Fishing

Flathead Lake Co-Management Plan

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have initiated an environmental review to look at reducing lake trout in Flathead Lake to increase native fish. CSKT and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks held scoping meetings in Missoula, Polson and Kalispell. Scoping is open through May 17 to determine what issues need to be addressed in an environmental assessment (EA) due out this summer.

CSKT Guidelines for Commenting

No hatchery fixes

No introductions

Alternatives Must

Be consistent with the Plan

Maintain recreational fishing

Reduce lake trout numbers

Reduce Lake Trout Numbers

By what percent?

How many years?

What methods?

Submit your comments by mail, email or telephone by Monday, May 17, 2010 to:

Rose Leach

NEPA Program Manager

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe

P.O. Box 278

Pablo, Montana 59855

rosel@cskt.org

406-675-2700 ext. 6204

You can state if you think lake trout reduction is good or bad but give concerns or issues to be considered and analyzed. Leaving your name on a comment is optional. The Co-Management Plan and other documents can be viewed at www.mackdays.com , click on Pilot Project, or www.flatheadwildlife.org and click on Fishing.

Watch for a draft EA later this summer where alternatives and their impacts will be available for your comments. Following are some possible issues to be considered.

Loss of recreational fishing            Impacts to economy     How many native fish will be produced?

Who will pay for this?      Bycatch of native fish, lake whitefish       Loss of trophy lake trout fishery

Replacement of a high harvest fishery with low or no harvest native fish fishery    Disposal of netted fish

What is status of bull trout, are they really in danger of extinction?  

How long will this go on?

What is the likelihood of success?     Where else has this worked?                Other issues?