing off the wall.
MFWP initially warned off volunteers due to concerns of a sudden increase in flows and worries over trampling viable brown trout redds in the area. Ultimately a legion of concerned anglers showed up to assist MFWP officials rescue trout and return them to what was left of the river. Recognizing the unfolding natural resource debacle and public relations disaster, company officials and engineers worked frantically to repair the dam and restore the flow. And by the afternoon of Thursday, December 2 the dam was repaired and the flows were returning to normal. NBC Montana posted an excellent slide show on line capturing many dramatic images.
Worries remain for the fishery. Many anglers were stunned when the river was opened back up to fishing on December 3, since the impact is uncertain. As has been reported in earlier BRTU E-News stories, brown trout numbers are declining across a large area of Montana and the impact of this incident is cause for additional concern. Montana TU and others are encouraging anglers not to go fish on the Madison at present since the immediate damage has yet to be fully elucidated.
One aspect not discussed in great detail is how this sudden change in flow from the dam did not trigger an immediate emergency response by Northwestern Energy and there is no mention of the incident that I could find on their website, even though they maintain a page about recreating safely near hydroelectric facilities. The dam was constructed out of earth in 1915 and it was damaged by the massive 1959 earthquake that created Quake Lake. In addition, in late summer 2008 hydraulic gate failures led to the release of 3,400 cubic feet (96 m3) per second of water into the Madison River and leading to a rapid 1-foot rise in the river. Complete failure of the dam might well cause failure of the Quake Lake dam and have a catastrophic effect on the river, communities and agriculture in the Madison River. Hopefully, there will be a thorough investigation.
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BRTU member Marlin Lewis teaching the fine points to a Bitterroot Bugger. |
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A happy tier proudly displays her latest effort |
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At the end of each Buggers class, all the flies are entered into a contest for best tie. |
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BRTU member Donna Haglund and her husband Jay assist a Bugger wrap the htread around the hook shank. |
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2022 Bitterroot Buggers Beginning Soon!
The COVID-19 pandemic brought a lot of BRTU activities to an abrupt standstill in 2020! One early casualty was the annual Bitterroot Buggers, our flagship flytying, flycasting and conservation youth program. Designed for young people between the ages of 9 and 14, the program had been continuous for over 20 years.
Now that many adults are immunized and COVID-19 vaccines are available to kids in that age group, things are slowly returning to a semblance of normalcy, although many of us still mask up in the face of the Delta and new Omicorn variants. But, after due consideration, the BRTU Board has decided it is time to restart the Buggers in 2022.
As in past years, Buggers will be coordinated by BRTU Past President Greg Chester and Joe Byrne of the Hamilton School District Keystone Enrichment Program. All of the materials and equipment have been received, and students have the option of borrowing or purchasing equipment below cost. Greg has obtained beginners fly fishing outfits from ORVIS, which will also be available below cost.
If you know of young people interested in being a Bitterroot Bugger next year, please have them contact Greg or Joe.
And also as in years past, we will need the services of a number of volunteers. If you are able to assist with the Buggers, please contact Greg or Joe. You do not need to be a tier to help with the classes. One helper will be our new Student Board member, Ty Balser - a Bugger alumnus. All classes will be held at the Keystone Enrichment facility.
Out of respect to our volunteers, staff and the students, all helpers and students must be immunized against the COVID-19 virus. Depending on the circumstances, mask wearing may be encouraged. The Bitterroot Buggers page on the BRTU website has the instructional tying video that are used during the class.
The schedule is as follows:
- February 22 - material bagging
- March 1 - First class - Orientation
- March 8 - Fly 1
- March 15 - Fly 2
- March 22 - Fly 3
- March 29 - Spring Break
- April 5 - Fly 4
- April 12 - Fly 5
- April 19 - Casting
- Buggers Fishing Day - to be determined
Please consider helping out this year as we introduce another generation of young people to trout fishing and conservation. It is also a lot of fun!
