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Flathead Lake & River System Fisheries Management Plan By Joe DosSantos, CSKT Fisheries Manager Jim Vashro, MDFWP. Regional Fisheries Manager April, 1998 The Flathead System has undergone many changes in the past century. The Flathead system is defined as the interconnected Flathead Lake, Flathead River, North and Middle forks of the Flathead, South Fork Flathead downstream from Hungry Horse Dam, and associated tributaries. Twelve native fish species including bull and westslope cutthroat trout, squawfish, suckers, and mountain and pygmy whitefish have been joined by eleven introduced species including lake trout, kokanee, lake whitefish, and yellow perch. Dam construction and land use have reduced fish habitat in the Flathead system. Angler harvest of kokanee, yellow perch, westslope cutthroat, lake whitefish, lake trout, and bull trout have made the Flathead Lake and River one of the most popular fisheries in the state, while also influencing the abundance of those fish. The most profound biological change in the Flathead system was the addition of Mysis shrimp to the system in the 1980s. Mysis changed the food web to favor deep-dwelling species and subsequently lake trout and lake whitefish increased to become the predominant species. At the same time westslope cutthroat, bull trout, and yel1ow perch declined, and kokanee disappeared. These drastic shifts in abundance are still ongoing and have made it impractical to write a long- term management plan for the Flathead system. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks FWP co-manage the Flathead fishery and wrote the first Upper Flathead System Fishery Management Plan in 1989. That plan is now due for revision. The fishery management goals in the 1989 plan were to preserve, protect, and enhance populations of native fish and to maintain a diverse recreational fishery. The declines of the four species listed above have raised concerns about the possibility of attaining these goats. CSKT and FWP are presently engaged in an incense effort to gather the information needed to address these concerns before revising the 1989 plan. There are several components of this effort: (1) completion of a five-year experiment to reintroduce kokanee salmon (1993-1997); (2) detailed biological data collection (ongoing); (3) computer modeling to predict possible changes in the fishery with changes in management; (4) convening of a scientific panel with the Montana Bull Trout Restoration Team to address the interactions of bull and lake trout (November 1997); and (5) solicitation of public involvement in decision making (ongoing). CSKT and FWP hope to complete the new management plan within the next year, during which there will be many formal and informal occasions for the public to voice their opinions and desires for the fisheries of the Flathead system. The direction recommended by a majority of the scientific panel was to manage for native fish by increasing the harvest of large trout through netting. Much public sentiment has also been received in support of management of lake trout. There are no formal proposals for a change in fish management at this time. That will be determined by the outcome of the management plan process. If you are interested in the Flathead system fishery, please attend the upcoming public meetings to begin during fall 1998. A Flathead Lake and River Fishery Comanagement Plan would be approved by: 1. Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council A ten-person elected council that sets fishery management plans, policies and regulations on the Flathead Reservation. They receive recommendations from the seven-member Flathead Reservation Fish and Wildlife Board and technical advice from tribal and state fishery biologists. 2. Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission The five members are appointed by the Governor and set policies, regulations, and fish management plans for state waters. They are liaisons to the public and accept comments from the public, Flathead Reservation Fish and Wildlife Board and FWP staff. Following are other decision makers or concurrent processes that could affect Flathead fish management: 1. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal agency that administers the Endangered Species Act (ESA). A decision on listing bull trout is expected in June, 1998. Any actions by federal agencies (e.g. U.S. Forest Service) or federally funded state activities (fishing regulations, fish stocking, management plans, etc.) that may result in 'take' of a listed species must undergo consultation with USFWS to prevent or mitigate take (mortality). 2. Montana Bull Trout Restoration Plan Developed by the Governor 's Bull Trout Restoration Team. Will be released for public review and comment in Summer, 1998. Will set bull trout restoration goals and strategies for the state. Will be approved by the Governor and implemented by state agencies and watershed councils. The intent is to have plan adopted by USFWS for Montana. 3. FWP Fisheries Strategic Plan: Fisheries Beyond 2000 Will set FWP priorities and strategies for statewide fish management for next ten years. Will be released in Spring, 1998 for public comment. 4. Montana Legislature Would have to approve legislative changes such as commercial fishing for gamefish. 5. Westslope Cutthroat Trout Westslope cutthroat have been petitioned for listing under ESA. Montana is working on a Cutthroat Conservation Agreement. For further information contact: Joe DosSantos, CSKT Fisheries Manager, 406-675-2700 Jim Vashro, FWP. Regional Fisheries Manager, 406-751-4550 Top of page.