Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking nominations for individuals to serve on a workgroup to develop recommendations for the state’s fish management plan for three popular Upper Missouri River reservoirs.
The workgroup will lead the effort to identify, define, and recommend fish management and regulation approaches on Canyon Ferry, Hauser and Holter reservoirs and on the Missouri River below Hauser Dam. The group will provide recommendations to update and revise an existing plan that has guided the reservoirs’ fisheries management since 2000.
The workgroup will specifically address a number of fish-management issues, including use of live bait, stocking of hatchery-raised rainbow trout, regulations in the reserviors and tailwaters, forage-fish introductions, fishing tournaments, and more.
FWP Director Jeff Hagener explained that the public can help by submitting nominations. "We are looking for knowledgeable anglers, business owners, local government leaders, conservation-club members and others that have a proven ability and willingness to work together," Hagener said.
In 2007, Canyon Ferry, Hauser and Holter reservoirs accounted for 166,925 angler days of fishing and the reservoir system consistently accounts for 15 percent of total angling pressure for the state. Anglers who fished the reservoir system in 2007 spent more than $10 million on their trips, making the system’s economic benefits to local communities among the most valuable in the state.
"These reservoirs are among the most popular fishing destinations in Montana," Hagener said. "We want to ensure that we get the best representation possible on this workgroup."
FWP is seeking a diverse mix of committee members to represent organized warm - and coldwater angling groups, unaffiliated warm- and coldwater anglers, ice-fishing anglers, kids’ fishing, conservation-group members, fishing-tournament organizers, local landowners, fishing outfitters, local governments, local businesses, and other interests in the reservoir and river system.
Nominations must indicate how one’s experience fits the workgroup’s needed representation mix and the group’s purpose to identify, define, and recommend fish management and regulation approaches on the upper Missouri reservoir system, as well as their ability to work in a collaborative process.
Nomination forms must be submitted by Dec.1 to: Upper Missouri River Management Plan Committee, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; P.O. Box 200701; Helena, MT 59620-0701. E-mail nomination forms are available online at fwp.mt.gov/fishing. E-mail completed forms to umrrfmp@mt.gov .
Appointment of workgroup members will be announced in mid December. The first of six to eight meetings will be scheduled in early January in Helena. The council will meet periodically through 2009 and work toward submitting final recommendations to FWP.
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