Subscribe
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Menu
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events

Arctic grayling get another chance at protection under Endangered Species Act 

in Regional
Arctic grayling get another chance at protection under Endangered Species Act 

Photo of grayling available for media use. Please credit Pat Clayton

PHOTO BY PAT CLAYTON
Jen Clanceyby Jen Clancey
August 30, 2024

Fish and Wildlife Service must use best available science to address Arctic grayling population, according to Butte U.S. District court decision

By Jen Clancey DIGITAL PRODUCER 

Editor’s note: This story was updated to include a quote from Patrick Kelly regarding his stance on the CCAA’s effectiveness.

On Aug. 6, a federal district court ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must return to the drawing board and review the best available science to inform its decision on Arctic grayling protection in Montana, and that current Arctic grayling conservation programs don’t ensure protection for the species in the near future.  

Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad
ADVERTISEMENT

Arctic grayling used to swim in lakes and rivers in Michigan and Montana. The cold temperatures of local waterways like the Gallatin River and Bozeman Creek used to host a healthy habitat for the fish. Now, Montana is the only state outside of Alaska that hosts a native population of the species. Today, native Arctic grayling solely reside in portions of the Big Hole River, Madison River, Ruby River, the Centennial Valley and mountain lakes and reservoirs in the lower 48 states. . 

At the end of January 2023, the Center for Biological Diversity, Western Watershed Project and Butte resident Pat Munday—represented by Earthjustice—filed a complaint against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, its director and the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The lawsuit stated that the service does not analyze the efficacy of its Arctic grayling protection programs and that the service did not use the best available science in a 2020 decision to not list the species as endangered. 

A year and a half after the filed complaint, USFWS must return to its 2020 finding, which denied the Arctic grayling protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The Aug. 6 court decision stated that USFWS’ determination of the Ruby River population as viable was “arbitrary and capricious.” The court also determined the CCAA, a fish protection program on the Big Hole River among private landowners with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, may not exist after its 2026 expiration date. In a year’s time the service will need to make a new finding about the Upper Missouri River Basin Arctic grayling population using up-to-date science. 

In the new finding, plaintiffs hope the service will choose to grant Arctic grayling protection under the Endangered Species Act. 

“The science shows us that these fish need protection,” said Emily Qiu, lead attorney with Earthjustice. Earthjustice is a nationwide nonprofit public interest environmental law organization, with over 15 offices, including one in Bozeman. “The service at times has recognized that, and more recently has not looked at the best available science.” 

ADVERTISEMENT

“That analysis should include everything that has happened in the past 40 years,” Qiu continued. Organizations fighting for the fish note factors like climate change, irrigation withdrawal, habitat loss and warmer water temps as some of the issues that have impacted the population, which is at only 4% of its historic range. 

Patrick Kelly, the Montana and Washington director of the Western Watershed Project, is concerned about the population change. In a way, the Arctic grayling is like a swimming thermometer,  and their population is put under immense stress in temps 70F and up.

“The water flows are so low and the water temperatures are so high,” Kelly said. “This is sounding the alarm.” 

He noted that when rivers get too warm for Arctic grayling, it means other cold water fish like trout will be put under stress too. 

“We have to see if [the service] is going to do the right thing this time,” Kelly said. He explained that the CCAA’s work to protect Arctic grayling is commendable but “at best”, only holding the line in maintaining a struggling Arctic grayling population. 

For Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity, the situation is dire. Just a couple of bad years on the water and Arctic grayling could be extinct from Montana rivers, according to Greenwald. “Scientists from around the world are warning that we are in an extinction crisis,” Greenwald said. “The grayling is a part of that.” 

The August court decision brings hope for Arctic grayling and Montana’s natural heritage. 

“We hope that USFWS takes a hard look at the science and gives the grayling a fair shake,” Greenwald said.

Outlaw Realty Outlaw Realty
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Listen

Hoary Marmot Podcast

Joe Borden & Michele Veale Borden

Lastest Episode
See More Episodes
outlaw realty montana outlaw realty montana
ADVERTISEMENT
Outlaw Realty Big Sky Bozeman
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Jul 15
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

June Show at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery

Jul 16
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

June Show at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery

Jul 16
12:15 pm - 1:30 pm Event Series

Community Yoga

Jul 16
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Event Series

Post 99 Honey sales

Jul 16
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Event Series

Pickup Ultimate Frisbee

View Calendar
Event Calendar

Related Posts

Cold case revived: suspect charged with 2021 murder of Bozeman resident 
Regional

Cold case revived: suspect charged with 2021 murder of Bozeman resident 

July 14, 2025
The Big Sky Way: Stuck in summer traffic 
Regional

Construction continues along South 19th in Bozeman

July 14, 2025
Daily fishing restriction to be lifted on upper Madison River 
Environment

Fishing restrictions in place for Yellowstone park rivers

July 11, 2025
Glacier visitors rescued, survive fall into Avalanche Creek
Regional

Glacier visitors rescued, survive fall into Avalanche Creek

July 11, 2025

An Outlaw Partners Publication

Facebook-f Instagram X-twitter Youtube

Explore Big Sky

  • About/Contact
  • Advertise
  • Publications
  • Subscriptions
  • Podcast
  • Submissions

Outlaw Brands

  • Mountain Outlaw
  • Plan Yellowstone
  • Big Sky PBR
  • Wildlands Music
  • Outlaw Partners
  • Outlaw Realty
  • Hey Bear

Copyright © 2025 Explore Big Sky | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Choices

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Yellowstone
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Real Estate
  • Events

©2024 Outlaw Partners, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Explore Big Sky Logo
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Subscribe
Facebook X-twitter Instagram Youtube