Comments still taken on fish-poisoning plan

The Daily Inter Lake

The Bonneville Power Administration is extending the public comment period on a project that involves using toxins to remove fish from alpine lakes in the South Fork Flathead Basin.

The project is designed to protect westslope cutthroat trout populations from hybridization.

The final environmental impact statement for the South Fork Flathead Watershed Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation Program was released July 25.

But soon after, BPA officials were notified that not all submitted comments had been included in the document.

We would like to remedy this before we make a decision about the program, a BPA press release states.

Those who feel their comments were excluded from the final study should resubmit them, and BPA is willing to accept comments that involve new information.

Comments will be accepted until Dec. 12.

The project has been controversial since it was first proposed four years ago. It involves using a combination of aircraft and horsepacking to deliver toxins to 21 alpine lakes where hybrid fish have been documented.

The intent is to remove all fish from those lakes, to prevent hybrid fish from leaking downstream into the South Fork Flathead basin, considered Montanas stronghold for westslope cutthroats.

After treating one to three lakes per year over an estimated 10 years, the lakes would be immediately restocked with pure westslope cutthroats.

The proposal jointly developed by BPA, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the U.S. Forest Service has drawn fire from wilderness advocates, outfitters and some anglers. But it has been supported by other anglers and prominent fisheries organizations.

For more information on the final environmental study and providing additional comments, call BPA at 1-800-282-3713.