MONTANA TROUT UNLIMITED 2025 HIGHLIGHTS
Happy New Year!
I've never been much for New Year's resolutions. More often than not it seems to me they're centered around reducing bad habits or changes in behavior. Not that there's anything wrong with that strategy, but I prefer to think I learned from the successes and failures of the previous year and make adjustments in a more goal oriented way. To this end, one goal I have for 2026 is to be even more engaged in protecting the resources that help me make a living.
Immediately, I want to express my gratitude for the heroic work Montana Trout Unlimited does here in this great state.
Montana Trout Unlimited works tirelessly to protect and when unfortunately necessary, repair cold water resources around the state. What does the mean? It means that Montana Trout Unlimited helps trout in the waters around the state to thrive in healthy numbers. And that essentially means they help make the fishing better for all of us. Simple as that.
Why does this matter? It matters because cold water resources are constantly under threat from a vast array of situations that can cause diminished health to the resource. Sometimes what may cause damage to a fishery is not obvious. Subdivisions can alter groundwater and lawn care chemicals can create algae blooms. Mines can cause damage to headwaters in a variety of ways and leave toxic chemicals behind long after the mine has closed. Livestock can cause severe bank erosion and agriculture water needs can literally drain a resource dry.
Montana Trout Unlimited is not opposed to any of the above mentioned industries or lifestyles. Not in any way, shape, or form. Montana Trout Unlimited is simply dedicated and willing to work with all partners to mitigate or entirely prevent the possible and often unintended negative effects of the these things on the extraordinary cold water resources of the state.
Many non-profits are front loaded and a high percent of the budget goes to administrative costs. Not the case with Montana Trout Unlimited. 85% of the total budget in 2025 was dedicated to on the ground programs, education and advocacy. What does that mean? It simply means that the overwhelming amount of work Montana Trout Unlimited does supports efforts that protects trout and the rivers they live in here in Montana.
Here are just some of the specific 2025 highlights to this end.
Montana Trout Unlimited has been the lead conservation organization working with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, United States Geological Survey and Montana Universities to continue identifying and solving the historically low fish populations in the southwest part of the state, including convening a group of 30 plus agency and NGO fishery and hydrology staff to plan the long-term efforts to improve stream flows throughout southwest Montana.
Montana Trout Unlimited helped write and pass historic legislation (and budgets) in the 2025 state legislative session to improve streamflows across the state-new water storage Trust fund will be 100M+ in coming years, the interest of which is available for natural and built water storage, for efforts such as wetland restoration or Painted Rocks dam, all with instream flow benefits.
Montana Trout Unlimited raised and spent more than $1M on stream and trout restoration projects (garnering 2,3,4,5x matching funds) from the Judith to Red Rocks and Bitterroot and Blackfoot to the Jefferson and tributaries of the Yellowstone.
Montana Trout Unlimited helped get a new, multi-year Watershed Restoration Plan approved for the Smith River, that kicked off with two restoration projects this summer and a third in the works.
Montana Trout Unlimited funds a full-time project manager working on restoration, dam removal and overall watershed health for the entire Jefferson River Basin.
These is the short list on what Montana Trout Unlimited is doing across the state. And I can't thank them enough. If you fish here in Montana and enjoy the incredible trout streams the state has to offer, I'd suggest you support Montana Trout Unlimited. After all, they're working for you.
