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Big Hole River Foundation
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phone: 1-866-533-BHRF
BHRF Newsletter | winter 2005
Welcome to our Winter Newsletter
We start the new year with a wake-up call to the world. Global warming is a threat to our security. What we must do above all else is try to see the problem in its full size and difficulty.
Many people find it hard to believe that a small animal species - our own - could change anything as vast as the sky and the atmosphere. It was only recently that the relationship between the quantity of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and average global surface temperature was fully established. Some still want to deny this, but there is now a commanding consensus that human activities have a significant effect on the planet.
For as long as I have lived in Montana (almost 30 years), I've tried to figure out what it means to be ready for winter. Every winter brings a different answer and this year is no exception.
The winter solstice comes and goes before the real cold begins. No matter how bitter it got in late January, it won't be getting any darker. The season is always more transitional than it seems, as fleeting as summer. Winter comes and goes in the same breath. Every day is headway toward spring.
All of us who live in the rural landscapes of the United States know that most people are available to those landscapes only recrea-tionally. We see them hiking or camping or hunting or fishing or driving along and looking around. They do not, as Mary Austin wrote in The Land of Little Rain (1904), "summer and winter with the land."
"Perhaps one of the greatest challenges to society, and one often overlooked, is the likelihood of drought events more severe than any we have experienced." Peter B. deMenocal
Not surprisingly the scale of the disruptions that climate change could bring has brought the world together as no other environmental issue has. Together we look for solutions to this problem we all share.
Thank you, Sheila
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Director's Message- Winter
Due to the good fortune of a wise Board of Directors and the continued contributions of our many benefactors, two watershed ranchers and I attended the Quivira Coalition annual meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico last month. I found the series of workshops, panels and speakers insightful and inspiring. The mission of the Quivira Coalition is to foster ecological, economic and social health on western landscapes through education, innovation, collaboration, and progressive public and private land stewardship.
An extra benefit was spending time listening carefully to two ranchers from the Big Hole. Hearing their reflections on the topics discussed and how those topics related and didn't relate to life in the Big Hole was as much of an education for me as the conference itself. It was a unique opportunity to understand more fully what ranching is up against in the West. More importantly, the time together with Hans and Jess made me realize that openness and the pursuit of creative new directions is something we all truly share.
An important common theme at the conference that surrounded the many challenges conservation ranching faces in the West centered on the word "health." If we think of the many conflicting and complex issues that we face in the Big Hole, we can all agree that increasing the health of our communities, environment, and bank accounts is a noble mission. Nonetheless, health is a multifaceted and complex notion because, as we all know, maintaining and improving our own personal health is no easy task.
We are entering an historic moment in the Big Hole. We almost have in place the beginnings of a plan for the continued and improved health of the Big Hole watershed in the form of a draft "Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances" (CCAA.) While this document may seem to be about one species of fish and its recovery, I argue that the wider implications of this effort include a plan for the continued and improved health of our watershed, culture, economy and lives. Despite drought and all the things in life that we have so little control of, our ability to work together for our common health will be our test and hopefully our noble mission as well.
Sincerely,
Jeff
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CCAA Draft Offers Historic Promise - by Jeff Schahczenski
On January 31, 2005, the USFWS, NRCS, MT FWP and MT DNRC released to the Big Hole River Foundation, Big Hole Watershed Committee and Trout Unlimited a pre-submission draft of an umbrella Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) plan for restoration of the fluvial Arctic grayling in the upper Big Hole watershed. Fish, Wildlife and Parks fisheries biologist, Pete Lamothe, who is one of several leaders of this effort, noted in releasing the pre-submission draft that partnering organizations active in the Big Hole River watershed "will play important roles in the implementation of the CCAA proposed conservation measures."
Working cooperatively with almost 300 landowners in the upper Big Hole, the ultimate adoption and implementation of the CCAA will set in motion historic efforts to secure and enhance populations of Arctic grayling in the upper reaches of the Big Hole watershed. As Pat Munday, BHRF Board of Directors member noted in early comments on the draft, "the CCAA seems to be a good blue print for grayling restoration. The proposed objectives are fair to ranchers, well defined, enforceable, and should lead to genuine benefits for grayling." Indeed, the resource commitments both in staffing and direct assistance being made available to ranchers to achieve the important conservation measures outlined in the draft are significant. More importantly, the "certificates of inclusion" that will become the multi-year enforceable contracts under the voluntary program will provide assurances that no additional regulatory burdens can be placed on the certificate holders should the species become listed in the future. Ideally, with the level of effort expected by all participants, future listing can hopefully be avoided entirely.
