2024 Partner Float- Fisheries

Humbled for the opportunity to host a partner float most every summer. Each year we pick a different theme and invite partner agency, organization, and stakeholder reps to join us on the river to strengthen partnership and dive into conversation. This year we hosted an array of partners to chat fisheries: trends, population health, monitoring, river management, history and so much more. Limited capacity for attendees is always the hardest part, as we wish we could fit every stakeholder.

Working on the Flathead Headwaters we are fortunate to have so many working together to ensure the health of our unique fisheries: tribes to agency to outfitters to an array of organizations to those fishing. Flathead River system is one of the last strongholds for the native westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi). MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks fisheries biologists have led some of the largest conservation projects in the country aimed at restoring native westslope cutthroat trout, on the three forks of the Flathead River.

Flathead Beacon: Angler Pressure, Data Gaps and Rising Water Temperatures Present Management Challenges on Flathead River, by Maggie Dresser
https://flatheadbeacon.com/2024/08/09/angler-pressure-data-gaps-and-rising-water-temperatures-present-management-challenges-on-flathead-river/

Attendees: American Rivers, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Bureau of Reclamation, Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, Flathead National Forest, Flathead Rivers Alliance, Glacier National Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, North Fork Preservation Association, National Parks Conservation Association, Guide, & Other stakeholders

Westslope cutthroat trout photo courtesy: Jeremiah Watt

Many thanks to Sawyer Paddles and Oars for donating oars, YETI for donating IGBC cooler, Flathead Valley Trout Unlimited and private donors for sponsoring and Glacier Raft Company and NRS for giving us a boost to purchase our FRA raft and frame, Flathead Electric Cooperative, Inc. Roundup for Safety grant covering all river safety gear and Creature Craft team rep Jess J. And Beth A. for loaning their extra trailer to make floats like this possible along with our river monitoring and ambassador efforts.