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Big Hole River Foundation
P.O. Box 3894
Butte, Montana 59702

phone: 1-866-533-BHRF

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BHRF PROJECTS AT A GLANCE

BIG HOLE RIVER FOUNDATION 2011 PROJECTS 

The Big Hole River Foundation's mission is To conserve, enhance and protect the free-flowing character of the Big Hole River, its unique culture, fish and wildlife.The following initiatives, adopted by the Board of the Foundation, are considered our best avenue to deliver that mission during 2011.      The Big Hole River of southwest Montana is one of the only free-flowing rivers left in the west.   It is a world-renowned trout fishery that runs over 150 miles and drains over 2,500 square miles.  The Big Hole hosts the only fluvial Arctic grayling population in the lower 48 states -- a species that is a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.  The social and economic mainstay of the Big Hole valley has traditionally been ranching, which relies heavily on the river and tributaries for irrigation.  Resource issues in the watershed include dewatering of the river by irrigation, loss of habitat to residential development, grazing management, noxious weeds, and the decline of the fluvial Arctic grayling.   We are working to develop science-based conservation strategies that will protect this magnificent resource, and enhance critical habitat for native trout, grayling, and a multitude of other species.  We are launching new conservation strategies; helping to identify and implement restoration projects along the river; educating landowners through workshops about ways they can do their part to improve water quality and habitat conditions in key riparian zones; and pursuing conservation easement partnerships.

2011 Initiatives and Programs

Big Hole River Foundation:  2011 Initiatives and Programs

The Big Hole River Foundation’s mission is to conserve, enhance and protect the free-flowing character of the Big Hole River, its unique culture, fish and wildlife.  We are respectfully seeking support of our operations budget and projects.  Securing operating funds allows our staff to move forward with two important initiatives that help accomplish our mission and would make for a stronger partnership in the conservation and restoration of the Big Hole River valley. 

The Big Hole River basin is one of the West’s last watersheds free of major development; it is also home to 47 animal and 79 plant Species of Special Concern, including: gray wolf, wolverine, grizzly bear, golden and bald eagles, greater sage grouse, trumpeter swan, peregrine falcon, whooping crane, and west slope cutthroat trout.  Species of Special Concern are those considered to be ‘at risk’ due to declining population trends, threats to their habitats, or restricted distribution.  The last self-sustaining wild population in the lower-48 of fluvial Arctic grayling, a Montana Species of Special Concern, occurs in the Big Hole River. 

Though our Conservation and Research Initiative is being driven largely by the need to conserve the Arctic grayling in the Big Hole River; through improving the river corridor to help sustain grayling populations, all aquatic and riparian species will benefit.  The overall goal of our Conservation and Research Initiative is to increase the abundance and distribution of grayling within the upper Big Hole.  (See “Projects” on BHRF website & “Grayling Listing” in Fall 2009 Newsletter at www.bhrf.org)

Components of the Conservation and Research Initiative

  • Our Easement Program leverages the resources of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and identifies landowners willing to permanently protect the most critical aquatic and associated habitats of the Big Hole River valley. 
  • Our Restoration Program identifies landowners willing to restore and enhance the aquatic and associated habitats on their property in the Big Hole valley (our initial goal is three landowners). 
    • Stewardship Fencing Project.  The planning phases of Stewardship Fencing Project began in 2009 with at least three willing landowners in the Melrose area of the lower Big Hole River valley.  The objective of this project is to use the Foundation funds to construct and maintain lay-down fencing along critical sections of the river while adjacent pastures are being grazed.  At times when the adjacent pastures are not being grazed, the fence will be lowered allowing wildlife to freely access the area.  The Stewardship Fencing Project will reduce intense grazing pressure along sensitive river banks promoting bank stabilization and maintain healthy channel geometry.
    • Our first fencing contract on the Carpenter Ranch near Melrose has been signed by all parties and the fence installation is slated to begin this summer as soon as contractor is available.
    • Pennington Bank Stabilization Project.  We also began working with a landowner in the Pennington Bridge reach of the lower Big Hole River to restore and stabilize about 300 feet of degraded river bank.  This project is located immediately upstream from the Pennington Bridge.  This project includes survey and design, re-contouring of the degraded bank, and vegetation plantings.
  • Through our Research Program, a benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) study is assessing if aquatic insect communities are correlated with observed seasonal grayling distributions.  Additionally, results of the BMI study will help evaluate already completed restoration and conservation projects implemented by our partners (e.g., FWP; DNRC; FWS) to improve stream biological health.   (See BHRF Newsletter Winter 2010, www.bhrf.org) Results are expected this summer.
  • An additional component of our Research Program is a fish tagging study, implemented during fall 2009, which will help assess effects of competition and predation by trout on fluvial Arctic grayling populations.  (See BHRF Newsletter Fall 2009, www.bhrf.org) Results will be posted once FWP releases them.

Components of the Education and Outreach Initiative

  • Our Watershed Education Program will instill a clear understanding of basic environmental science fundamentals in students and teachers by using a place-based, hands-on field and classroom curriculum.  Our initial goal is to teach at least 70 students and obtain active participation from at least one teacher from each of the seven rural public schools in the Big Hole basin.  The foremost purpose of this Program is to address educational advancement throughout the communities and public schools of the Big Hole River basin.  We have already identified some of the important components necessary to implement this program.  The next step is to bring together an Education Working Group which will include representatives from the Foundation, the Clark Fork Watershed Education Program (CFWEP), the Big Hole Watershed Committee (BHWC), the University of Montana – Western (UMW), local landowners, and schools and teachers.  This Program will include two classroom and two field components, coordinated and delivered through the newly established Education Coordinator.  A pilot version this program occurred in October of 2009 and the field components included stations that taught water chemistry, aquatic insects, fisheries, riparian vegetation, avian ecology, and floodplain function (nearly 70 students and 10 teachers participated) 
  • Our Outreach Program provides the unique technical and conservation expertise of the Foundation to private landowners and agencies through outreach publications, individual site visits, participation in meetings, collaboration on grants and projects, and critical membership on committees and forums. 
  • Our Outreach Program includes the River Ambassador Program and the production and distribution of our Technical Guidance Series and Watershed Sourcebook.  Our River Ambassador Program uses the local community of guides and outfitters as outreach personnel to educate and promote conservation management practices to the angling public.  Our Technical Guidance Series consist of individual 4 – 8 page publications that focus on one aspect of private land management to help landowners.  The Watershed Sourcebook is a resource for property owners, recreationists, real estate agents, and others that visit, recreate, or reside in the Big Hole Valley.  A sourcebook is a resident’s  and visitor’s guide covering information about the area, development standards, water quality and rights, building and environmental permitting and regulations, recreational use, and other useful information.

Summary:  Our current operations budget averages $4,000 per month.  As such, we need to raise nearly $50,000 per year, which will allow us to annually deliver the above described activities in the Big Hole watershed.