CounterPunch Exclusives

CounterPunch Exclusives

Montana’s Ailing Rivers Need More Water, Not Words and Endless Studies

Big Hole River at Nez Perce camp, Big Hole National Battlefield. Photo: Jeffrey St. Clair.

Forty-one years ago Gov. Ted Schwinden appointed me as chairman of his newly-formed Governor’s Drought Task Force. Montana’s legendary rivers were running dry, fish were dying, and the governor was whining, “I can’t make it rain.”  So he appointed a task force.

The truth is, he didn’t understand much about coldwater fisheries or that aquatic ecosystems are vibrant webs of life that rely on sufficient water to function and remain healthy. When the trout go belly up, you don’t just go to the pet store and buy some new ones … nor do you replace the desiccated insect population clinging to the dried riverbed rocks.

The drought of ’85 was wicked, and followed by the severe drought of ’88, significantly impacted our rivers, streams, the fish and their food sources that rely on cold, clean and connected water to survive … the same exact necessities they evolved with over thousands of years.

It’s safe to say........

© CounterPunch