MONTANA TROUT UNLIMITED

Montana Trout Unlimiteds exempt purpose achievements continue to include protecting and restoring trout habitat, advocating for clean water and wild fish management and educating the public on Montanas fishery issues.Examples of Montana TUs FYE 2025 accomplishments to protect water quality and quantity to benefit coldwater fisheries include:Reviewed and provided input on public land management activities and management plans as they relate to protecting water resources.We continue to monitor the mining plans and activities within the Smith River watershed. Engaged in the development of a watershed restoration plan and supported on-the-ground projects to improve water quality and quantity in the Smith. MTU continues to work with partners to monitor water quality conditions and press for mitigation of damages from selenium pollution in the Kootenai River and Lake Koocanusa.MTU continues to monitor a possible rare earth elements (REEs - neodymium and praseodymium) mine in the Sheep Creek tributary of the West Fork Bitterroot River.Participate in the Frenchtown Working Group to focus on and communicate about research and cleanup of the Smurfit-Stone site on the Clark Fork River below Missoula. Successfully pushed for additional groundwater and soil sampling to be conducted to better idenfiy sources and pathways of contamination to the river.Increased instream flow through water right changes, improved infrastructure and habitat restoration.Maintained fulltime staff in the Montana State Legislature (and in relevant interim committees during non-legislative session years) to advocate for policy that benefits coldwater fisheries.Montana Trout Unlimited strives to protect high-quality fish habitat and to restore degraded streams and watersheds. Our FYE 2025 accomplishments include:Provided funding for a full-time Jefferson Watershed Project Manager with a focus on improving irrigation and ranching practices to benefit instream flow.MTU continued to work with the Custer-Gallatin National Forest (CGNF) as part of a 5-year, $3M agreement to provide a full-time Beartooth Project Manager to complete restoration projects on the National Forest.Continued to partner other groups and Tribes to evaluate Montanore Minerals (subsidiary of Hecla Mining Company) plans to expand exploration mining under the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness.Continued to prioritize research of the fishery in southwest MT. Supporting the continued evaluation of fish samples and health surveys conducted by FWP and MSU PhD students.Healthy, abundant populations of wild trout are the best measure of Montana TUs success. We emphasize conservation of sustainable wild and native trout populations. Our actions the past year include. Funding portions of wild or native trout habitat improvement projects in the Blackfoot, Beaverhead, Missouri, Yellowstone, Clark Fork, and Bitterroot River watersheds.Securing funding to increase grant opportunities for restoration and conservation projects by local TU chapters. Lead statewide advocacy for coldwater fisheries management and funding by regularly communicating with, monitored, and advised state agencies, boards and commissions.Provided official comments and regular communications with FWP leadership/regional biologists and the F&W Commission regarding using best fishery science to manage MT streams and rivers.Participated at the annual Arctic Grayling Work Group meeting. Continued to work with the USFWS to pursue amendments to the EA for a project at Upper Red Rock Lakes to benefit grayling overwintering conditions.Assisted with renewed effort to suppress lake trout in the Swan Lake system to recover bull trout populations.Montana TU is first and foremost a people organization. Achieving our mission requires engaged members, supporters and partners. We strive to improve and protect the values the public treasures about rivers and trout: Educated the next generation of conservationists with one 5-day, overnight camp.Increased awareness of fisheries issues from responsible angling and fish handling, Hoot Owl information to ongoing concerns and opportunities like AIS, catch-and-release and Keep Em Wet.Helped train the next generation of angling guides in conservation priorities and strategies.Defended Montanas best-in-the nation Stream Access Law and public lands.