The annual electro-fishing project on the upper 13 miles of the river took place during late June and early July. Ken Frazier, Bighorn River Biologist for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has not had time to evaluate the data that was collected. Ken, did however, make a number of com-ments when questioned about the shocking ef-forts: He commented that during the first of two shocking efforts he found the fish, particularly the Brown Trout, to not be in the best condition possible. On the second effort some two weeks later the fish appeared to be in much better shape. In fact, his comment was that they were in very good condition. The most disturbing revelation of the census was that there were “very few one year old fish”. Ken said that is directly attributable to the long term low flows that the river has been suffering.

He said t h a t s i n c e there are no side channels for the small fish to hide in, they must be in the main river channel where they are then

eaten by the larger fish in the river. Although we cur-rently have an excellent population of catchable size fish continuing low flows are causing problems for our river. Next year might not be so good. Initial indications are that the mix of species remains about fifty-percent Rainbow and fifty percent Brown Trout.

When asked about his thoughts regarding Senator Max Baucus’ Senate Bill S.307 (see pg. 2), Frazier thinks it is a very positive step in the right direction. Most importantly, the bill directs the Department of Reclamation to “include

the maintenance of a healthy fishery on the portion of the Bighorn River, Montana, that is located downstream from the Yellowtail Dam”.

Not directly connected to trout populations, but of much interest is the fact that the Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks is working toward a Saltcedar eradication project for the River. At a recent meeting of Conservation Districts and other agencies the topic of the invasion of this noxious weed was discussed and the plan is for a cooperative effort be started to eradicate the plant from not just the Bighorn River but other streams throughout Montana. The Bighorn River Alliance has already begun this effort on our river. Please refer to the article in this newsletter titled “Showdown on the Bighorn; Clint Krumm vs Saltcedar.”

Frank Johnson

Montana FWP Electroshocks the Bighorn VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1

AUGUST 15, 2007

FWP Electroshocks 1 River Protection Act 2

Saltcedar 3

Senate Committee 3

Senate Bill S.307 4

Membership Dues 5

Inside Story 6

INS IDE THIS ISSUE:

“Although we currently have an

excellent population of

catchable-sized fish, continuing

low flows are causing problems

for our river”

Ken Frazier

Italian angler, Stefano Cremasco, battles a Bighorn rainbow on a dry fly.

currents

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 2

As you may be aware, the Bighorn River is facing serious legal challenges besides enduring a vicious drought cycle and decreasing water supplies. Flat-water recreationists in Wyoming are demanding that the Bureau of Reclamation manage Bighorn Lake to suit their interests while ignoring our internationally famous blue-ribbon trout fishery. The BuRec has responded to that political pressure by holding back water from the Bighorn River in an effort to maintain a full lake. The reduced flows dramatically affect fish populations, and destroy side-channel habitat that is so important for spawning and rearing of juvenile fish. The concentration of fish brought about by lower flows forces trout to prey on smaller trout, resulting in the loss of additional age classes. Worse, low flows also cause a concentration of anglers vying for the little water that’s left. ~ You Can Help! Take a minute to call or write your senator, and tell him/her that you support The Bighorn River Protection Act (Senate Bill S.307, see complete bill on pg. 4), a bill introduced by Montana Senator Max Baucus that contains four provisions: 1) Set preferred minimum flows at 2,500 cubic feet per second (cfs). 2) Sets absolute minimum flows at 1,500 cfs (only in extreme situations). 3) Authorizes BuRec to manage Yellowtail Dam for maintenance of a healthy fishery. (Currently the dam is authorized only for flood control and power generation). 4) Requires BuRec to coordinate management of all three of its major Bighorn watershed reservoirs (currently they are managed separately). You can find the phone number and/or email address for your senator, log on to: http://www.senate.gov/ Click the Senators link to find your senator. A sample email is provided below. Kudos to the Magic City Flyfishers and Friends of the Bighorn River in being at the forefront of the battle in protect-ing water flows on the Bighorn River. Friends of the Bighorn River maintains a website where you can get the latest information on this most important issue. Just point your browser to: http://www.bighornriver.org

Sample Letter Honorable Senator ______________________________, The Bighorn River in Montana is an internationally famous, blue-ribbon trout stream vital to the economy of Montana, the Crow Nation, and northern Wyoming. Its highly diversified and fragile resources are cherished by people from all over the world. A prolonged drought is threatening to destroy this world class fishery because the Bureau of Reclamation is not authorized to manage water in support of this fishery. Please support Montana Senator Max Baucus’ efforts to protect the river by supporting his Bighorn River Protection Act (S.307) which provides for minimum flows, authorizations for BuRec to manage for a healthy fish-ery, and enhanced coordination of upstream reservoirs. Thank you.

Attention Bighorn Anglers!

CURRENTS PAGE 3

Saltcedar

Saltcedars, also called tamarisk, are deciduous or evergreen shrubs or small trees reaching 5 to 20 feet in height. Stems are highly branched (ramosissima means many-branched) with smooth, dark brown to reddish-brown bark. Small leaves on green stems are alternate, overlap each other and appear scale-like (similar to a cedar tree). Foliage is salty to the taste. Flowers, borne in finger-like clusters on terminal and lateral branches, are small, pink to white and have five petals. Saltcedars are native to Eurasia, where they are an ornamental. They are now widespread in the United States, predominately along waterways in the western states.