The five conservation objectives of the CCAA outlined in this early draft will lead to the development of site-specific plans with individual land owners to:
· Improve steam flows · Improve and protect the function of riparian habitats · Restore and maintain natural channel morphology and function · Reduce the level of grayling entrainment · Remove barriers to grayling migration
Of course the cooperation of landowners in the area will be critical and the details and the resources necessary to achieve these broad objectives will be many and take time. The Conservation Partnership Initiative (CPI) planning grant (see updates on page 7) that is being led by the Foundation will help in providing additional education and outreach work to assist the effort as well as lead to collaborative future work to secure additional resources to ramp up implementation, monitor results, expand our understanding of grayling decline and broaden efforts to the entire watershed and upper Missouri basin. Indeed, while some benefits to the grayling will be fairly immediate, the duration of the CCAA agreement will be 25 years. According to Pete Lamothe, "the response from the landowners with whom I've met with has been very positive and the current level of "buy-in" is significant."
The Big Hole River Foundation Board of Directors has begun discussions of the draft at its monthly Board meetings. Partnering organizations have until February 21st to provide input into the process before the document will be released nationally for 30 days of public comment.
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Big Hole Rules Update - by Pat Munday
Some minor changes will probably be made to the current special regulations for the Big Hole River. At its January meeting, Montana's Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Commission tentatively adopted the modified regulations, which would govern the Big Hole River for the next five years. The new regulations will become official upon their second reading if approved by the majority of the commissioners.
The changes to the current rules include:
· Close the upper river to float outfitting from the river's headwaters to the Mudd Creek access site.
· Repeal restrictions that currently apply to the Notch Bottom to High Bridge reach.
· Create a pool of temporary client days available to one-boat outfitters. The temporary client days will come from outfitters forfeiting their unused client days, and thus total use will not exceed the historical use cap.
The Citizen's Advisory Council supported these changes. The citizen's council consists of representatives from conservation groups, recreational anglers, recreational boaters, and outfitters. There are good reasons for the changes, and the Big Hole River Foundation supports them.
The upper river is crucial habitat for grayling. We are investing heavily in grayling restoration, and we welcome anything that reduces pressure on this threatened population. Very little float outfitting occurs on this upper reach of the river, and so the economic effect on outfitters is practically zero.
Though the reach from Notch Bottom to High Bridge is a beautiful and remote section with excellent fishing (especially for large brown trout), it receives very little pressure from the non-commercial angling public. Outfitters from the Twin Bridges/Dillon area do use this reach, and it will now be open to them seven days a week throughout the season.
The original special regulations capped outfitting use at historic levels and created a moratorium on new outfitters using the Big Hole River. Today it would be prohibitively expensive for most small (one-boat) outfitters to buy an existing outfitting business in order to take advantage of that business' historic use, actual use is less than historic use. Though there are many concerns about how use will be transferred when sales of outfitting businesses occur, and while this change will slightly increase actual outfitting use on the river, it is a good change. Small outfitters are a part of the traditional culture and community of the Big Hole River. Individuals deserve an opportunity to engage in outfitting so long as it does not result in crowding or conflict.
We encourage everyone to review and comment on the proposed changes to recreational rules for the Big Hole River. These changes may be found on the FWP website at http://fwp.state.mt.us. Comment should be sent to Charlie Sperry, csperry@mt.gov or mailed to: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Attn: River Recreation, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.
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Jim Magee Receives High Honor - by Pat Munday
Jim Magee, a fisheries biologist with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, won the Outstanding Fishery Professional Award from the Montana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society (AFS). Jim has worked on fluvial Arctic grayling research and restoration since 1993. This includes extensive work in the upper Big Hole River watershed and reintroduction efforts in other rivers in the upper Missouri River watershed.
When Jim's award was announced at the recent annual meeting, the conference room erupted with cheers for "Fibber" - Jim's nickname. The Outstanding Fishery Professional Award is the highest honor given from the Montana Chapter of AFS. The Big Hole River Foundation joins Jim's peers in recognizing his contributions to restoring our native heritage-the Big Hole grayling.
