[MT_Flyfisher]

Late last week, many dead whitefish began showing up in the Yellowstone River in Paradise Valley, south of Livingston, MT.

Here is the link to an article about this that was in the Bozeman newspaper:

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.co...cle_d78fc580-618e-57e9-b255-f495cd92227e.html

I am located about 4 miles farther south, and up the river from the where these dead whitefish were first found, and on Saturday, and again yesterday, I also saw large numbers of dead whitefish in the river here as well, so I don't know how many miles of river are effected at this point. It's about 10 miles of river that I know of, and probably more.

So far, it appears that only whitefish are being killed, and not trout. I haven't heard whether the MT Fish and Wildlife biologists have determined the cause of the kill at this point, but there is some speculation that it may be due to a bacterial infection of some kind.

Whatever it is, I am very saddened by this.

The Yellowstone's water level here this summer is exceptionally low, and quite warm. The same is true of most other rivers here in SW MT. Notwithstanding, I continue to see hundreds of fishermen, and an equal number of recreational boaters and floaters, going by my place on the river every day. I'm afraid that we are loving our rivers to death.

John

 

[Carter Burke]

Late last week, many dead whitefish began showing up in the Yellowstone River in Paradise Valley, south of Livingston, MT.

Here is the link to an article about this that was in the Bozeman newspaper:

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.co...cle_d78fc580-618e-57e9-b255-f495cd92227e.html

I am located about 4 miles farther south, and up the river from the where these dead whitefish were first found, and on Saturday, and again yesterday, I also saw large numbers of dead whitefish in the river here as well, so I don't know how many miles of river are effected at this point. It's about 10 miles of river that I know of, and probably more.

So far, it appears that only whitefish are being killed, and not trout. I haven't heard whether the MT Fish and Wildlife biologists have determined the cause of the kill at this point, but there is some speculation that it may be due to a bacterial infection of some kind.

Whatever it is, I am very saddened by this.

The Yellowstone's water level here this summer is exceptionally low, and quite warm. The same is true of most other rivers here in SW MT. Notwithstanding, I continue to see hundreds of fishermen, and an equal number of recreational boaters and floaters, going by my place on the river every day. I'm afraid that we are loving our rivers to death.

John

but the hay fields are green and the cows are fat.

 

[MT_Flyfisher]

but the hay fields are green and the cows are fat.

And beginning this summer, more river water was diverted to a commercial camel riding business that just opened last summer here in Paradise Valley.

 

[freestoneangler]

[60 min/hr] x [24 hr/day] x [500 gal/min] = 720,000 gallons/day. That's the amount of water being used for a 65 acre alfalfa field near us. When you consider just how small an acreage that is compared to the mega ranches, the amount of irrigation water being used is staggering.

 

[Smalma]

Mountain whitefish are less tolerate of warm water than rainbow or brown trout. Acute water temperatures for whitefish is typically 4 or 5 degrees cooler than that for rainbows and browns. The actual temperature threshold on a river can vary depending on the ability of the fish to find cooler temperature refuge which is influenced by the diurnal temperatures swings and locations and amount of cooler water refuge (springs and seeps). As seen on the Columbia sockeye last year once the streams being approaching those upper threshold the fish are under great stress and more likely to be vulnerable to issues such as bacteria infections.

One study put the acute temperature threshold for whitefish at about 70 degrees. Even when temperatures reach these levels one may see different responses by the fish in various reaches of the river depending on the amount of cooler water refuge. Regardless the reported situation on the Yellowstone is scary and one can easily think that the Yellowstone whitefish are the canary in the mine for the river.

Curt

 

[Smalma]

Looking at the 15 weather forecast for the area (for whatever those forecast maybe worth) the next few days may be critical for the river. Today through Wednesday the highs are forecasted to be in the 90s followed with a cooling for much of the rest of the month.

curt

 

[The Drifter]

but the hay fields are green and the cows are fat.

I feel like the farmers should only be allowed a % of water based on swe.

 

[MT_Flyfisher]

Looking at the 15 weather forecast for the area (for whatever those forecast maybe worth) the next few days may be critical for the river. Today through Wednesday the highs are forecasted to be in the 90s followed with a cooling for much of the rest of the month.

curt

I just took the water temperature at several places along a 1/4 mile of the river at 8 am this morning. The temperatures ranged from 57° to 60°, which was cooler than I expected.