For years all of us have floated down the river observing the invasive spread of the plant called Saltcedar. Saltcedar is the plant with the tall pink blossom plumes and cedar-like leaves (see de-tailed description elsewhere in this newsletter). Many have remarked that “this stuff is taking over” and “something should be done about the Saltcedar”. Well, Clint Krumm, Board member and Alliance Treasurer has made the decision to do something about it. He, along with the Alli-ance, is organizing a spraying program to eradi-cate the pest. Saltcedar is a noxious weed in Montana and most Western States and our efforts have the blessings of Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Department as well as other Agencies. Very “river friendly” herbicides are available and will cause no prob-lems to other plants when applied correctly. Any members interested in helping out with this very worthwhile effort please contact Clint or any other Board member. This is all hand work, spraying and marking one plant at a time. There are thousands of plants so volunteers would be very much appreciated.

Democrats

Chairman Jeff Bingaman (NM) Daniel K. Akaka (HI) Byron L. Dorgan (ND) Ron Wyden (OR) Tim Johnson (SD) Mary L. Landrieu (LA) Maria Cantwell (WA) Ken Salazar (CO) Robert Menendez (NJ) Blanche Lincoln (AR) Bernard Sanders (VT) Jon Tester (MT)

Republicans

Pete V. Domenici (NM) Larry E. Craig (ID) Lisa Murkowski (AK) Richard Burr (NC) Jim DeMint (SC) Bob Corker (TN) Jeff Sessions (AL) Jim Bunning (KY) Gordon Smith (OR) Mel Martinez (FL) John Barrasso (WY)

Showdown on the Bighorn: Clint Krumm vs. Saltcedar

U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources

Tamarix ramosissima and T. chinensis Common name: Saltcedar or Tamarisk

Please write the Senators in your state, especially those on the Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, and en-courage them to support Sen-ate bill S.307. (See complete bill on page 4).

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 PAGE 4

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 307

To establish a minimum rate of release for water from the Yellowtail Dam, Montana. (Introduced in Senate).

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 16, 2007 Mr. BAUCUS (for himself and Mr. TESTER) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL To establish a minimum rate of release for water from the Yellowtail Dam, Montana.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. YELLOWTAIL DAM, MONTANA.

(a) In General- Notwithstanding any other provision of law and except as provided in subsection (b), the preferred rate of release of water from Yellowtail Dam, located in Big Horn County, Montana, shall be not less than 2,500 cubic feet of water per second, with a minimum rate of release of 1,500 cubic feet of water per second.

(b) Exceptions- The minimum rate of release established under subsection (a) may be waived by the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation (referred to in this Act as the `Secretary')--

(1) in the event of an emergency, as determined by the Secretary; or

(2) if, for any reason, water levels in Bighorn Lake imminently preclude power generation at Yellowtail Dam, as determined by the Secretary.

(c) Purpose- The purposes for which the Yellowtail Unit of the Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin Program (authorized by section 9 of the Act of December 22, 1944 (commonly known as the `Flood Control Act of 1944') (58 Stat. 891)) is authorized shall include the maintenance of a healthy fishery on the portion of the Bighorn River, Montana, that is located downstream from the Yellowtail Dam.

(d) Coordination- The Secretary shall ensure that any reclamation project carried out within the Bighorn River wa-tershed shall be coordinated with other Reclamation projects within the watershed, including any projects overseen by the Montana Area Office or Wyoming Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation. END

Senate Bill S.307

CURRENTS PAGE 5

Once again it’s time for all existing members to renew their annual membership dues. If you’re not a member, please consider becoming one. The Bighorn River Alliance has been faithfully working on your behalf. In the past year, we’ve attended a number of interagency meetings concerning water flow issues. We’ve written letters to congressmen and Senators. We’ve discussed the merits of annual flushing flows with Montana FWP. We’ve conducted river cleanup days and helped eradicate noxious weeds. In short, we’ll continue to address any issue that concerns the preservation of the finest trout river in the world. Many thanks to those who have helped out in the past. Please continue with your finan-cial support. Send back the enclosed card with your check or credit card number. Membership categories are as follows:

Individual $20.00 Contributor $50.00 Donor $250.00 Sponsor $1000.00 and up

Bighorn River Alliance P.O. Box 7884 Fort Smith, MT 59035

Alliance Membership Dues

Alliance Leadership and Board Members

Michael Mastrangelo: President Hale Harris: Vice President

Clint Krumm: Treasurer Steve Hilbers: Secretary

Glen Strickland Carl Newell Eric Finsted

What the Bighorn is known for: big trout and smiling anglers

Statement of Purpose

Understanding that the Bighorn River is potentially the finest trout fishery in America, it is our purpose to preserve, protect, and enhance the quality of this fishery. In this understanding it is incumbent upon us, the users of the Bighorn to address the following issues and related concerns: • water flows

• Bag limits

• Angler populations

• Angler access • Trout populations

• Tackle restrictions

• Water quality

• Recreational easements and education • General aquatic biology All efforts shall be directed toward maximizing quality angling opportunity on the Bighorn River. It is further the purpose of this organization of anglers and professionals to develop positive relation-ships and work together with all management agencies involved with the well-being of the Bighorn River. Organizational membership will in no way be limited, but shall include as much representation as possi-ble from all users of the Bighorn River.

Preserving Protecting Enhancing