With creeks, lakes, and rivers that have delighted and inspired generations of anglers, Big Sky Country is among the top few most exciting fly-fishing destinations in the world. Home to the world-famous trout waters of the Bighorn, Madison, and Missouri Rivers, Montana attracts anglers from everywhere. However, a new study suggests that the future of the region’s trout fishing could be in jeopardy.
On September 7, 2022, the United States Geological Survey published a report suggesting that climate change is likely to take a heavier toll on Montana’s rivers and streams than previously thought. Anglers are responding to climate changing by adapting their behavior and fishing habits, venturing onto more resilient fishing waters to spread fishing pressure. However, while this may help in the short term, the report suggests that it may not be enough to prevent climate change from impacting fishing in Montana in the future.
The study predicts that, by 2080, Montana is poised to lose around 35% of its existing habitable trout water. This is bad news not only for anglers, but also Montana’s wider population, potentially resulting in the loss of nearly $200 million in state revenue.
According to its authors, the climate-related study is the first of its type, analyzing evolving fishing trends, as well as the wider economic impact of climate change on angling. Angling accounts for 20% of Montana’s tourism revenue, according to the study’s authors, generating more than $750 million for the state annually. This revenue is driven largely by nonresident anglers, who on average spend almost $700 daily. By contrast, Montana residents typically spend somewhere in the region of $90 when enjoying a day’s fishing, according to the study.
The research suggests that cold-water fisheries that support Montana’s tourism industry could be at risk with the region having warmed at twice the global average over the past century, contributing to warmer aquatic temperatures, lower streamflow’s in summer, and an increase in the severity and frequency of drought events. The study reports that these climatic changes have driven a shift in abundance and distribution of trout species across the state, suggesting that the combined effects of climatic change could significantly impact trout fisheries with potentially severe socioeconomic consequences.
The study aims to provide a roadmap for future fisheries management. Climate models predicting the loss of 35% of Montana’s trout water over the next 60 years are concerning, leaving those reliant on the state’s fishing industry wondering if anything meaningful can be done to prevent this catastrophic loss.
Todd Tanner, the executive director of the Conservation Hawks nonprofit hunting and fishing conservation group, said that he did not find the information revealed by the report to be surprising, explaining that his group, which works to increase understanding of the climate crisis throughout the sporting community, has always urged anglers, hunters, and federal and state game and fish management to pay attention to the science. He explains that, despite having had ample opportunity to do something about climate change, we have neglected to act, pointing out that if our fisheries really mattered, we would have addressed it by now.
However, in July 2021, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) took dramatic action in response to dangerous and worsening river conditions caused by historically high-water temperatures and low streamflow’s that threatened the survival of trout and other fish species. The FWP announced closures and restrictions impacting some of Montana’s most sought out trout waters, including the Beaverhead, Gallatin, Madison, Missouri, and Yellowstone Rivers.
Montana’s fisheries are increasingly affected by high water temperatures and low flows due to the mass diversion of stream waters to support agriculture and other industries. In 2021, conditions were exacerbated by a climate change-fueled drought, with excessive heat blanketing much of the west of the state, pushing Montana’s fisheries to the brink and forcing the FWP to act.
Earlier in 2022, consumption warnings were issued, advising anglers to consult FWP regulations and guidelines for suggestions and recommendations as to fishing areas and species that could cause health issues. Scientists warned that in addition to manmade pollutants, natural pollutants from siltation, geothermal features, and flooding were changing entire ecosystems. Fish from the Gallatin, Madison, and Yellowstone Rivers were found to be particularly high in toxins. Contamination in Montana’s blue ribbon trout waters emphasized the need for catch and release policies, with experts warning that if anglers continue to catch and eat trout, the fisheries could collapse.
The FWP remains committed to protecting the future of fisheries in Montana, operating a grant scheme as part of its Future Fisheries Improvement Program, striving to restore the state’s streams, rivers, and lakes and improving and restoring fish habitats. Each year, the FWP invests between $500,000 and $650,000 in projects implemented to revitalize the local wild fish population, protecting the future of fishing in Montana, as well as the financial future of families that rely on the industry for their livelihoods.