Page 15 - Flathead Beacon // 11.27.13

14 | NOVEMBER 27, 2013 NEWS FLATHEADBEACON.COM

Concerns Raised Over Unauthorized Cutting Along Upper Swan

Recent removal of logjams

and other woody debris

from bull trout habitat un-

derscores persistent issue

along prized waterways

By DILLON TABISH of the Beacon

In late September, Steve Wingard

embarked on a nine-day canoe trip down
the Upper Swan River. Originating from
the Mission Mountains, it’s an elabo-
rate loat that meanders through dense
timber stands and sharp turns, forcing
boaters to maneuver a multitude of ob-
stacles, most commonly, logjams. It’s
also a prized source of large trout that

attracts anglers from across the country.
Within a few days, Wingard’s exhila-
ration sullied as he came across a preva-
lent and illegal situation that, he says,
raises concerns about bull trout spawn-
ing grounds and damages to the river
and its banks.

At several points along the river,
Wingard discovered logjams and other A section of the upper Swan River where log jams and other woody debris were cut down by individuals.
fallen trees that were cut and cleared COURTESY PHOTO
from the passage and away from its and Parks biologist will conduct an on- “The Swan River has a lot of woody bull trout redds in the Swan drainage
banks. One particular section was sig- site inspection during the review to en- debris. Over time folks have cut their and found reduced levels yet again. The
niicantly altered by chainsaws, accord- sure that the proposed work does not way through certain parts that repre- basin-wide redd count has averaged
ing to Wingard.
damage wildlife habitat, ish species or sent safety hazards,” Rosenthal said. 555 during the last 19-year period, from
Logjams and other woody debris can the integrity of the river.
“It’s not something I’m super familiar 1995 through 2013. The 2013 basin-wide

provide key habitat for bull trout and Wingard contacted the Lake County with.”
count of 335 is similar to the previous
other ish species, but they can also pres- Conservation District, the oice tasked He added, “In my experience, it’s al- three years, and is approximately 40
ent a nuisance and unsafe obstacles for with issuing 310 permits on the Upper ways been pretty minimal. The amount percent below the 19-year average. Non-
anglers and loaters.
Swan, and oicials told him none had of cutting that folks have done is pretty native lake trout are considered a large
Beyond afecting ish, removing log- been issued for cutting along that sec- insigniicant.”
factor in the bull trout population’s de-
jams can lead to changes in the river tion of river, according to Wingard.
Rosenthal acknowledged that a large cline, and gillnetting operations contin-
channel or erosion issues on public and Administrators with the conserva- amount of clearing on the river could ue on Swan Lake to try and reduce the
private property. Some landowners have tion district were attending an annual present problems to ish habitat, and lake trout population.

even posted signs along the Upper Swan conference last week and could not be that FWP encourages individuals to un- Wingard remains concerned about
trying to deter the type of log cutting reached for comment.
dergo proper review before any work is prevalent cutting along the Swan River.
that Wingard ran across.
Wingard also contacted FWP and in- done.
He contends that everyone and anyone
In order to cut away logjams or un- quired about the cutting.
“We do encourage folks to go through who plans to change the habitat should
dertake any other work in or near a “Right now, people are doing what that process so we can evaluate anytime do so legally.
stream on public or private land, indi- they want and FWP and law enforce- people will take wood out of the stream “It’s a delicate area and it’s also a hab-
viduals must undergo a review process ment are looking the other way,” he said.
or propose any stream channel chang- it of a protected species (bull trout),” he

and obtain authorization through a 310 FWP isheries biologist Leo Rosen- es,” he said. “It would be the best case said. “You have to tread lightly in places
permit, in accordance with the Montana thal acknowledged the cutting of some scenario to evaluate all of these all of the like that. Going about it legally is impor-
Natural Streambed and Land Preserva- logjams along the Upper Swan in an in- time.”
tant. If you cut people loose, they’ll go
tion Act. A conservation district repre- terview last week, but downplayed the Rosenthal and other FWP biologists over the top as far as cutting.”
sentative and a Montana Fish, Wildlife
signiicance.
recently inished the annual survey of
[email protected]

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