Jefferson River Closed To Angling Effective Midnight, Aug. 5

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The full length of the Jefferson River was closed to angling effective midnight, Saturday, Aug. 5 by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission during the commission’s regularly scheduled meeting today. In a related action, the Commissioners delegated authority to FWP Director, Pat Graham, to close the lower reach of the Big Hole River when that river hits 150 cfs at Melrose. The trigger point to close the lower reach of the Jefferson River is 250 cfs and the flow dropped below that level last night. The lower reach of the Big Hole River is running at around 170 cfs and is expected to reach its closure level of 150 cfs within a few days. "These rivers are in critical condition," said Larry Peterman, FWP Fisheries Administrator. "We are closing the Jefferson River to angling and will soon close the lower reach of the Big Hole to reduce the stress on the trout populations of these popular fisheries." The upper and middle reaches of the Big Hole River were closed in July to protect the river’s population of genetically pure Arctic grayling. The Jefferson is a popular sport fishery populated with brown and rainbow trout. Both of these rivers have the benefit of strong local organizations working cooperatively to keep water in these rivers through water conservation, reducing irrigation and other voluntary measures. The Big Hole Watershed Committee, a group of volunteers representing agriculture, municipalities, business, conservationists, anglers and federal, state and local agencies developed the Big Hole Drought Management Plan. The Jefferson River Watershed Council set 250 cfs as the trigger point to close the Jefferson in a drought management plan developed in the past few months. In addition to the fishing closure, local irrigators are voluntarily contributing water and the Watershed Council is attempting to maintain the in-stream flow in the Waterloo area to prevent the complete dewatering of this section of the river observed in 1988.