Spring 2017

TU National
While Mr. Farling correctly suggested it
was up to the general public and those
in the many associated businesses to
act, and that Montana TU has not been
intimately involved, Trout Unlimited
National on the other hand, under the
representation of Pat Byorth, has in
fact been to Big Sky and has spoken at
length with Ron Edwards, as well as the
key developers at YC and Moonlight,
on multiple occasions over the previous
three months.
Mr. Byorth has been floating the idea of
rewarding the very Big Sky developers
who have been causing the pollution and
diminished inflow rates for years, with
what are called mitigation credits, from
what is known as a Mitigation Bank.
This is an appealing program when
it relates to discussing water rights
with ranchers - those diverting a vital
tributary’s inflow - but to suggest
swapping fresh water inflow to
accommodate future development with
treated-wastewater seems ludicrous.
It has been further suggested in
meetings, that in order for this mitigation
credit swap to occur, the existing
wastewater storage-ponds at BSWSD
treatment facility could be used.
Michael Ducuennois, VP of Yellowstone
Club Development, suggested just that
in a stakeholder-meeting on the topic of
mitigation credits on Nov. 3, 2016:
“These empty ponds with fresh, or
a mix of reclaimed water, could be
used…then you could have your August
and September types of releases there,
which would be helpful.”
That scenario of course, could only
be accomplished if a pipeline directly
leading from the treatment ponds to the
Gallatin River were built, satisfying
the precise wishes of Ron Edwards and
the developers he works for (ex: Mr.
Ducuennois) who sit on BSWSD’s board
of directors.
Here we have Big Sky and Yellowstone
Club developers who have been
diverting the surface water and draining
the groundwater for the second-home
market usage for years, replacing miles
of native grasses with pavement, as
well having a recent history of fouling
the very stream - the West Fork – with
30-million-gallons of effluent.
So, for Mr. Byorth representing
Trout Unlimited National to initiate a
recorded conversation and propose
awarding them with some type of
mitigation credit is confusing, and
warrants further clarification from
those involved. And preferably
sooner and before DEQ permits are
filed, rather than later; when it’s too
late.
MONTANA FLYFISHING