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Faculty supervisor, Dr. Robert C. Thomas

During his tenure at the University of Montana Western, he has helped the campus evolve from a traditional state "normal school" into an experiential learning university that uses an immersion scheduling system, in which students take one course at a time for a month. In this month’s feature, Thomas explains his students’ work studying the Big Hole River restoration and its benefits. Without their “immersion,” Professor Thomas said undergraduate students would not be able to accomplish this field analysis during the school year. The University of Montana Western is the only public university in U.S. history to use this system.

Q: How long have you been involved with the Big Hole Restoration Study? What is the goal of the project?

A: I have been involved with the Big Hole restoration study for the last two years. The goal is to conduct an interdisciplinary study of the restoration work on the McDowell Reach of the upper Big Hole River. The first year was a base-line study prior to the restoration work. Last year, the students gathered data on stream morphology, macroinvertebrates, riparian vegetation and fish habitat to compare with the baseline data. The result was a 150-page professional assessment report that was submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the landowner.

Q: How are landowners responding to the project?

A: The percentage of ranchers signed up to participate in the conservation effort in the upper Big Hole is very high. This is a true and meaningful example of a cooperative effort between private landowners and federal and state agencies. I am proud to be a part of the project. My students benefit as well, because they are learning about the benefits of a non-confrontational, cooperative approach to solving land management issues.

Q: Tell us about some of the specifics of the students’ work.

Students surveying on the upper Big Hole River.

A: The restoration effort is pretty simple. Cattle are excluded from the riparian corridor with an electrified fence and some willow planting is done. Very little “in-stream” restoration with heavy equipment has been necessary. The idea is that the river will recover on its own if given a chance to “rest” from bank trampling. The data collected by the UMW student group in 2008 shows that this minimalistic approach is working very well. We already see stream morphology changing in a positive direction in terms of proper function of the stream, as well as improvement of grayling habitat. The results were astonishing, actually. For example, we saw a doubling of the depth of pools, on average, while the length of pools decreased by half! These are astonishing changes in one year.

This fall we will work on a baseline study of a tributary of the upper Big Hole River slated for restoration in the late fall of 2009. The following year we are scheduled to do a baseline study on another tributary set for restoration work in 2010. In addition, we have been asked by The Nature Conservancy to work on a tributary of the Red Rock River in the Centennial Valley. That work will be conducted in the fall of 2009. We are in high demand!

Assessing impacts to the grayling is the responsibility of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, for the most part, but the goal is to increase the refugia available to grayling during the critical times of low flow and warm water that occurs in late summer and early fall. FWP and other agencies are also working on numerous projects in cooperation with the landowners to get every possible drop of water into the main channel during these critical times for grayling.

Q: What challenges do you and students face getting field and stream data? How do you overcome them?

A: We have had few problems so far. The students are responsible for taking skills and knowledge of processes that they have learned in other classes and putting them to work on this cooperative project. For example, biology students must communicate with geology students to understand how the data they are collecting fit together, and how they can be used to make recommendations about adjustments to the restoration effort. I have very high expectations for their performance, and have yet to be disappointed.

The work we are doing requires relatively simple equipment and lab analyses that the students can conduct on their own, so we have not needed to raise funds for the projects. Land access has been stellar, with local ranchers being welcoming and excited by the work of the students. Since we are not involved in procuring access, our job is much easier than the agency professionals.

The students do have to get the work done in 3.5 weeks, including the final report. So, it is incumbent upon them to be responsible and not let down the team. So far, so good! If there is a negative to this, students do tend to go into the field in sickness and in health. So, there are times in the van that I feel the need to wear a facemask to protect against germs!

Q: Who receives this report and how is it used?

A: The report is officially submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the landowner. Copies are made available to other groups upon request and with the permission of the agencies and the landowner.

This work was not budgeted, so if it were not for the UMW students, it would not be done. The benefits are obvious. If resources are to be spent on restoration work, then it is important to know if it is making a difference. The UMW students are providing that information, and the agencies are adjusting their grayling recovery efforts according to the results.

Q: Is there a new group of students every year involved in this work? What do they get out of this?

