Big Hole, Jeff rivers to close

By Nick Gevock, of The Montana Standard - 08/16/2007

Low stream flows have prompted the state to shut down all fishing on the Big Hole and Jefferson rivers starting Friday.

Officials with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks announced the closures Wednesday, citing the low flows in both streams that have fallen below thresholds established in each river’s drought management plan. The closures will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday and remain in place until streamflows rise.

“Flows on these rivers have reached critical levels, which warrant full closures per the drought plans developed by the respective Big Hole and Jefferson community watershed committees,” Bruce Rich, FWP regional fisheries manager, said in a press release.

The closure on the Big Hole affects the 102 miles from the mouth of the North Fork north of Wisdom to its confluence with the Beaverhead near Twin Bridges. The stretch of the Big Hole River upstream from there was already closed to fishing and will remain closed.

The Big Hole was flowing at 143 cubic feet per second at Melrose Wednesday, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey. That is just over a third its normal flow for the same date of 403 cfs.

The entire 77 miles of the Jefferson River from near Twin Bridges to Three Forks will be shut down to fishing under the order, FWP said. The river was at a meager 31 cfs at Silver Star, well below the median flow for Aug. 15 of 45 cfs.

River closures are tough for outfitters, but Four Rivers Fishing Co. co-owner Dan Leavens said he supports the move based on the drought management plan.

“You’ve got to put the fish first and these conditions definitely warrant closing the rivers,” he said.

Irrigators are also hurting as southwest Montana weathers another abysmal year for snowpack and streamflows, said Emily Smith, a rancher near Glen. She said most ranchers are haying and not irrigating now anyway, and many have voluntarily cut back on pulling water from the river to help the situation.

“There just isn’t water in there,” she said.

Officials said the closures will remain in effect until conditions improve.

More information about the closures can be found on FWP’s Web site at http://fwp.mt.gov/news/drought/default.html.

Reporter Nick Gevock may be reached via e-mail at nick.gevock@lee.net.