Greetings!
Last week Water Forum staff assisted in a study up the East Fork of the Bitterroot. The question is how beaver dams affect the movement of Bull trout in a stream.
Recently, restoration techniques mimicking beaver activity have grown in popularity. These techniques involve building a structure similar to a beaver dam, often called Beaver Dam Analog structures (BDAs).
Some of the benefits of BDAs are
  • slowing down the flow of the water
  • better connecting streams to their floodplains
  • recharging the aquifer/re-wetting the soil sponge
  • adding complexity to the stream (ie. meanders, braids, etc.)
Some studies have looked at the effects of beaver dams on fish, but none focused on Bull trout. As a threatened species, Bull trout have more protections and currently BDAs are not permitted in streams known to have Bull trout populations.

This study, by graduate students at the University of Utah, will look at Bull trout movement around a natural beaver complex to see if further research on Bull trout and BDAs is possible.
We are excited to work together on this topic and interested to learn about the findings!
Lots of exciting things happening in the next week!
Keep reading to learn more.

Take care,
Katie Vennie
Communications + Outreach Manager
Last Bottle of Whiskey

The Westslope Distillery is auctioning off their last bottle of Rye Whiskey with the proceeds benefiting the Water Forum.

Please place your bids by contacting the Distillery - call, email, or stop in.

Today, July 31st, is the last day to bid.
Saturday, August 8th

The 15th Bitterroot River Clean Up is next Saturday!

Sign up here to claim your spot on the River.

We will have a physically distanced Clean Up Celebration as you drive through Anglers Roost to dump off the trash you collected from 5-7pm.

Volunteers also needed to help unload trash at Anglers.
Let me know if you are interested in helping!
Friday, August 7th - Sunday, August 9th

Beautiful 5K route you do on your own time. The course will be set up from 5 pm on Friday, August 7th to dusk Sunday, August 9th.


Run/Walk on your own schedule and track on Strava or your favorite tracking app. Prize for top male + female finisher and door prizes!