Jim joined the grayling project as a technician in 1993, demonstrating a diligent work ethic and a willingness to take on responsibility. That attitude earned him the project biologist position in 1998. Jim led the project during its transition phase from research to restoration-managing a logistical nightmare of analyzing and implementing often controversial reintroductions, working in wilderness locations, guiding graduate students, tirelessly monitoring populations, directing crews, coordinating hatchery support, and attending endless meetings. Throughout all this, Jim maintained a strong working relationship with ranchers, anglers, environmental organizations, and groups such as the Big Hole River Foundation. All of this is especially laudable in light of the fact that most of this work took place during years of persistent drought.
On top of all this, Jim contributed to the AFS as the first Montana editor of the Intermountain Fisheries Abstracts and as chair of the Montana Chapter's Continuing Education Committee.
Jim's leadership, dedication, and resolute determination all personify the consummate fisheries professional.
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Opportunities for Input - by Jeff Schahczenski
The new Conservation Partnership Initiative (CPI) and Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) program discussed in this newsletter will require a great deal of support and cooperation with watershed land owners. One of the specific tasks of the CPI grant is to make a concerted effort to solicit input from area landowners addressing these topics: 1. What are your concerns with the CCAA program? 2. NRCS, USFWS, MT FWP, and MT DNRC are the state and federal agencies all working to see this program succeed. What can they do make the objectives of this program work in the watershed? 3. What are the major constraints that inhibit implementing conservation practices that are good for the fishery, riparian health and ranching in the Big Hole? 4. What ideas do you have to address these major challenges? 5. What kinds of educational programs can you envision that would help in the efforts to understand and resolve the challenges identified? A few immediate ways to share your ideas are to attend the Big Hole River Foundation Board of Directors meetings every second Wednesday of the month, Big Hole Watershed Committee meetings every third Wednesday of the month, write me at BHRF 3040 Continental Drive Butte MT 59701 or call/email at 406-494-8636/bhrf@ncat.org. In the future the partners in the CPI project will be setting up additional ways to solicit your input.
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Setback Ordinances Approved
Butte-Silver Bow, Madison, and Beaverhead county commissioners have approved ordinance changes that will prohibit future development too close to the Big Hole River. The ordinance change will require all future structures to be built at least 150 feet away from the river's high water mark. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by case basis. Anaconda-Deer Lodge county is expected to come on board as well, making it a four country agreement, with variances decided by representatives from each county.
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WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? Entrainment
Entrainment: The drawing of fish and other aquatic organisms into tubes or tunnels carrying water for cooling purposes into thermal plants, or for power generating purposes into hydroelectric plants. Entrainment increases mortality rates for those organisms.
Entrainment: The mobilization, by flowing water, of sediment or organic debris from the bed or banks of a stream channel.
Entrainment: Capturing of fish within a strong current so that they are unable to escape.
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Species Spotlight by Jennifer Boyer "Magpie" Pica pica hudsonia.
Magpie is the common name for 11 species of long-tailed, black-and-white birds of the family Corvidae, related to the jays and crows. The black-billed magpie, Pica pica, is abundant throughout western North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It averages 50 cm (20 in), with its wedge-shaped tail accounting for more than half its length. The yellow-billed magpie, P. nuttalli, similar in appearance to the black-billed magpie except for bill color and smaller size, inhabits a small region of the California coast. In the breeding season it is seen in pairs or small family groups, but otherwise it lives in large groups. They build large covered nests in tall trees or bushes. The nests are used for several years, and are built on and enlarged continuously. The magpie will eat almost anything, including insects, snails, worms, fruit, seeds and eggs and chicks of other birds. This last thing has given the magpie a bad reputation, but its impact on the population of other species is not measurable. The Magpie was recorded during the Lewis and Clark expedition near the great bend of the Missouri River. The Journal recorded the magpie on page 79: "In 1804, an exploring party under the command of Captains Lewis and Clark, on their route to the Pacific ocean across the continent, first met with the magpie somewhere near the great bend of the Missouri, and found that the number of these birds increased as they advanced. Here also the blue jay disappeared as if the territorial boundaries and jurisdiction of these two noisy and voracious families of the same tribe had been mutually agreed on, and distinctly settled. But the magpie was found to be far more daring than the jay, dashing into their very tents, and carrying off the meat from the dishes. One of the hunters who accompanied the expedition informed me, that they frequently attended him while he was engaged in skinning and cleaning the carcass of the deer, bear or buffalo he had killed, often seizing the meat that hung within a foot or two of his head."
