It sounds more like a detective story or a spy novel than science. A “snip” is obtained from the subject for DNA identification purposes. A transmitter is hidden on the subject to track his whereabouts. But in this case the subject is a bull trout living in the Bitterroot River and one of its tributaries. And the detectives are fisheries biologists looking for answers to at least some of the questions that surround this curious and threatened native species.

This summer and last, local Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks fisheries research biologist Leslie Nyce has been collecting fin clips from bull trout in the East Fork of the Bitterroot River to establish some baseline identification data for the bull trout population in the river there. Transmitting devices have also been implanted on six fish to track their movements as they migrate up the tributaries.

The State of Montana began development of a bull trout restoration plan in 1993. The final plan, published in June 2000, identifies 115 bull trout core areas and connecting nodal habitat within twelve Restoration/Conservation Areas (RCAs); sets goals, objectives and criteria for restoration; outlines actions to meet those criteria; and establishes a structure to monitor implementation and evaluate effectiveness of the plan. The stated goal of the plan is to ensure the long-term persistence of complex (all life histories represented), interacting groups of bull trout distributed across the species' range and manage them for sufficient abundance… within restored RCAs to allow for recreational utilization.

The information Nyce and team are obtaining aims at possibly answering a few questions about the local population of “fluvial” bull trout. Fluvials are fish that migrate from the small tributaries where they were born to a larger stream or river for a few years before returning to the tributary of their birth in order to spawn there.

“These fish show high site fidelity and a keen homing instinct,” said Nyce. She said that the results of her study in the long term may yield knowledge about the extent of interaction between populations spawning in various tributaries, as well as the extent of hybridization going on between bull trout and rainbow trout. It may allow scientists to determine which tributaries are currently contributing the most to the bull trout population. This knowledge would help in forming a local management plan designed to ensure the species survival in the area.

“We have seen a decline here,” said Nyce. She said that FWP bull trout population monitoring data shows that we are experiencing a decline in the larger fluvial fish, fifteen inches or longer. Nyce said that the DNA information provides better track of population trends than past methods and is much less costly. She called the past telemetry methods expensive and time consuming in comparison.

For a week or so this summer another team of scientists was also in the Bitterroot getting “snips” of all kinds of fish and some amphibians. That team included fisheries research scientists Kevin McKelvey, Michael Schwartz and Michael Young from the Rocky Mountain Research Station, Forestry Sciences Laboratory in Missoula.

Young said that the entire Columbia River Basin was being surveyed for habitat designation.

“We want to add the fish component to that,” he said. The intent is to match fish sampling with the ongoing habitat sampling, in which most streams are surveyed every 5 years and others are surveyed annually. This would lead to a yearly sample of up to 300-400 streams. In all about 1,800 streams in the basin would be sampled.

This is the first year of a three-year study in western Montana and parts of Idaho as part of that program.

This team in its research proposal also noted that, “Previous efforts to directly monitor fish populations have concentrated on estimating population size. However, obtaining reliable information on fish abundance is difficult, labor-intensive, and expensive, and is typically gathered on a regular basis only for a few high-profile populations.”

According to Young, the results of the study may be to fine tune population estimates and possibly demonstrate a correlation between habitat and actual population. It would also add a lot of specific information about species distribution and perhaps allow researchers to trace the development and spread of the fish historically throughout the basin.

Open Lands Bond program thriving

By Michael Howell

The Ravalli County Commissioners made a big step in the ongoing county Open Lands Bond program recently when the board agreed, on September 29, to issue $2.5 million in bonds to fund the current batch of four conservation easements already approved under the program and a few more that are under consideration.

Voters approved a $10 million Open Lands Bond program in November 2006. Since then the County has proceeded to approve participation in at least four conservation easements designed to protect open lands in the valley. Through the Open Lands Board, payment is approved to facilitate the placement of conservation easements on private property, limiting future development and preserving open space and agriculture. The money can cover the administrative costs of creating the conservation easements and also may cover a portion of the appraised value that the landowners are relinquishing in the deal.

So far the commissioners have approved four projects. They include easements over 265 acres of the Wood Family Ranch located north of Hamilton, 144 acres of the Bell Family Ranch west of Hamilton, 840 acres on the Sawtooth Ranch southwest of Hamilton, and 409 acres on the Lost Horse Creek Ranch southwest of Hamilton. This makes a total of 1,658 acres so far placed in easements through the program. The total appraised value of the conservation easements is $3.79 million, but the approved bond expenditures total only $1.27 million. The difference is considered to be the landowners’ contribution to the process.

By approving the issuance of $2.5 million in open land bonds, the commissioners are balancing the need to make payments for the easements with the high costs of bond issuance. The more conservation easements that can be covered by a single bond issuance the better, but bonds must be used within three years of issuance, meaning the commissioners would not want to issue too much in bonds and not be able to use it in the required timeline. They settled on the $2.5 million figure as a conservative figure that would cover the existing easements and another $1 million that may reasonably come down the pipeline in the next few years.

