Missoula Volunteers Rescue Fish from Irrigation Ditches After Headgate Closure
Over 50 volunteers, including University of Montana fisheries students and members of Trout Unlimited, participated in a fish rescue operation in Missoula's irrigation ditches. The effort was prompted by the closure of the Missoula irrigation ditch headgate, which left fish stranded in shallow, non-flowing water. Volunteers used electrofishing equipment and nets to catch various fish species, including trout, whitefish, suckers, shiners, and sculpins, and transported them in buckets to the safety of the Clark Fork River. This annual event aims to save fish that would otherwise perish due to lack of water or become easy prey for predators. Rob Roberts, Trout Unlimited senior project manager, emphasized that every fish saved contributes to the Clark Fork River ecosystem.
