Montana’s blue-ribbon trout streams are seeing green—way too early. In late June, water monitoring teams spotted thick algal blooms creeping through rivers like the Big Hole, Jefferson, and Boulder. These blooms usually don’t show up until later in the summer, but a mix of hot temps, drought-weary soils, and nutrient-rich ag runoff jumpstarted the problem this year. The result? Lower oxygen levels, stressed fish populations, and a wake-up call for anglers, ranchers, and conservationists alike.
Brian Wheeler and the folks at Save Wild Trout have been tracking these changes for years, but even they were caught off guard by the early bloom. Their message is simple: collaboration, not conflict, is the way forward. Whether you’re casting flies or irrigating fields, everyone has a stake in the health of these rivers.
Read the full story via Field & Stream here.
Feature photo via Save Wild Trout
