Uncategorized
Eddy line: Some trends are worth following
Published
6 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersProtect the Smith River
By Pat Straub EBS Fishing Columnist
I’m jealous of my friend’s 6-year-old daughter, and not because he cuts off her crusts or packs a chocolate mint in her school lunch each morning. I’m jealous because she’s been down the Smith River twice in her short life.
It took me 19 years before I floated this endangered river that snakes its way through public and private lands on its way to meet the Missouri River southwest of Great Falls. I was a freshman in college and it was early May in the late ‘90s. The river was running high and muddy, and in three days we caught two fish, both at the mouth of Sheep Creek.
Twenty-plus years ago, the river with a headwaters south of White Sulphur Springs was a hidden gem. Nearly a quarter-century past my first float, the Smith River is as popular as ever, but not necessarily for the best reason. It’s the battleground for a polarizing matchup of long-standing foes: the promise of sustainable mining practices versus ensuring multiple generations can experience natural wonders.
An international mining company, Tintina Resources, is in the permitting process for an underground copper mine adjacent to and underneath Sheep Creek, a tributary of the Smith River. Sheep Creek is often an important source of in-stream flows of clear and cold water to the main stem of the Smith. At least half of the wild trout in the Smith River drainage use Sheep Creek as spawning grounds. Clearly a healthy Sheep Creek is essential to the drainage’s high population of large and healthy trout. In fact, radio telemetry suggests trout from the Missouri River have utilized Sheep Creek.
Tintina is following all proper protocols in the permitting and public outreach process, and is working to dissuade a negative public opinion toward Montana’s past history with mining operations gone wrong. To their credit, and unlike operations in the past, Tintina is working hard to promote and utilize the most modern, least-impactful technologies and practices. Of concern is not so much Tintina and their international management team and investors; rather, it’s our necessity for resource extraction in our daily lives and working to negate those impacts as much as possible.
This doesn’t mean an internationally owned and operated mine like the proposed operation shouldn’t exist. It means if it is going to exist, as Montanans who value special resources like the Smith River, we must look at the past poor track record of mining in Montana. It’s not a good one. Our local communities, state agencies, officials, and citizens who cherish resources like the Smith River watershed must insist there will be no risk whatsoever to the water and wildlife.
Finding level ground to stand on while making one’s argument for or against the mine, or for or against the Smith River, is challenging. Very few of us are squeaky clean, and nearly all of us, myself included, play a small part in the larger whole of resource conservation. Is driving a large SUV or truck to protest a mine while drinking a latte from a paper cup sitting next to a plastic water bottle really that effective in the larger picture? Technology and its resulting innovations are helping to reduce our impact; however, the battle lines are often much closer to home than we care to admit. Changing personal habits can be much harder than sending out mass emails or sharing posts.
Pat Straub has been guiding the Smith River for nearly twenty years. He is the author of six books, including “The Frugal Fly Fisher,” “Montana On The Fly,” and “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Fly Fishing.” He and his wife own Gallatin River Guides in Big Sky.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
march, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
more
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
Time
15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
Location
Verge Theater
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
29mar3:00 pm4:00 pmGood Friday Mass: St. Joseph Catholic Mission3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Event City:Big Sky
Event Details
Friday of the Passion of the Lord St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Event Details
Friday of the Passion of the Lord
St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Time
(Friday) 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm