2023 Year End Review

Our team at the Madison River Foundation would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to those who have supported our conservation mission this year. Every donor, member, volunteer, and community member has played an integral role in the success of the foundation and the preservation of the Madison River. Read on to review our highlights of 2023!

Irrigation Ditch Fish Rescue

Between October 16th-20th, volunteers working with the MRF and FWP relocated more than 3,000 fish from the West Madison/Valley Garden irrigation canal back to the Madison River. Mature native brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout were returned to the mainstem of the Madison to continue their reproductive cycles. It's estimated that the volunteers spent a combined total of 1,800 hours walking the canals, catching fish, and transferring them via buckets to the river. Many members of the community rallied around the process, including students at the Madison Valley Adventure Academy and members of the Ennis High School Lady Mustangs Volleyball Team. Due to this hard work and commitment, thousands of fish were given a second chance at life and are continuing to thrive in their natural habitat.

Jack Creek Beaver Dam Analog Installation

In August, the MRF partnered with Jack Creek Preserve to install 3 beaver dam analog structures and 12 scour pools along sections of Upper Jack Creek. These structures will help reactivate historic floodplains in the area, revitalize surrounding riparian vegetation, restore eroded riverbanks, and supply water to nearby aquifers. We also hope to see more trout utilizing the slow, shallow pools, providing a place for Jack Creek campers to learn to fish! 

In October, foundation staff members accompanied Ennis Middle School students on a field trip to report on the progress of the analog structures and measure flow rate, water depth and temperature, and the riverbank profile. Students learned about the impact of beavers on riparian habitats and practiced conducting scientific measurements in the field. Jack Creek staff members Abi and Addison gave engaging presentations and the students spent a memorable afternoon hiking around the preserve! 

Montana State University Tributary Study

On October 5th, MRF staff member Casey assisted Dr. Lindsey Albertson, PhD student Sam Fritz, and masters students from the MSU ecology program as they sampled sections of Ruby Creek near the Red Mountain campground. The experiment was conducted to measure nitrogen uptake by macroinvertebrates and assess the health of the creek over multiple years. The samples were collected from 8pm to 3am under the light of a gibbous moon. The results of the study, along with 3 years of research on the creek ecosystem, will be published by MSU in 2024. 

River Cleanup

On August 19th, the MRF led the Annual Upper Madison River Cleanup efforts from Valley Garden to Hebgen Dam. A dozen volunteers participated and cleaned trash on foot and via driftboat along the river and at multiple takeout sites. The river cleanup was hosted in partnership with Madison-Gallatin Trout Unlimited, and volunteers at the Lower Madison gathered over 30 bags of trash.

 Events

International Fly Fishing Film Festival

The 2023 International Fly Fishing Film Festival was screened at the Madison Theatre on August 24th, which consisted of 8 short films produced by fly anglers from around the world showcasing the lifestyle and excitement of fly fishing. The foundation also screened the short film "They Call Me Madison," which illustrates the profound effect of the Madison River on our watershed, ecosystems, and community. Raffle prizes were awarded, drinks and snacks were enjoyed, and a great time was had by all!

Music on the Madison

Our first annual conservation appreciation concert, Music on the Madison, was a wonderful evening of live music, family fun, and community building! An estimated 500 people attended the event and multiple local organizations participated in the conservation fair, such as Jack Creek Preserve, Montana FWP,  the Forest Service, the Ennis Lion's Club, and more. Special thanks to our host, the Madison Double R, our headliner, Mark Mackay, and our Business sponsors: Madison Foods, Madison River Fishing Company, Montana Angler, and PureWest Christie's Real Estate. 

Watershed Speaker Series

This summer, the MRF partnered with the Madison Conservation District to host a series of lectures on conservation topics affecting the Madison River ecosystem. Presentations included: The State of the Madison by Mike Duncan, Drought Resiliency by Andrew Welch, Restoration Projects on the Madison by Tom Parker, Salmonflies in the West by Dr. Lindsay Albertson, and a Conservation Discussion Panel with Addison Perryman, Jon Hanson, and Marina Smith. 

Volunteer Opportunities

Many local community members worked with the Madison Conservation District on the Stream Team water monitoring project, visiting 4 creek sites weekly to monitor flow rate, temperature, and other river conditions and compile a log of citizen science data for MSU research projects. In August, the MCD conducted a Tributary Blitz, a one-day water quality sampling event of 16 tributaries of the Madison River. The information collected will be used to monitor the health of the tributaries and identify possible restoration opportunities. 

Madison Valley locals also donated their time to assist the Madison Valley Ranchlands Group in monitoring the growth of noxious weeds along the riverbank. Volunteers rowed drift boats, logged weed species on a web application, and marked areas for future weed pulls. 

Finally, members of the MRF taught skills such as fly tying, trail etiquette, and astronomy at the Jack Creek Preserve Outdoor Skills Camps in July and August. The MRF would like to thank everyone who volunteered their time and effort on projects this year!

If you would like to be added to our volunteer list for 2024, send us an email at info@madisonriverfoundation.org. 

Thanks for another great year! Here’s to the next!

-The MRF Team