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#275: Jan. 16 2023

January 19 BRTU Meeting Reminder- Upper Clark Fork River, Little Award, and Annual Report
One of the numerous health warning signs that dot the banks of the Upper Clark Fork River. Photos courtesy Casey Hackathorn
The Upper Clark Fork, near Galen.
A final reminder for BRTU's January 19 meeting.

TU’s Upper Clark Fork Program Manager, Casey Hackathorn, will explore the history of the Upper Clark Fork, its embattled fishery, and the multi-decade effort to bring it back to its full potential - what he likens to an extreme makeover.

Casey's talk will begin at 7:00 PM on Thursday, January 19 at the Hamilton Elk's Club, 203 State Street. The public is invited to attend and there is no charge for admission.

At 6:30 PM, BRTU will have a brief Annual Meeting. The annual report, the financial report, and election of board members and officers will be covered. All members are encouraged to attend this part of the meeting. Immediately following the annual meeting and before the program, we will present the Earl and Joan Little Award to Geoff FitzGerald.

Once again, the Elks will be serving their excellent grilled brats and beer starting at about 6:15.

If you would like additional information, please contact BRTU Chapter President Dave Ward.

You can read the 2022 BRTU Annual Report here. This is an impressive set of accomplishments for our/your chapter! Remember that BRTU is a completely volunteer organization with no paid staff. A small number of very dedicated officers, board members and chapter volunteers work hard to make these projects happen. Please consider becoming more active! We are always looking for new board members and volunteers. In other words, consider putting a little "U" in BRTU. If you are interested, please drop Dave Ward a note! You wont regret it and with your help, we can get even more done in 2023.
Legislative Action Alert!!!! Support SB72 and HB114.....
Montana TU has issued the following legislative Action Alert.
"We need your help to get two trout-friendly water rights bills over the next hurdles in the Legislature. We have worked with key legislators to get both bills passed out of committee and along to floor votes. That’s where we need you! Here’s the deal:
 
This bill, sponsored by Senator Steve Fitzpatrick (R-Great Falls) improves the future of water rights administration and enforcement in Montana. MTU supports this bill because it will make the enforcement of water rights more efficient and effective by moving the authority to the MT Water Court, rather than tying up water right enforcement in District Courts, which often lack the necessary expertise on intricate water law. Settling and enforcing legal water rights, especially instream flow rights equates to more water for fish in the long run. Please contact your Senator and ask for their support for SB72 on the floor vote this week.
 
Representative Sue Vinton’s (R-Lockwood) bill improves the way the MT Department of Natural Resources and Conservation processes water rights permits and changes, such as changing a water right to instream flow for trout. The bill will allow these changes to happen more quickly, while also providing more legal certainty for water rights and protecting senior water right holders. This will benefit Trout Unlimited’s work with landowners who want to change some of their water rights to instream flow to benefit rivers and fish. The bill passed unanimously out of committee with MTU support and now heads to the full House floor for a vote this week. Please contact your Representative and ask for their support on this critical bill.
 
Contact your Legislator to tell them these bills are good for Montana's trout streams!
 
We hope all interested members of the public take the opportunity to get involved in this important process. If you have any questions, please reach out to us directly at info@montanatu.org. To see more of our work in Helena and the bills we are tracking, please visit www.montanatu.org/legislature "