A: There is a new group of undergraduate students each year. This is a capstone course for students majoring in environmental geoscience, biology, wildlife biology and environmental science. Most of our students pursue careers in land management with agencies and private consulting firms, so this work provides them with first-hand experience doing the types of projects they will do in the industry. They each get a copy of the final report. They tell us it has made the difference in competing with graduates of other campuses for jobs and graduate-school positions. In addition, their work has provided them access to internships (required of all UMW undergraduates), especially with the state and federal agencies participating in the project. The bottom line is that UMW undergraduates walk through graduation with a portfolio of projects they have done rather than just a transcript of the classes they completed. In an ever-tightening job market, this is a big advantage. All of this is made possible because of the block-scheduling system (what we call Experience One).

June precipitation kept inflows near or above average in many reservoirs, although May and June were drier than normal. Forecasters predict average stream flows in the Columbia, Missouri, and Yellowstone river basins through July. To read the report from the committee go to http://drought.mt.gov.

The field trip to the Milltown Dam removal site and Clark Fork River will begin approximately 1 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30. There is no charge, but registration is required. The conference, itself, will begin 8:30 a.m. Thursday, October 1, at the Missoula Holiday Inn Parkside. For those who qualify, reserve your room by August 31 to get the government rate.

The conference cost is $110 for early registration until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23. After that time the cost is $130. Students can attend the conference for free, but must register and need to pay for their lodging, if needed. The Thursday social hour is free; the banquet that follows is $30.

Kirk Waren will be in charge of the banquet entertainment and plans an epic photo odyssey through Montana’s waters and wilds. Kirk plans to develop categories based on the photos submitted. Suggested topics include scenic hydrology, field work, laboratory work, humorous, and field trips or classes. Submit your high resolution photos to Kirk at KWaren@mtech.edu or contact him for more information.

On July 9, the 2009-2010 Water Policy Interim Committee (WPIC, often pronounced “wipik”) convened for the first time. Unlike most committees that do their work between sessions of the Montana Legislature, the WPIC is not tasked with conducting any specific studies. It does not have legal oversight of any departments of the State of Montana, but has general authority to examine all aspects of water policy, regulation and enforcement. At its kick-off meeting, the committee selected as chair Representative Walt McNutt (R-Sidney) and vice-chair Senator Dave Wanzenreid (D-Missoula). It heard agency overview presentations from representatives of the Montana Water Court, the Departments of Environmental Quality and Natural Resources & Conservation, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Several members of the public addressed the committee, to draw its attention to water-related problems or offer assistance. There was an update on the statewide Ground Water Investigation Program, including how priorities are being set for the additional studies funded by the 2009 Legislature.

Most of the committee’s time was devoted to deliberating what issues it should consider during this biennium. The discussion ranged from near-philosophical (‘how much should we allow ourselves to nibble away at prior appropriation?’) to extremely practical (should agencies be asked to report their study or regulatory enforcement progress at every committee meeting?) Statewide issues were of concern (protection of senior water rights), as were issues that roil the developing areas of Montana (exempt wells) and others that are significant in limited areas (coalbed methane produced waters). In the end the committee decided to consider a broad range of topics as it deliberates and crafts legislation between now and fall 2010.

The next WPIC meeting is scheduled for September 21 at the Capitol. All committee information can be accessed at the website at http://www.leg.mt.gov/css/Committees/interim/2009_2010/Water_Policy. During committee meetings, the proceedings are streamed live through this site.

The Environmental Resources Coalition (ERC) has federal grant dollars through EPA to help livestock operators in Montana prepare nutrient management plans and environmental assessments. ERC is focusing its efforts in watersheds on the 303d list of impaired waters and watersheds that already have approved Total Maximum Daily Load plans in place. For more information about the environmental assessment and nutrient management project contact Project Manager Betty Wyse or Project Technical Director Mark White at (573) 634-7078. Application guidance and technical information can be found at http://www.cleanmp-west.org.

Apply for NPS Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance

The National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program (RTCA) is now accepting applications for technical assistance grants to watershed groups until August 1, 2009. The National Park Service helps plan locally-led outdoor recreation and natural resource conservation projects. For more information on the program, visit http://www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/rtca.

Do you have more news?

Take special note of upcoming national and local water meetings on the Events Calendar at MONTANA WATER.