By Michael Howell
As recreational use of the Bitterroot River continues to increase, officials have begun a process for considering potential rules to address issues of overcrowding. The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks began by doing a couple of surveys to determine what, if any, concerns people had about their recreational opportunities and experience on the river.
According to FWP fisheries manager Pat Saffel, the surveys showed that 90% of the recreational use was for fishing. Commercial use by fishing outfitters was highest on the upper West Fork. A follow-up survey was done of Ravalli County fishermen and a significant number stated that they fished less these days due to overcrowding.
“The biggest complaint, by far, was too many outfitters,” said Saffel. Based on those survey results, it was decided to put a volunteer committee together to consider options. The Bitterroot River Recreational Advisory Committee, consisting of sixteen members, at least six of whom are outfitters, was formed last December. The committee met in two two-day sessions about two weeks apart and developed six different alternatives for consideration. They also came to a consensus about a single “preferred alternative.”
The preferred alternative divides the river into four sections. The first section stretches from the dam at Painted Rocks to the Canoe Fishing Access Site across from the West Fork Ranger Station. The second section stretches from the Canoe FAS to the Hannon FAS. The third section is from Hannon FAS to Darby and the fourth is from Darby to the Wally Crawford FAS. According to the preferred plan, each section would be closed to commercial fishing one day per week on consecutive days.
“The important thing to note is that commercial fishing will be allowed every day on most sections of the river and will only be closed on one section one day a week,” said Saffel.
Saffel said the no-action alternative was not a realistic option.
“We all pretty much agree that something ought to be done,” said Saffel. He said that the other alternatives all involved some sort of restrictions on commercial fishing, some with more restrictions than the preferred option and at least one with less. He said some consideration was also given to potentially issuing a special recreation permit for commercial operators and limiting boat launches to two per day in each section. There was also some thought given to capping the number of commercial outfitters that could use the river.
Saffel said that this list of alternatives was just a starting point in what promises to be a long process.
“We aren’t going to have any rules in place this summer,” he said. He said there will be opportunity for wider public comment on the alternatives that the committee has produced and new ones could be added as an Environmental Analysis of the alternatives is developed. Saffel said that the advisory committee will meet one more time at the Bitterroot National Forest Supervisor’s office in Hamilton on Monday, March 6 at 6 p.m. to go over the list of alternatives and the be sure that there is complete consensus on the preferred alternative before moving forward.
The final decision about any rules would be made by the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission following a public hearing on the proposal.