February 2022 Newsletter
River Science Presentation with Mike Duncan
The Madison River Foundation (MRF) was pleased to host its first 2022 River Science Series presentation with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) fisheries biologist, Mike Duncan. Topics included Madison River, Ennis Lake, and Hebgen Lake fish populations, trout natal streams, and 2021 fish kills.
Duncan shared reports on brown and rainbow trout populations at Pine Butte, Varney, Norris, and both lakes. He went on to cover an MRF funded otolith microchemistry study, which assists in determining fish origins and movement. This natal stream data can assist in determining the importance of various tributaries and
where conservation efforts can have the greatest impact. He then concluded with data on the 2021 Bear Trap fish kill.
A recording of this presentation is available via email upon request. A PDF version is also available on our website. Unfortunately, some of the charts did not convert to PDF correctly, though there are still several graphs where data is visible. Please reference the document on our site or reply to this email to request the video recording. Thank you for your involvement! We look forward to sharing more river science project data with you this year.
Ennis Schools Science Fair
As we strive for a healthy Madison River ecosystem through charity, education, and science-based projects, it is truly exciting to have opportunities to collaborate with the children in the local area on these efforts. The MRF awarded three prizes to students in the Ennis School Science Fair on January 31, 2022, for the following areas relating to our mission: Water Resources, River/Riparian Ecology, and Fisheries.
Samantha Pittman received the Water Resources award for her project on water temperatures and trout health in local Madison tributaries. Collin Graden received the River/Riparian Ecology award for his project on macro-invertebrates in the Madison. John Hostetler received the Fisheries award for his project on seasonal variations in catch rates for brown and rainbow trout. Congratulations to our Madison River Valley budding scientists!
This was the 28th annual science fair in Ennis Schools. Grades K through 3 participate with classroom projects. Grades 4 through 8 participate in individual or team projects. There was a cadre of 40 judges, and a well-attended awards ceremony at its conclusion. We appreciate our member support and the opportunity to encourage those who are our future in conservation.
International Fly-Fishing Film Festival
There’s nothing quite like watching a rod bend in breathtaking international fly-fishing destinations to get a person thinking about where their next trip should occur! The MRF is excited to host viewings of the IF4 again this year in three locations.
Film viewings are a Foundation fundraiser, complete with raffle opportunities and more. We will host shows in Ennis, West Yellowstone, and Bozeman. Details will be sent out soon. We are aiming to host the shows between May 6 – June 4 this year. We hope you are able to join us!
Annual Memberships
Were you snoozing during the announcement of the new annual membership? If so, it is time to rise from your slumber and renew your membership! As a reminder our membership levels have changed this year. We now offer Junior, Annual, and Lifetime memberships. Annual memberships now renew at the beginning of the calendar year. This year we are honoring all equivalent memberships paid after September 1, 2021, for 2022, during this transition.
Gear for members has been ordered! Items are expected to arrive sometime in April. All up-to-date membership levels will be able to select a hat or t-shirt. We encourage you to pick your gear up in person if you plan to be in Ennis this year. We can also mail items as needed. Please complete this form if you need to have your items shipped.
Memberships support conservation efforts in the Madison Valley Watershed. Your involvement contributes to river science data collection in partnership with local entities such as Montana State University (MSU) and Montana FWP. Funding also supports new educational programming such as river ambassadors and MRF scholarship opportunities. More details to come on these programs in the coming months. We appreciate your support and look forward to a great year together.