Save Wild Trout Hires Science Lead to Investigate Jefferson Basin Fisheries Collapse
Save Wild Trout, a coalition of outfitters, businesses, concerned citizens, and national fly fishing companies working to develop science-based solutions for the Jefferson Basin fisheries collapse, has retained a scientist to lead the investigation. Dr. Kyle Flynn, a Montana-born engineer and scientist, has extensive experience working in both the public and private sector on water resource studies and is well-equipped to undertake an interdisciplinary study on the ecological emergency in the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Ruby, and Jefferson rivers.
“As an angler and long-time resident of southwestern Montana, the decline in wild trout population in the Jefferson Basin is concerning. A complementary, interdisciplinary study is critical to understanding the environmental stressors impacting salmonids in southwest Montana and I’m looking forward to working with Save Wild Trout and other project collaborators to make that happen,” said Dr. Kyle Flynn, a registered professional hydrologist and engineer with an academic and research background in water quality. “The issues we’re seeing in the Jefferson Basin are likely just the tip of the iceberg for cold water fisheries across the Mountain West. We need to find answers and develop common-sense solutions to protect cold water trout fisheries now and for future generations.”
“Dr. Flynn brings over two decades of expertise in the field of water resource management, working for and with key agencies and in the private sector. Plus, as a Montanan, he has a deep understanding of the region, the communities, and culture, and how critical healthy river ecosystems are to our livelihoods and way of life,” said Wade Fellin, Save Wild Trout organizer and co-owner of the Big Hole Lodge. “It’s just the science lead we need to help find answers and bring forward solutions for wild trout.”
Dr. Flynn will work collaboratively with local partners, state and federal agencies, fish biologists, and fish pathologists to evaluate key habitat and water-quality variables affecting large-scale wild trout declines across the basin, starting this summer and fall 2023. Save Wild Trout plans on installing several water monitoring sensors to gather key real-time data on water temperatures, dissolved oxygen levels, pH, and other environmental and ecological indicators, as well as to develop monitoring protocols to measure nutrients, toxics, and other pollutants or water-quality stressors.
Fish, Wildlife, and Parks still hasn’t identified the disease(s) that are ultimately manifesting in zombie dead and dying fish impacting wild trout and Mountain whitefish even though they are still being seen and caught throughout the basin. Understanding the disease(s) that are impacting wild trout will help identify all the causal factors, as well as implement science-based management solutions. The lack of urgency and coordination among federal, state, and local governments, and state agencies, particularly FWP, DEQ, and DNRC, is also concerning. Once causes have been identified, the data derived from the scientific study will be used to advocate for management solutions and regulatory reforms that will protect and bolster wild trout populations into the future. Read the latest update from Save Wild Trout to learn more.