When the Helena Independent Record’s mention of Montana DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) meetings on the Smith River algae issue popped up over the weekend, inquiring minds who have working knowledge of aquatic chemistry and biology questioned why the article failed to mention possible changes in nutrient levels as being a critical factor in the […]
Water Worth Saving
Interesting commentary article yesterday in the Salt Lake Tribune (Commentary: A New Way of Doing Business on Water) written by TU’s Scott Yates, director of the their Western Water and Habitat Program. An interesting read, and an able, concise overview of the System Conservation Pilot Program – an idea to pay water users (ranchers and […]
Not mine, Ours. from Trout Unlimited on Vimeo. The Smith River drainage is located south of Great Falls in Meagher and Cascade Counties of west-central Montana. The river drains the Big Belt Mountains on the west, and the Little Belt and Castle Mountains on the east. From the confluence of the North and South forks, […]
Despite a blast of winter this past Monday across most of Montana, a sizable contingent made it to Helena for a show of support at the Save Our Smith rally and the subsequent scoping meeting. Read an account from the Helana Independent Record here (their image above) and from a supporter who didn’t make it […]
Damn the snow, git ‘er done at the Smith River Scoping meeting in Helena.
Montana TU fired an email out on Saturday providing a bit more detail on the Smith River mine review process; talking to people over the weekend, there’s a bit of confusion as to exactly where we are in the review. MTU did such a nifty job of explaining, it’s worth looking at their email – […]
Details at Montana DEQ here.
86,000 Miles of Streams from Trout Unlimited on Vimeo. A cold water conservation story of wild trout and how their presence in Pennsylvania streams helps secure protection for the watershed in the face of shale gas development.
[Alternate Title: Why Is It So Hard to Tell the Damn Truth About the WOTUS? (Waters of the United States or Clean Water Rule of 2015)] A Fair (Trigger) Warning I clearly get it that most folks read fly fishing blogs because they love fly fishing; fly fishing is for many of us a powerful […]
TU recently posted a pretty fair update on the saga that is Tintina’s (mining company) objective to plant a mine in some of the most critical headwaters of Montana’s Smith River; read the full piece here. TU correctly notes that, after three tries, Tintina has, as of 14 August, had their permit approved, finally opening […]
Little Shasta, Big Heart from EcoLogic Films on Vimeo.
Montana Angler • Smith River from Brickhouse Creative on Vimeo.
As happens every summer, and in fact two weeks later than first restrictions in 2015 and 2016 (per the MT FWP press release), hoot owl restrictions have very appropriately been placed as of yesterday on several SW Montana watersheds prone to heating as summer flows ebb. [Cue up the alarmist reporting in three, two, one…] […]
Via Montana TU. Links aren’t active in the .jpg above; click here for the Smith River Watch site if you’ve not visited in a while. And while it’s become fashionable among those with IQs approximating their shoe sizes to shout down those they disagree with in public meeting venues of late, here’s to an evening […]
Both the New York Times and NJ.com have recently published pieces on the long standing (Supreme Court ruling 1954), delicately balanced river management accord which siphons water from the Delaware system to supply NYC with potable water. Temporary agreements have been cobbled together over the past several decades and are set to expire at midnight […]