These temperatures will surely rise later in the afternoon, and you are right about the warming trend forecast here for the next couple days, although here in the middle of Paradise Valley where I am located the highest temperatures I see are supposed to be a bit under 90° on Wednesday -- but we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Old406Kid]

Mountain whitefish are less tolerate of warm water than rainbow or brown trout. Acute water temperatures for whitefish is typically 4 or 5 degrees cooler than that for rainbows and browns.

Wow, no pun intended but it doesn't leave alot of wiggle room before it could impact trout.

 

[junkie]

The way I saw guides and clients putting the squeeze on whiteys, I wouldn't be surprised to see hundreds of dead whiteys every day of the season...

 

[Golden Trout]

Mountain whitefish are less tolerate of warm water than rainbow or brown trout. Acute water temperatures for whitefish is typically 4 or 5 degrees cooler than that for rainbows and browns. The actual temperature threshold on a river can vary depending on the ability of the fish to find cooler temperature refuge which is influenced by the diurnal temperatures swings and locations and amount of cooler water refuge (springs and seeps). As seen on the Columbia sockeye last year once the streams being approaching those upper threshold the fish are under great stress and more likely to be vulnerable to issues such as bacteria infections.

One study put the acute temperature threshold for whitefish at about 70 degrees. Even when temperatures reach these levels one may see different responses by the fish in various reaches of the river depending on the amount of cooler water refuge. Regardless the reported situation on the Yellowstone is scary and one can easily think that the Yellowstone whitefish are the canary in the mine for the river.

Curt

Interesting. I had a fish biologist tell me the opposite. Saw some whitefish floating during a long, extremely, hot spell of weather and brought this to his attention. He went on to explain that the WF were the stalwarts of the watershed and when they succumb that stream is in dire shape. This happened a bunch of years ago and is probably outdated intel.

 

[MT_Flyfisher]

Interesting. I had a fish biologist tell me the opposite. Saw some whitefish floating during a long, extremely, hot spell of weather and brought this to his attention. He went on to explain that the WF were the stalwarts of the watershed and when they succumb that stream is in dire shape. This happened a bunch of years ago and is probably outdated intel.

I read only a small portion of this research study, but the part I read suggested that mountain whitefish require lower water temperatures than trout.

http://scholarworks.montana.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1/961/BoydJ0808.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

 

[Golden Trout]

Yea, somewhat inconclusive and I can't find much better that is current. Did find this tid bit:

Trout eggs will not hatch over 14.4° C. Chinook Salmon eggs fare well at 16° C., but suffer mortalities at 18° C. Rocky Mountain Whitefish eggs are affected at 20-21° C., and the MTL for Herring larvae varies from 22-24° C. It is apparent therefore, that many fish are unable to complete their life cycles unless the temperatures at the time of their spawning and hatching are 10-15° C. below the median tolerance limit.

Bottom line is some watersheds are getting warmer for longer periods of time which will take its toll on all cold water species.

 

[Abomb]

And beginning this summer, more river water was diverted to a commercial camel riding business that just opened last summer here in Paradise Valley.

Da fuq!?

 

[Pat Lat]

[60 min/hr] x [24 hr/day] x [500 gal/min] = 720,000 gallons/day. That's the amount of water being used for a 65 acre alfalfa field near us. When you consider just how small an acreage that is compared to the mega ranches, the amount of irrigation water being used is staggering.

Sounds like you should stop fishing over such threatened stock.

 

[freestoneangler]

Sounds like you should stop fishing over such threatened stock.

Back from the military recruiting office so soon? How did things go?

 

[Smalma]

Golden Trout -

I was surprised to see that whitefish eggs were that tolerate of warm water temperatures. As you know mountain whitefish are fall/winter spawners with spawning occurring at temperatures 10 or more degrees below that high temperature threshold. As always fish constantly demonstrate the ability to surprise was their diversity and adaptability.

Curt

 

[GAT]

Wow, that is not good. Mountain whitefish are native to the West and whatever is effecting them... temps or whatever... will most likely start effecting the native trout.

 

[Out of Here]

I've encountered far more NPM on the Yakima and its tributaries the last two years than ever before. Given both are native to the watershed, should we expect to see them in greater concentrations where the more sensitive salmonids have vacated? The Westslope Cutthroat are far more established and in greater populations above Thorp, but as their spawning and continuous habitat changes with the water temperature and volume, they are an indication/evidence that we are indeed in a changing ecosystem.

 

[Blackbugger]

If it was temperature related you would expect to see a lot of dead whitefish on the lower river which definitely gets warmer than the valley.
The Jeff should be seeing massive whitefish kills.

That this is happening up in the valley I think rules out the likely hood of it being temperature related.