The latest conservation easement to be approved under the program was the Lost Horse Creek Ranch owned by Stan and Sherry Swartz. That 409-acre easement had an appraised value of $2.1 million; the bond expense approved for it was $409,000. In this case the landowners matched the bond expenditure in a ratio of 4 to 1. This is one of the highest landowner matches next to the Bell Family Ranch which was a five to 1 match as the Bells only accepted $39,900 in bond money for administration costs and took the entire appraised value of $239,000 as a loss, that is, their contribution.

Gavin Ricklefs, Executive Director of the Bitterroot Land Trust, which has handled all the projects so far included in the county’s Open Lands Bond program, said that the Swartzes were “the most remarkable land stewards I’ve ever met.”

He also said that the land being placed under the conservation easement has all the important values to be considered in such a program.

There is working agriculture involved, he said, with 40 acres of irrigated hayfield, scenic open space with a view of Como Peaks. Lost Horse Creek runs down the middle of it creating a dense riparian area through the property. There are also a few semi-resident elk herds.

“There are elk using various parts of the property all year round,” said Ricklefs. He said there are moose and other critters as well. He said it is the biggest contiguous private land holding in the Lost Horse drainage.

The fact is, he said, it’s got the kind of water resources, the wildlife and the agriculture that you look for in easements like this and the landowner was willing to swallow 82 percent of the appraised value of the land as his own contribution. He said not only is all the value there, but the land itself is already actually split into 40 separate parcels that could immediately be sold separately for development.

“The opportunity for future division of this property was great,” said Ricklefs. “They could sell one parcel along the creek for what they are getting for this conservation easement.”

“We know it’s a very special piece of property,” said Stan Swartz. “It’s got tremendous wildlife habitat, good grassland, an active farm, with incredible riparian values along the creek.”

Swartz said that the Bitterroot Valley has lost a lot of open land to development, making conservation of some more important than ever.

Other landowners throughout the valley have also placed conservation easements on over 75 properties totaling over 27,800 acres. Those landowners get tax benefits for the loss in appraised value of the land. By going through the Open Lands Bond program, property owners have a chance of recouping some of the appraised value of the land as well.

Bridge dedicated to valley’s veterans

Governor on hand for bridge dedication

By Michael Howell

Montana’s Governor Brian Schweitzer and Department of Transportation Director Jim Lynch showed up last Tuesday, October 13, to dedicate the new Veteran’s Bridge where Highway 93 crosses the Bitterroot River just north of Hamilton. Scores of Legionnaires were present to help celebrate the dedication. They presented the colors, a special dedication wreath and fired off a volley of rifles in salute.

Director of the Montana Department of Transportation Jim Lynch called it “a great day for me for a lot of reasons”. He recited a litany of the bridge’s structural characteristics and dimensions and said that dedicating such a solid and sturdy bridge on behalf of the veterans was a great honor.

Governor Schweitzer also called it a great day and an honor to dedicate the bridge to all veterans. Schweitzer said that he is one who is often critical of government spending.

“But I can assure you today that this is the right investment for the right reasons and it’s great to be here to dedicate it,” said Schweitzer.

He said that the old bridge had served the community for 69 years. Turning to MDOT director Jim Lynch, he said, “Will you guarantee that this one will last 69 years?”

“Yes, and some more,” said Lynch.

State Representative Gary MacLaren, who was instrumental in getting the bridge dedicated to the veterans, described how the decision about the name came about. He said that he was contacted a few years ago by Alex Ivanoff, commander of Corvallis American Legion Post 91, who suggested that the bridge be dedicated to the veterans. An interested group was formed including Dan Meyer, Jerry Esmay, Edna Masker and Bob Lake.

“At first we considered naming it Veteran’s Memorial Bridge,” said MacLaren, “ but then we thought that it might be taken to mean only past veterans and we wanted it to be for all veterans both living and deceased. So we settled on Veteran’s Bridge.”

Instead of floating the wreath down the river it was decided on the spur of the moment to hang it on the new highway sign naming the bridge. An entourage of public officials including the Governor, Lynch, County Commissioner Kathleen Driscoll, State Representatives Gary MacLaren and Ron Stoker carried it across the highway and hung it on the highway sign that states: Veteran’s Bridge.

Stevensville Town Council

Council hears audit report

By Michael Howell

The Stevensville Town Council heard from auditor Bob Denny about the 2007-2008 fiscal year. He said that in the big picture the only outstanding infraction of accepted procedures was what he called “a payroll glitch” in 2007 when the payroll fund did not clear appropriately and the town exceeded its authority by overspending $31,000 from the general fund.

Other comments in the audit included an illegal investment of town funds in out-of-state CDs, and a lack of internal controls, i.e. checks and balances, in the Town Court. He noted that without a mileage log, reimbursement of the Fire Chief and Assistant Chief should be entered as wages with deductions made. He said the Town needed a capitalization policy and suggested that over $5,000 be termed an asset while under $5,000 would be supplies. He said that the Town could consider keeping two versions of their report, one for insurance purposes and one for reporting to the state.

