New York Times: 'Zombie Trout' Unsettle Montana, Long a Fly-Fishing Mecca
In case you missed it, the declining and historically low wild trout populations in the world-class Big Hole, Ruby, and Beaverhead rivers garnered national attention in a recent story by the New York Times. Save Wild Trout was featured prominently for our work advocating, organizing, and helping study and identify solutions in order to protect and preserve SW Montana's incredible wild trout fisheries.
Fly fishing isn't just economically important for the region and state (which it is); it's also woven into the very fabric of who we are as people. As you know, Montana is home to the last intact wild trout fisheries in the lower 48 states. The state does not stock hatchery trout, but instead works to maintain self-sustaining wild trout populations through management of the public resource. After Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks' (FWP) fish surveys found wild trout populations at historic lows and little to no recruitment, we jumped into action by sending a letter to Montana Governor Gianforte requesting an emergency response, forming Save Wild Trout, developing a game-plan, and hiring a lead scientist, who is already gathering valuable data that will inform targeted responses and near-term conservation opportunities. You can't manage what you don't know.
Everyone shares and values a river that is brimming with life, and we all have a stake in protecting and preserving that shared public resource. Montanans have overcome a lot of natural resource challenges, and we can no doubt solve the unprecedented decline of SW Montana's wild trout populations if we work together to proactively find and implement durable, science-based solutions.
Our hope is that how we respond to this crisis can be a road-map that helps other rivers and cold water fisheries across the state, nationally, and even internationally.
One thing we can't continue to do is put our heads in the sand, ignore the problem, and hope it goes away. That's been the business-as-usual response since population numbers started dropping over six years ago. By the numbers, SW Montana's trout populations are not in a natural cycle and expected to rebound, and likewise there isn't much stock in hoping for miraculous recoveries. Now more than ever it's time to think creatively, draw on best-available science, and critically re-examine our river and fishery management paradigms to determine what's working, and what's not, when it comes to protecting and conserving wild trout.
Save Wild Trout members, business owners, guides, outfitters, community members, and trout advocates have a stake and an important voice when advocating for greater action and implementing solutions by those overseeing and managing our public resources.
What can you do?
Contact MT FWP: Inquire about zombie trout pathology/disease testing and its status, and request a detailed plan of action, including planned cooperation with other agencies and local and federal partners as well as the financial and staff resources committed to this crisis.
Contact FWP Commissioners: Inquire about what they are doing to address the collapse of these fisheries, how they are working with FWP and holding them accountable to ensure the zombie trout pathology/disease testing is completed, the need for the agency to publicly release a detailed plan of action with financial and staff resource allocation, and communicate with the community and public.
Contact Governor Gianforte's Office: Request an emergency declaration to unlock additional resources and engage other impacted state agencies along with federal and local government partners, and request the formation of a cold water fisheries task force to respond to this crisis, much like former Gov. Marc Racicot did when whirling disease was plaguing wild trout in the '90s.
Contact your elected officials: Reach out to your elected officials to inform them of this crisis and ask what they are doing to save wild trout now and for future generations.
Share and ask others to join and donate to SWT: Share the story in your networks, follow and share Save Wild Trout's social media posts (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) and ask for support by donating and signing up at SaveWildTrout.org.
This is an all-hands-on-deck moment for all those that care about wild trout and vibrant, healthy rivers. Our mission is simple: to protect wild trout for the benefit of all. Let's go!