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BRTU Meetings to Resume in January 2022. |
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Although the emergence of the omicron variant of COVID-19 has injected some uncertainty, by hook or by crook, we are planning to resume BRTU Chapter meetings in January!
The meetings will be held at 7:00 PM in the large auditorium at Hamilton City Hall - the Bedford Building. The board selected this venue so that we can achieve a measure of social distancing and still accommodate a decent sized auditorium.
It is our intent to have these meetings in person requesting that people be vaccinated, wear masks and maintain distance, but we may be able a hybrid in-person/virtual format if necessary. Final details will be provided as the date approaches.
Here is the confirmed schedule for the spring meetings:
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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.
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February 17, 2022 - "The Upper Bitterroot/West Fork Recreation Plan: status report and future prospects," Chrissy Oschell and Jason Lindstrom, MFWP
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March 17, 2022 - "The mechanics and ergonomics of flycasting, including exercise to enhance casting and wading," Chris Andersen, Physical Therapist.
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April 21, 2022 - "What's up with President Jefferson's River?," Chris Edgington, Jefferson Watershed Project Manager, Montana TU
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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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Photo courtesy Les Korcala |
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This week's Picture of the Week was submitted - once more- by Les Korcala.
It is a Season's Greeting card of Les' creation that features a classic wet fly named the Alexandra. The colors in the fly certainly evoke the holiday season!
The tie is copied after a fly plate from Ray Bergman's TROUT, generally acknowledged to be the Trout Fisherman's Bible. The first edition was published in 1938 and was in print for over 50 years! My well-thumbed 3rd edition was published in 1976.
The book is graced with 16 plates painted by Dr. Edgar Burke. Each plate has exquisite paintings of about 40 flies. There are 9 plates of wet flies alone from the Abbey to the Zulu. Les is in the process of tying every fly and creating a photo facsimile of each plate. This is a herculean task and Les has promised to share some of the plates as he completes them.
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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Lewis and Clark Meeting the Indians in Ross' Hole. Source: Montana Historical Society. |
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The winner of the most recent BRTU Puzzler was Jed Fitzpatrick.
"I just can’t resist as I recognize the spot from living up the East Fork for 10 years in my early outfitting days.
The picture is of Cameron Creek flowing through the Sula Peak Ranch just above the confluence with the East Fork. The general area is also known as Ross’ Hole. You can see the hillside that collapsed almost 20 years ago across from the Sula Store above Highway 93 in the background.
Lewis and Clark encountered the Salish Indians here on September 4, 1805 as the Corps of Discovery moved northward into the Bitterroot Valley after crossing Lost Trail pass from the Salmon Valley with their guide Toby.
Charles M. Russell made the famous painting of this historic meeting."
"Lewis and Clark Meeting Indians in Ross' Hole" is the largest painting that Charlie Russell ever did. The painting was commissioned by the Montana State Government in 1911 to hang in the legislative chamber of the Capitol. It was installed in the Montana House of Representatives chamber ahead of schedule on July 11, 1912.
Russell envisioned the scene in summer 1911 while staying in a cabin that was owned by the Wetzsteon family. If you turn off US 93 to drive up the East Fork Road, about 1/2 mile up you will notice a small knoll on the west side of the rod where the cabin resided. The cabin, which is pictured in this article, was taken down and moved from the site in the 1990's . My recollection is that it was dismantled and moved to a new location. This was fortunate since it would have burned in the fires of 2000.
The vista is virtually unchanged since Russell's painting, except for unsightly several houses on the hillside at the right of the painting. The scene is immediately recognizable if you drive up the East Fork Road or look due east just after passing the Sula Store. The Bitterroot Land Trust has a large conservation easement a little ways up the East Fork, but the actual site pictured in the painting is not part of the easement. Les Korcala's photo (see last issue of BRTU E-News) is almost exactly perpendicular to the painting and looks south across the site.
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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
Ty Balser; (student board member)
GENERAL FACTOTUM AND NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER
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