I’ve just recently been made aware of a fascinating spin in the ever evolving Madison River management saga – a movement to revitalize the board of the Madison River Foundation to (ostensibly) more broadly represent the diverse interests all who use the river.
By report, the board membership has dwindled to just three, all private landowners “upriver”; an attempt to confirm such with the MRF has been yet unanswered.
What follows ran recently in the Madisonian; it’s the “campaign announcement” for a group of individuals running for the board of the MRF (voting apparently opens today and closes 31 May). More to come.
In the last two years the Madison River Foundation has lost focus on its mission to preserve, protect and enhance the river. We are running for the Foundation’s board to return its focus to the ecology of the river. In the past, the Foundation focused on projects such as planting willows and installing fencing to stabilize the riverbanks of the Madison and its feeder creeks. These were volunteer activities that involved the membership and enhanced the river. We need to return to enhancing the river as the primary focus.
The current board has made their priority reducing public access to three stretches of the river, by prohibiting the use of boats in two sections and commercial use in a third. The foundation should not take positions on social issues that have no impact on the river environment. Especially positions that result in the personal advantage of a few board members over the community at large. These activities have alienated the community and former partner companies. The drift boat raffle had to be cancelled because no company would provide a boat. A fundraiser scheduled at a local brewery was cancelled because the MRF was told it was not welcome. Instead of alienating the local community we want to be partners with our surrounding communities.
We would partner with the Ennis Chamber of Commerce to help enhance and broaden the Fly Fishing Festival. This is a festival enjoyed by Foundation members and other anglers. It also gives an economic boost to the community near the end of the season. We also need to partner again with other conservation organizations in the Madison valley such as the Madison Conservation District and Trout Unlimited. Previously, the foundation financially supported the Conservation District’s conservation and restoration projects as well as their stream teams who gather data on the water quality. We need to engage in these partnering activities again and welcome partners.
Preserving, enhancing and protecting the river provides benefits to all of the river’s stakeholders. In that regard we put together a diverse group of Montana residents to run for the board. Our slate has anglers, guides, local business owners, former TU chapter presidents and a fisheries biologist. An organization that works to improve the river environment is needed. We believe that the Madison River Foundation can be that organization again if we are elected to the board. If you are a member of MRF and support our objectives please vote in the up coming election.
Dan Delekta, Russ Forness, Rich Gockel, Jim Kramer, Jay Frederick, Bob Frey, Jim Frey, Harry Murphy, and Brian Rosenberg.
