Help WestSlope TU and Montana FWP catch fish for science!

THE MEETING PLACE HAS CHANGED TO THE MISSOULA PUBLIC LIBRARY @ 10am!

WestSlope Chapter of Trout Unlimited's Website
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Study finds evidence that stream flow is more important than temperature for trout

Low flows on the Big Hole River 2015

A Montana-based study by Kovack et al. utilized data from around the world and found evidence that stream flow trumps water temps for trout survival in many cases.  These findings provide some hope that our trout friends have a chance in facing a warming climate because stream flows are usually controlled by people (ie. dams, irrigation, water use).

Read the paper here

"The Science News Cycle"

I love this cartoon from PHD Comics!

Saw-whet owl migration

This is a really fun event.  I went last night and they will be back on Sunday night to capture and tag more saw-whets.  Bring your kids and see the cutest owls EVER!

Young saw-whet owl getting measured for study

Join the Owl Research Institute Society for an onsite lecture and discussion on migrating Northern Saw-whet Owls at the Maclay Flats parking lot located on Blue Mountain Road west of Missoula . On Friday October 17th and Sunday October 19th from dark (7:30 until Midnight Denver Holt will talk about Northern Saw-whet Owls in the parking lot while owls are being banded, measured, weighed and released*. The Owl Research Institute located in the Mission Valley is currently trapping and banding migrating Northern Saw-whet Owls during the night at Maclay Flats as part of a long term study. The event is free and open to the public.
Bring warm clothing, flashlights and lawn chairs. Please remain in the parking lot so the trapping operation is not disturbed. For further information call Jessica Larson at 531-1957 after 900AM or email owlresearchinstitute@gmail.com.

In the name of science

It has been raining for days in western Montana.  It whooped my ass in the field and it's putting the breaks on the receding rivers.



The graph of the Clark Fork below Missoula is a good place to look for the general trend because all of the  westside rivers drain into it.

The Blackfoot tributaries are a pretty cool wade fishing option this time of year.  They are clear and manageable.  There's still a lot of water in all of our streams so be careful.

And now, science!

University of Montana greenhouse

Corn growing in soil samples taken from Mt. Sentinel (big M) and Mt. Jumbo (big L) and MPG Ranch.  This study is comparing soil biodiversity and chemistry between the soil in grasslands dominated by native plants and those heavily invaded by leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula).

And on a larger scale, I've also been involved in a very large project assisting the United States Forest Service.

Reading cover and plant species richness in the Helena National Forest

The US Forest Service sprays herbicides aerially from aircraft on a large scale.  They are mandated to control invasive species and this is the cheapest and most effective way to cover a lot of ground with chemicals.  But does it even work to control the invasive plant invasions?  Is it harming the native plant communities?  Is it an unnecessary waste of money that is doing more harm than good?  These are the questions our research is trying to answer.  As you can imagine, this heavy management of plant communities by use of chemicals in headwater drainages has indirect effects on fish and invertebrate communities.

A day at the office, guest photographer: T. Willis

Castilleja miniata - greater red Indian paintbrush, guest photographer: T. Willis  

Weekend full of fishing ahead.  More trout - less plants next post!