In Remarks and Reflections (Coues, page 1287, April 8, 1805) it is recorded as a winter resident at Fort Mandan. A very minute description is given of the magpie on September 17, 1804 (Thwaites, Vol. 6, page 130). Alexander Wilson, the ornithologist in his American Ornithology, Volume 2, facing page 73, has a drawing of the magpie and in the description has the following to say (page 77): "The drawing was taken from a very beautiful specimen, sent from the Mandan nation, on the Missouri, to Mr. Jefferson, and by that gentleman presented to Mr. Peale of this city, in whose museum it lived for several months, and where I had an opportunity of examining it. On carefully comparing it with the European magpie in the same collection, no material difference could be perceived. The figure on the plate is reduced to exactly half the size of life."
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Update of Water Storage and Management Study - by Noorjahan Parwana
IN APRIL 2004, THE BIG HOLE WATERSHED Committee commissioned a study to evaluate methods of improving in-stream flows in the upper reach of the Big Hole River. A team consisting of Portage Environmental, DTM Consulting, and Mainstream Consulting is currently evaluating water storage alternatives and water management alternatives. The primary purpose of achieving in-stream flows is to provide for the needs of the fluvial Arctic grayling in a critical grayling habitat reach extending from Rock Creek Road to the mouth of the North Fork of the Big Hole River. The alternatives presented both for storage and water management options are to be presented on a cost per cfs basis for comparative purposes.
Initially, Portage Environmental identified nine potential sites for reservoir development. After sitting down with the Technical Advisory Committee of the BHWC, the list of potential sites was reduced to five, for cost analysis and more detailed evaluation. The screening criteria included general site suitability (e.g. land ownership, site access, zoning requirements, etc), geology and hydrogeology, engineering feasibility, environmental concerns, social and economic concerns, and administrative considerations (e.g. legal issues, operations and maintenance, and management.) We are now down to three realistic alternatives. Two are on-stream reservoirs. The third is a smaller spring/seepage site that might be developed into an impoundment or wetland site. This third alternative was a serendipitous option that came about through an offer by a rancher serving on our Technical Advisory Committee.
DTM and Mainstream Consulting investigated nineteen water management alternatives. Their investigations included sit-down meetings with upper Big Hole ranchers to determine feasibility of different management options, including changes in pasture irrigation and hay production. Some of the other alternatives they are evaluating are water leasing, stock water wells, deep groundwater production wells, reduced ditch losses, riparian habitat improvements, ice management, beaver reintroduction, and cloud seeding.
Currently, the BHWC Technical Advisory Committee is evaluating the alternatives on the table. Out of this evaluation, we will develop a prioritized list of options that we can begin to implement.
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BHRF Supports Ranchers to Attend Regional Ranching Conference
THE BIG HOLE RIVER FOUNDATION awarded scholarships to two Big Hole watershed ranchers to attend an important regional conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico this past January. Big Hole ranchers Hans Humbert and Jess Kirkpatrick attended the Quivira Coalition's annual conference, which is recognized as one of the most important regional conferences addressing the topic of conservation ranching in the West. The title of this year's conference was "Half Public, Half Private, One West" and explored issues and strategies aimed at improving economic and ecological health for all by honoring the public while respecting the private. BHRF Executive Director, Jeff Schahczenski attended the conference with the area ranchers and was pleased that this opportunity could be extended. "With our sustained efforts at enhancing a viable livestock industry in the Big Hole that coexists with resource management practices supporting a healthy fishery, this conference was particularly useful to all of us," said Schahczenski.
Besides exploring a range of issues the conference provided very practical workshops for the area ranchers. Both ranchers attended a range school co-hosted by the Society of Range Management. All three attendees also participated in the Southwest Grassfed Livestock Alliance (SWGLA) meeting, which occurred the day before the formal conference started. SWGLA is a new organization, which is exploring the market opportunities for fully grassfed livestock products that are increasingly in demand by health conscious consumers. Jess and Hans both remarked on the great educational opportunity the scholarship provided. Jess was even interviewed by a local radio station on his views on efforts to deal with predator issues and ranching in the west. In the words of Courtney White, Executive Director of the Coalition, "this conference helped to ensure the long-term vitality of the values we all cherish in the West - open space, wildlife, water, culture and economy - we need to manage land as if fences didn't matter."
