Wednesday, May 30, 2012

BRTU News - Memorial Day 2012 Edition, lots of news

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.”


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