He noted that the building code enforcement program had operated over budget. He said the Town’s cash reconciliation was out of balance by $39,000 in 2007 and by $19,000 in 2008. He said there was also a lack of checks and balances in the water and sewer billing department. And a lack of supporting documentation for many claims including credit card charges.

He noted that the town needed to consider the status of its pledged securities. He said that if the banks used by the town had gone bust in 2007 that the Town would have lost $337,000 and if they had gone bust in 2008 the town would have lost $98,000.

The auditor also noted that the Town needed to continue to work towards integrating the Fire Department into the town budget.

In other business the Town Council:

- approved hiring a temporary building inspector at $15 per hour to temporarily replace building inspector Don Rainey who is out on sick leave.

- approved signing a quit claim deed turning ownership of the library building over to the North Valley Library District.

- agreed to allow a representative of AFLAC insurance to talk to town employees outside of regular business hours.

- refused to pay for shooting range memberships for Father Joe who has quit the Reserve Officer force and for Judge Barbara “Skip” Kohn. Membership for other police officers and reserve officers was paid.

- heard from the Department of Commerce that $8,580 of a $15,000 CDBG grant was used to pay for a preliminary architectural drawing for the Food Bank’s new building. The remaining $6,420 was being re-allocated.

- received confirmation of a 2009 Recovery Act grant of $11,711 that was initially earmarked for repairing the Town Hall roof, but may be used on swimming pool repairs.

Hamilton City Council

City hears from RCEDA

By Michael Howell

Julie Foster, Director of the Ravalli County Economic Development Agency (RCEDA), told the City Council that USDA had granted $500,000 to the Montana Board of Investments to be matched by RCEDA and local banks. That money is available for re-loaning at 6 percent interest to local businesses.

Foster also told the council that RCEDA had received a $25,600 Rural Business Opportunity grant and was using it to offer classes and workshops for business owners in cooperation with the University of Montana and the Bitterroot Job Service. She said last year they assisted 144 businesses in the community.

Foster touted the advantages of having a business incubator in the community. She said that statistics from the Evelyn Lowe Foundation show that 77 percent of Ravalli County start-up businesses fail in the first four years. She said that incubated companies enjoy an 84 percent chance of success in comparison.

Councilor Mike LaSalle asked what effect losing their major anchor tenant Glaxo-Smith-Kline has had on the Entrepreneurship Center. Foster said that the center was functioning with the University of Montana and the Bitterroot Job Service as anchor tenants and was now incubating a new company with 6 employees that projects creating up to 47 new jobs over the next two years.

The new company, Falcon Asset Management, Inc., has developed a process for assisting banks in dealing with distressed real estate, according to Foster. “There is a huge convoluted process that results in banks having to pay many thousands of dollars in fines as they are forced into becoming landlords and taking over these distressed properties,” said Foster. “So what they’ve [Falcon Asset Management] done with their patented business process,” she said, “is to bring that into a technology solution that’s really affordable and can save banks thousands of dollars in fines for not doing what they are supposed to do.”

She said that the company had called that very day expressing fears that they will be growing too fast for the space at the center.

City Attorney clarifies covenant confusion

Hamilton City Attorney Ken Bell informed the city council that no action was needed for property owned by Higgins Development in the PGE #2 subdivision to be transferred to the Rocky Mountain Laboratory. Bell said that back in 2003 it was a mistake for Higgins to file an amendment to covenants on the property to allow the transfer and it was mistake for the City to turn around and file notice that it had never consented to the amendment because, in fact, no covenants existed on the property.

Bell told the council that his latest research revealed that although covenants were placed on PGE subdivision, no covenants were placed on the PGE #2 subdivision. Therefore there were no covenants to amend and no need for the City to file notice that it had not consented to the change. He called them both futile gestures. He said that there were no valid covenants on the PGE #2 properties that would prohibit the transfer of the lots to the laboratory.

Councilman objects to Downtown Business District donating to PAC

Hamilton City Councilperson and downtown business owner Al Mitchell registered a strong objection at the last city council meeting to a $4,000 donation made by the Downtown Hamilton Business Improvement District (DHBID) to the Performing Arts Center (PAC).

“I find the contribution irresponsible and a misuse of taxpayer dollars,” said Mitchell. He said that while the PAC series is a great event for the community, he saw no benefit to property owners in the DHBID. He said that whether the PAC series succeeds or not has no effect on the prosperity of the DHBID.

“At the very least folks in the district should have been contacted to see if they support such a donation. This was strictly a board decision that took up basically 10 percent of the budget,” said Mitchell.

Mayor Jerry Steele said that the DHBID was authorized by the City but that they set their own budget.

Councilperson Nancy Joy Hendrickson said it would be nice to get an explanation, but she did not have a problem with it if they tied it to overall community involvement and development.

Councilor Jenny West said that she thought that the DHBID was going to do things to help downtown businesses.

Councilor Mike LaSalle said that he could see a $4,000 donation to PAC if they get some sponsorship recognition out of it, “but $4,000 without strings, I don’t see it.”

It was agreed to invite the DHBID to explain its rationale to the council.

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