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BHRF FINANCES
The Big Hole River Foundation raises funds to accomplish its work through grants, membership dues, donations, book sales, and return on investments. A small portion of our net assets are held by the Montana Community Foundation in an endowment. The proceeds from the endowment are used to offset the administrative expenses of the Foundation.
Each year, we file an IRS Form 990 to fully disclose our revenues, expenses, and net assets. The information for this return is prepared by the Foundation staff and reviewed by Anderson Zurmuehlen & Co., P.C. in Butte, Montana.
If you wish to review the latest copy of our IRS Form 990, please contact the Foundation at (866)533-2473.
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Grant Updates - by Jeff Schahczenski
Altria Foundaton - Our grant proposal of $75,000 to Altria Foundation is still pending. Because of overwhelming response to their environmental initiative to support watershed efforts, the Altria Foundation broke their grant reviews into two groups divided by proposals east and west of the Mississippi River. Announcements of awards are expected in April.
319 Grants - The BHRF jointly administers three grants with the BHWC under the EPA's 319 grant program. These three on-going grants are to work with the Montana DEQ in meeting the mandates of the federal Clean Water Act for improving impairments to water quality associated with non-point source pollution. The major outcome of these grants is to develop a restoration plan for the Big Hole River watershed. For the purposes of this work the watershed is divided into two sub areas. A draft restoration plan for the upper Big Hole is due out soon and a final by Fall of this year. The lower river work has started and progressing well with expectations of completion of the plan in the Fall of 2006.
Conservation Partnership Initiative - As reported in our Fall newsletter the Foundation was awarded a major planning grant to work with four state and federal agencies and two non-profit organizations. The grant will be used to plan for the expanding viability of the watershed livestock industry, restoration of Arctic grayling and general fishery and riparian health. The agreement was signed on February 11, 2005 and preliminary efforts are beginning. This new federal grant program offered by the Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) is structured to "focus technical and financial resources on conservation priorities in watersheds of special significance." This grant was one of six funded in the nation.
USFWS Cooperative Agreement - The BHRF is the administrator of a project awarded to the BHWC to undertake a number of studies and fish habitat restoration work in the watershed. The studies are examining the possibilities of water storage, alternative management practices and vegetative changes as means to improve riparian functioning and fishery health. Several habitat restoration projects have been completed and several more will be implemented this coming year.
Upcoming - The BHRF is beginning another collaborative effort to pursue additional resources for watershed work through the Private Stewardship Grant Program (PSGP.) The PSGP provides grants and other assistance to groups that are trying to implement voluntary conservation efforts that benefit species listed or proposed as candidate species, endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. This collaborative effort will be targeted to assist in on-going efforts at implementation of a CCAA in the watershed (see cover story this issue.)
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Ag Conference & Expo - by Pat Munday
Ranchers, conservationists, agricultural economists, and others met January 6th & 7th in Dillon at UM-Western's Fourth Annual Ag Conference & Expo. In addition to two days of feasting on local and regional foods - including "Montana Heritage Beef" supplied by Eric Kalsta - about two hundred participants engaged in workshop sessions on topics ranging from "Sharing Agricultural Landscapes with Wolves" to "Estate Planning for Ranchers & Farmers."
When it comes to interests of the Big Hole River Foundation, conference highlights included workshops with Courtney White of the Quivira Coalition and Reese Woodling of the Malpai Borderlands Group.
Courtney's session was titled "Ranching in the Radical Center: Restoring a West that Works." The Quivira Coalition has promoted this idea of "the radical center" as a collaborative effort among ranchers, conservationists, agency personnel, and other stakeholders. The goal is to promote ranching as an ecologically responsible way of managing the landscape, building an economy, and preserving western values. Though Quivira's efforts have been primarily focused in the southwest, this collaborative model is applicable throughout the West. Some of the organization's many accomplishments include reestablishing populations of Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout, land restoration in the Taos area and mine reclamation that integrates cattle grazing near Flagstaff, Arizona.
Reese represented the Malpai Borderlands Group, a group of ranchers in the rugged country near the Mexican border on both sides of the Arizona - New Mexico state line. The Malpai Group has taken an active role in managing endangered species such as the Chiricahua leopard frog and the short-nosed rattlesnake. To sustain open space and maintain ranching livelihoods, the Malpai Group makes heavy use of prescribed fire, conservation easements, and grass banking. Like the Quivira Coalition, the Malpai Borderlands Group offers us a proven model with concrete results. Though the Big Hole landscape might be very different from the Malpai, many of the problems we face are similar.
