BBCTU restored the channel in Spring Creek near Ovando, Mont. and revegetated the banks. Spring Creek after the restoration.
BBCTU restored the channel in Spring Creek near Ovando, Mont. and revegetated the banks. Spring Creek before (below) the restoration.
BBCTU worked with the U.S. Forest Service on a stream crossing upgrade near Seeley Lake. The old culvert (above) was inhibiting fish passage.
BBCTU worked with the U.S. Forest Service on a stream crossing upgrade near Seeley Lake. The new bridge (right) maintains connectivity in the stream for critical fish populations.
This year marks Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited's (BBCTU) 30th Anniversary. It's hard to believe it was back in 1987 when BBCTU held their first meeting initiated by a group of thoughtful landowners who were concerned about the state of the Blackfoot River. They had noticed a major decline in the fishery and for those of you familiar with the amount of focus this watershed receives these days, you may find it hard to believe that during those years, no biologists were out collecting data on the river and its fishery.
From that first meeting thirty years ago, the momentum and interest has grown into a collaborative effort that involves hundreds of landowners, several state and federal agencies, other non-profits and countless of private contributors.
What is our mission? To conserve and restore the coldwater fishery of the Big Blackfoot River and its tributaries. We focus on native trout-westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout – as these fish have higher habitat quality requirements than other trout. Their presence, or absence, is the best indicator we have of habitat conditions.
Our work is not just focused on streams or fish alone. To be successful we need to look outside of the ordinary high water mark of a stream and address issues like weeds and off-site water sources for example.
What do we work on? Our projects range from restoring stream channels, rejuvenating riparian areas, upgrading undersized culverts, screening trout from entering irrigation diversions, looking for opportunities to save water for instream flows and helping develop grazing management systems.
How do we accomplish these projects? By collaborating with partners we can pool resources, including money and expertise, and direct those to streams that have the highest potential of supporting native trout long term. We also hire local contractors and try and buy project materials from area businesses to support local economies in the Blackfoot valley.
Our efforts are primarily focused on tributaries to the river because this is where the spawning and subsequent recruitment occurs. Thus, the health of the more than 1,900 miles of tributaries feeding the Blackfoot River is directly correlated with the strength of trout populations in the river. And with the upwards trends of both westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout, we are encouraged that the collaborative efforts of the many groups and individuals working throughout this watershed are paying off.
It's an impressive list of accomplishments: 155 miles of instream habitat restored benefiting 70 streams; more than 100 miles of riparian habitat restored along 62 streams; 65,000 acres under grazing management systems; 650 miles restored for fish passage and 49 cfs (23,000 gallons per minute) of water saved.
We hope you will join us Sept. 17, 2017 at Double Arrow Lodge to help toast the many fine folks who have contributed their vision, time and support towards these win-win projects over the past thirty years. Like us on Facebook or email Ryen at ryen@montanatu.org for more information.
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