Public meetings announced on gill-netting plan

A series of meetings has been scheduled to take public input on a proposed plan to reduce lake trout in Flathead Lake using gill-netting in addition to the current measures.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks are initiating a National Environmental Policy Act review process to assess fisheries management options under the Flathead Lake and River Co-Management Plan. 

The plan was developed as part of a public involvement process in 1999-2000 and commits to a goal of benefiting bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout by balancing the reduction of lake trout in Flathead Lake while at the same time maintaining the lake’s recreational fishery.

The lake trout reduction program began by liberalizing fishing regulations like lake trout bag limits, and then advanced to fishing events called “Mack Days” to increase lake trout harvest by anglers.

“Despite these efforts the desired outcome has not been achieved,” a presas release on the meetings noted. “Therefore, the co-managers are exploring further strategies to reduce lake trout. These strategies include identifying legal changes needed to increase public fishing through the use of bounties and a pilot lake trout netting program to supplement angler-based methods, and answer numerous public and scientific questions.”

The tribes and state are encouraging “everyone concerned about the health and welfare of the Flathead Lake fishery” to be involved prior to the first formulation of any alternatives that will be developed as scientific review continues. All issues and concerns raised by the public, within the limits of the plan, will be recorded for NEPA analysis and development of alternatives.

The first scoping meeting will be hosted by the Flathead Reservation Fish and Wildlife Board on Monday, April 12, at Kwa Taq Nuk Resort in Polson from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

The second public scoping meeting will be held in Kalispell at the Red Lion on Tuesday, April 13, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. and a third public scoping meeting will be held in Missoula on Wednesday, April 14, at the Wingate, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Comments will be gathered at these meetings, as well as throughout the planning process. The agenda can be found at MackDays.com.

More information is available from the tribes  by contacting Germaine White (germainew@cskt.org) at 675-2700 x 7299 or from the state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks by contacting John Fraley (jfraley@state.mt.us) at 752-5501.