Having served as Foundation President since 2005, Storrs Bishop stepped down and turned the reins over to David Bricker (photo above) at the annual meeting of the MRF membership June 23rd. Storrs remains on the board as a director of the Foundation. Dave relinquishes the post of Foundation Secretary to Director Joe Dilschneider. Jeff Montag continues as MRF Treasurer.

All nine Foundation directors agreed to serve another one-year term for 2012-2013. The membership returned 100 ballots and no serving director received less than 70 percent of the vote. One write-in candidate received a single vote.

Dave Bricker is a founding director of the Foundation. At the 10th annual "Guardians of the River" Gala Banquet held at the Sun Ranch Bricker thanked Storrs Bishop for his leadership and years of service to the Foundation. In recognition, Storrs received a framed photo by Ken Hall featuring a mare and foal of the Norwegian Fiord horses. Storrs his wife Bev raise this special breed.

For complete biographies of the Foundation directors visit our web site www.madisonriverfoundation.org

Standing Room Only Audience Briefed on the "State of the River" at MRF Sponsored Event in Ennis

More than 50 people turned out for an update on the current state of the Madison at a meeting last week co-sponsored by the Foundation. Jon Jourdanais and other officials from PPL Montana, the utility that operates the dams on the Madison, reported on the requirements of the federal license, their annual monitoring of river temperatures and insect life, as well as river flow management issues.

The officials also updated the audience regarding the ongoing work at Hebgen Dam, expected to be completed by 2014. The project was made necessary by a failure at the dam in August 2008. The seismic strengthening of the dam's intake structure and re-building of the structure have turned out to be more complex than first anticipated. And the short construction season also has extended the work. Temperature monitoring indicates that while the use of the spillway during construction may have some impact on fishing, it has not threatened fish or other aquatic life.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials also reported on the current condition of the trout population in the Madison. FWP Region 3 fisheries manager Travis Horton and Madison fishery biologist Pat Clancy reviewed the 40-plus years of population data we have for the Madison and offered an assessment of the health of the trout population. Bottom line: the Madison trout are basically healthy. The Madison is probably the best-documented river in the country, with annual trout population data going back to the late-1960s. While trout populations fluctuate from year to year, as do all wildlife populations, the overall numbers and size of trout remain fairly steady within established parameters (with the exception, of course, of the whirling disease years in the mid-1990s).

The audience asked informed, pointed questions. Both PPL and FWP welcomed the opportunity to get good, sound and accurate information to the public. Too often inaccurate information and rumor is bandied about in lieu of the facts. The Foundation was pleased with the public interest and the robust turnout for the meeting. This is just one way the Foundation serves as a conduit for solid, factual information regarding the health of the Madison.


The highlight of the Foundation's 10th annual "Guardians of the River" Gala Banquet was presentation of this year's Friend of the Madison Award to the Laszlo Family, owners of the Granger Ranches. Presenting the award on behalf of the Foundation were Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard (right) and Craig Mathews of Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone. Jeff Laszlo (left) accepted the award representing his family.

The Friend of the Madison is awarded annually by the Foundation in recognition of those who have made an important contribution to preserving and protecting the Madison ecosystem. The Laszlo family was recognized for the O'Dell Creek Headwaters Restoration project, the largest stream and wetlands restoration in Montana. O'Dell is a major tributary and spawning channel of the Madison. The Laszlo family's restoration project has provided a direct benefit to the Madison with cooler water entering the river and expanded spawning habitat for fish migrating from the main stem of the river.

The 10th annual gala was a huge success, with the largest attendance ever. The Foundation offers heartfelt thanks to the Sun  Ranch partners Richard Adkerson, Bobby Patrick and Chip Goodyear for generously hosting and sponsoring the banquet. We also wish to thank all the banquet benefactors, donors to the live and silent auctions, Judge Loren Tucker for his always superb auctioneer services, the many volunteers who helped make the event a success, and all who bought tickets and attended. Thank you, all!