By
Marshall Bloom, BRTU
As we all
hunker down the cool rainy weather, here are a few bits that may be of
interest:
FISHING LICENSES
Don’t
forget your 2012 license. The MFWP On-Line Licensing system makes doing this
from home a snap, especially when you realize the night before that trip to the
Smith you forgot to get one. Here is the website: https://app.mt.gov/Als/Index
MONTANA BECOMING AN OUTDOOR WOMAN (BOW)
BIRDING WORKSHOP
Liz Lodman,
Montana BOW Coordinator (llodman@mt.gov), gave a great presentation at a
recent BRTU meeting last fall and has sent along the following information about
an upcoming workshop.
On June
22-24, the Montana BOW program is sponsoring a birding workshop. The workshop
is primarily for the beginning birder and will help participants improve bird
identification skills while viewing a variety of birds found in the Ninepipe
National Wildlife Refuge area.
The
workshop runs Friday evening through Sunday noon and is based out of Ninepipes
Lodge in Charlo. If you plan to attend this workshop please contact
Ninepipes Lodge to make your reservation. 406-644-2588, http://ninepipeslodge.com/index.html
 |
| Click http://fwp.mt.gov/education/bow/workshops.html for more info |
Lodging
arrangements are the responsibility of the participants. Sign
up with a friend and share a room at the hotel. The workshop registration
fee includes all meals and supplies for the class.
The registration form is shown in the images
and information is also on the BOW web page at: http://fwp.mt.gov/education/bow/workshops.html
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PUBLIC LANDS.
It’s a fine
old Bitterroot tradition to slam public lands and recreation as a drain on the
local economy and an impediment to community vitality. Of course, most of us
realize that this is a bromide of antediluvian proportions, but a recent
conference held in Whitefish provided some compelling data about the economic
value of public lands in Montana.
Chris Mehl,
who is policy director of Headwaters Economics stated it clearly when he said,
“So not only are counties with a higher percentage
of federally protected lands enjoying more job growth, but people are finding
that they can perform the same high-level work here as they can in bigger
markets.”
Here is the
link to an article in the May 12 Missoulian reporting on the conference. http://missoulian.com/business/montana-inbusiness/montana-s-public-lands-help-drive-job-growth-report-says/article_2a465928-9ca2-11e1-8814-0019bb2963f4.html
PROTECTING BULL TROUT IN SWAN LAKE.
Montana FWP
has prepared an environmental analysis (EA) that
recommends continuing a program to reduce non-native, predacious lake trout at
Swan Lake. The illegally introduced lake trout threaten one of the nation's
most important bull trout populations as well as an important sport fishery for
kokanee salmon in Swan Lake.
Montana
TU has issued an Action Alert asking folks to support this EA. A copy of the
Action Alert is attached. If you have questions, contact the Montana TU Office
at 543-0054.
JUNE 2 TU BURNT FORK
REVEGETATION PROJECT.
Volunteers
are needed to ! Please join us!
Your
help on this project will have an immediate positive impact on the health of
the Burnt Fork! Over the past year, Trout Unlimited installed a mile of
riparian fencing on the Ellison Cattle Company property, just East of
Stevensville. Portions of the stream need to be planted with riparian
vegetation to provide shade and stabilize the streambank. Please consider
lending a hand for all or part of the day! You’ll get a sack lunch!
The
work crew will meet on Saturday June 2nd 10 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the
Stevensville Ranger District Office at 10 a.m. (88 Main St.
Stevensville MT). Folks from Missoula are meeting at west side parking lot of
the south Walmart at 9 a.m. to car pool.
For
more information or to RSVP, please contact Nick Littman ph. 541-1195 or nlittman@tu.org
SEPTEMBER 28 BRTU BANQUET
We
are starting to work on the banquet. We really need some volunteers. This will
be our 33rd annual banquet! Please let me know if you are willing to
assist. drtrout@mtbloom.net
