Member News
Ditch Rescue “Bucket Brigade” Returns 2,500 Trout to the Madison River November 5, 2007 : Volunteers from the Madison River Foundation and others from the Ennis area pulled on waders and rubber boots, grabbed nets and buckets, and this past weekend rescued more than 2,500 trout from the west Madison canal. Led by Foundation board member Dave Bricker of Ennis and Pat Clancy of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, two dozen volunteers of the fish rescue “bucket brigade” returned the trout to the Madison River from the ditch where they were stranded when the water was shut down for the winter. In addition to Madison River Foundation members, volunteers came from the Madison-Gallatin Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Headwaters Fly Fishers. Local fly shops also joined in the effort. Foundation board member Nancy DiMeola of Madison River Fishing Company in Ennis and Nancy Delekta of Beartooth Fly Fishing in Cameron wielded nets in the effort to save as many fish as possible from suffocation.
“The fish rescue has become an annual event,” said Foundation executive director Richard Lessner. “Once the magnitude of the problem was realized, once it was learned how many fish were dying in the ditch, the community swung into action.” The fish rescued ranged from two inches to a 24-inch whopper brown trout. Fish & Wildlife conducted ditch shocking over the summer in an effort to learn when and how many fish are getting into the 15-mile long canal that runs along the west side of the Madison from above Eight Mile Ford to Valley Garden. Even though many of the fish in the canal do not survive the de-watering, the rescue managed to return thousands more to the river.
“All those involved in the rescue work closely with the managers of the ditch,” Lessner said. “They give us advanced notice of plans to shut down the headgate which allows us time to assemble the bucket brigade.“ The willingness of people to come out on a cold November morning, volunteer their time over a weekend, and slog though mud and muck to rescue fish demonstrates the passion folks in this area have for the Madison River and its trout resource. We also appreciate the cooperation of local landowners who give us permission to access the ditch on their properties.
First Annual ‘Friend of the Madison’ Award at Gala Benefit Banquet September 3, 2007 : Bruce Belles, the president of ClackaCraft Drift Boats of Clackamas, Oregon, was presented with the first annual Friend of the Madison Award during the Madison River Foundation’s Gala Benefit Banquet held August 31 at Moonlight on the Madison.
The award was presented to Belles by foundation president Storrs Bishop of Ennis and executive director Richard Lessner of Cameron. The award is given to an individual or organization that has shown significant support for the Madison River Foundation or has made an important contribution to the protection and preservation of the Madison River.
“Bruce Belles and ClackaCraft have demonstrated significant support for our foundation,” Lessner said. For three years in a row ClackaCraft has donated a brand new drift boat to the foundation. All of the proceeds from the raffle of these boats, 100 percent, have gone to the foundation to support its advocacy and conservation work on river and the associated environment.
“ClackaCraft is the single largest donor to the foundation and this award recognizes the generous support Bruce Belles has shown over the years. To have the support of a company such as ClackaCraft, which is the leader in its industry, is an important endorsement of the foundation and its mission.”
This year’s award was a beautifully framed sculpture in relief of a cutthroat trout by Sheridan, MT artist Betty Staley. “Our hope is that this annual award will grow in prestige as we seek to recognize those who have made major contributions to the foundation and the river it seeks to preserve,” Lessner said.