Project Updates
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Partnership : We will conduct a scientific survey of Madison River users and landowners in the summer of 2008. The purpose of this survey is to ascertain the views of river users regarding the quality of their experience on the Madison, especially focusing on such issues as the numbers of public using the river, the kinds of use, potential conflicts among users, etc.
Grayling Creek : Progress on the data collection and survey portion of this project has been slow. Several design issues still need to be addressed. Mapping has been completed, but full channel restoration may be difficult. This is on-going.
Wigwam Creek : The Foundation, the Madison-Gallatin Chapter of Trout Unlimited and PPL Montana have shared the cost of the NEPA analysis for a proposed fencing enclosure for the section of Wigwam Creek where in-stream improvements have been made over the past two summers. No actual on-the-ground work was done in the stream this year, but it is anticipated that volunteer labor will be used to help install fencing during the 2008 season should there be no problems posed by the NEPA process.
Lake Creek (Smith Lake) : Foundation board members have taken active roles in helping move this project forward. Cooperation of an Owners Association was secured (with the help of a private land owner) to find what appears to be a suitable alternate location for a well to eliminate the need to pump water from Smith Lake. This project will become a high priority for the 2008 season.
Madison Valley Water Summit : The Foundation was one of four sponsors (the others being The Madison Valley Ranchlands Group, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks and the Madison County Planning Board) of a valley wide “water summit” held in July to talk about issues relating to water and growth. More than ninety residents came together to hear presentation of water-related topics and to tour a wetland restoration on O‘Dell Creek.
Madison Growth Solutions : Several Foundation members and directors are involved in a local collaborative process called Madison Growth Solutions. This process has been instrumental in getting the Madison County Board of Commissioners to adopt a Growth Management Action Plan for the Madison Valley.
Adopt a Highway : The Foundation has “officially” adopted a one mile stretch of a county road that passes one of the state‘s Fishing Access Sites. Volunteers pick up trash along the section of road three times a year.
Fish Rescue : The November 2007 “Fish Rescue” effort on the West Madison Canal was very successful for two reasons. 1) Over 2,500 fish were returned to Madison River with a heavy turnout of volunteers. 2) This year‘s activity attracted strong media attention and greatly heightened public awareness of the ongoing problem of fish being trapped in the canal when irrigation water is shut off. Coupled with the dedicated efforts of Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists who conducted a fish count survey during the summer, a permanent solution to this issue may now be forthcoming.
Fish count in West Madison Canal : Staff from the Ennis Fisheries Office of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks periodically electro-shocked three sections of the West Madison Canal this summer to determine how many, what species, and when fish enter this irrigation system from the main channel of the Madison River. A board member has accompanied fisheries staff on a number of occasions to assist in this effort. This information will help demonstrate the need to find a way to keep these fish from entering the canal.