Mr. Bullock, We Need a Veto

If you haven't been keeping up with all the fun in Helena this year I can't blame you.  Thank goodness the legislation only meets every other year, less of a chance to destroy things.  Every year are certain representatives and senators who are bent on wrecking Montana as much as possible.  They love to introduce legislation that only serves to make a few (very few) folks a lot of money at the cost of the longer-term health of our watersheds.

This session has had it's host of bad bills per usual, below is one that desperately needs a veto.  Please consider writing a quick letter to Governor Bullock, we could use all the help we can get.  

Tell Governor Bullock to veto SB 347, which allows the mining industry to dry up streams, harm fish and rob from existing water rights with little accountability.

 

Background 

SB 347, sponsored by Sen. Chas Vincent (R-Libby) recently passed the Montana Senate and House. This awful bill exempts the massive groundwater pumping performed by mining companies from being reviewed under the "nondegradation" policy in Montana's Water Quality Act. Pumping for mining can significantly reduce important groundwater recharge to streams. Nondegradation review and standards are the only legal backstop available for protecting existing water right holders from losing water to groundwater pumping that they have a legal right to. 

 

Take Action!

Contact Governor Steve Bullock NOW and tell him in your own words to veto SB 347!  Here is why:

• Besides threatening water rights of irrigators, cities and hydro producers, this bill threatens flows for fish. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks holds instream flow rights for fisheries on blue ribbon trout streams, such as the Blackfoot, Big Hole and Smith Rivers,  all which could be threatened by massive groundwater pumping for proposed mines next to key tributaries. Other streams threatened by mining related pumping of groundwater include the Bull River and Jefferson River, as well as Basin Creek in the upper Clark Fork watershed and Otter Creek in the Tongue River basin. 

• Studies for one proposed mine in the Cabinet Mountains indicates it will significantly deplete flows in a key bull trout spawning reach of the East Fork of the Bull River - a reach of river that is inside a designated wilderness. The effect could last for decades after the mine closes. 

• The bill allows the mining industry to harm water rights, which are a private property right, without requiring mitigation or compensation.

• An amendment added to the bill ostensibly to protect fish is wishy-washy, unclear and will invite lawsuits. 

Tell Governor Bullock not to give the mining industry this special gift. Tell him the mining industry should get a water right for pumping large amounts of groundwater - just like every other large user of groundwater in Montana -- so that existing owners of water rights, including FWP, can formally object if they will be harmed. Remind him of the promises he made to protect the interests of anglers, other recreationists and agriculture. TELL HIM TO VETO SB 347.    

Contact Governor Bullock at governor@mt.gov.

 

or 

call the Governor's office at 406-444-3111. 

For more information on the legislation, contact:

Mark Aagenes at mark@montanatu.org.

Stay Informed! Get involved! Check www.montanatu.org for important updates.

Thank you for doing your part to make a difference.

The Newest Member of the Family

My new best friend, and fishing buddy.

He's got four legs, is a year old, and so far his favorite pastimes include; chomping on rawhide bones, destroying stuffed animals and going on walks.

He's a rescue dog from the Humane Society, my wife and I wouldn't have it any other way.  There's far too many great dogs out there that deserve homes.  We decided to name this guy Fisher.  Haven't taken him out on the river to see how the name suits him, but I have no doubt he'll love it. 

Saturday Scenery on Sunday

From where the rivers run east.

Headed home on Highway 434.

Big Sky

Saturday Scenery

This marks a new segment of the blog in which weekly, I unload a lackluster landscape shot for all the world wide to web to see.  This gives me a good excuse to practice up on taking pictures, and will force me to pack my camera with me with more regularity. 

Let me know what you think.


Spring Squall on the Bitterroot

Friday Films - Spring Break Edition

The Friday Films is back from it's spring sabbatical and ready for another run! Today marks the beginning of many local area school spring breaks.  In honor of the event here, are a few spring break themed fishing videos. 

In no particular order.  Enjoy the work of Montana Wild and Strip'n Flywear over at the Missouri (which is where I will be headed in a few days).  Spring fishing highlights from Big Sky Trouting (which is what I will be doing in about 6 hours), and some other tasty Montana fishing footage courtesy of Yukon Goes Fishing. 
 

fly fishing the madison, the ruby, and some ponds from Yukon Goes Fishing on Vimeo.

When the Working Day is Done

There are days that you are thankful you live where you live.  When it's February, below zero, blowing snow, and the sky is a perpetual shade of gray, I might question why I moved to Montana, maybe (not really).  But when spring rolls around, I couldn't be more thankful that I get to call Big Sky Country home. 

The advent of daylight savings time is a big yearly event, and means one thing.  After work fishing. 
 
Around here, the time change happens to coincide with one of our best periods of dry fly fishing, lucky us.  Until high water arrives, I try to set aside a few evenings a week for post work fishing.  A typical schedule of events looks kind of like this:

3:30 - Run out of the office
3:40 - Arrive at the river
3:50 - Wadered up
4:10 - Hooked up

Leopard Bow

It's cool living in a place where you can go from work to holding a trout in your hand in less than 40 minutes.  Believe me, I've timed it, still trying to get it under a half hour.  Maybe if I showed up to work in my waders.  Not sure my employer would like that though.

Busy Beaver

During this month and a half magic period, when the rivers are low and clear and the trout are looking up, I never leave home without a dry fly rod rigged and shoved into the back car.  I call it the quick response unit.  After all, you never know when you're going to have a free hour or two.  



Skwala - It's what's for dinner

Spring is an awesome time for wade fishing.  For one the weather is usually rather pleasant, you're almost always alone, there's no mosquitos, and everyday brings with it another sign of spring. 

The Real Deal

I love fishing weird water this time of year, the water the hoards of boats don't fish.  I spend a lot of time stalking strange side channels, or just walking a lot and watching the spring storms roll over the Bitterroots.   



"Squall-a" Season

Dry Days are Here - Happy Spring!

Yes they are.  It's a busy week so here's a haphazardly slapped together collection of  fish pictures from the past few days.  All of these fish ate the dry. 

Long story short.  The dry fly fishing at times has been good, and for brief moments, very good. 

The trout are looking up, birds are returning, tulips are emerging, and the grass is getting greener everyday.

Happy first day of spring.  Hope you get to spend it on the water, unlike me.

Cutthroat Spots



Love that gill plate



Midge eater

All Smiles

And another

Peace out bobbers strike indicators.  It was nice knowing you.