Ovando, MT - June 29, 2004-The Blackfoot Challenge, a watershed group that coordinates a cooperative emergency drought plan, cautions that the Blackfoot is still in the grips of a severe drought despite recent rain and cooler weather. “Without continued rains through the remainder of June and into July, everyone who uses the Blackfoot—irrigators, anglers, and outfitters alike—will be faced with the prospect of having to curtail use of the river and water withdrawals,” said Harry Poett, chairman of the Challenge’s Emergency Drought Response Committee.

 Peak flows were much earlier and much smaller this year. The Blackfoot River experienced peak flows on May 9, with a flow of 4500 cubic feet per second, which is about 54 percent of the historic average. Even after a relatively wet May and June, flows on the river have remained substantially below average.  According to the NRCS Basin Outlook Report for June, flows in the Blackfoot are predicted to fall below 700 cubic feet per second between July 28th and August 13th.  If precipitation in June and July is below normal, low flows will occur even sooner.
 
The Blackfoot Challenge is requesting irrigators to adopt voluntary reductions when the flows of the Blackfoot at Bonner hit 700 cubic feet per second. In addition, when flows get low enough to dangerously elevate water temperatures, we will request anglers and outfitters to address the impacts on heat-stressed fish by adopting fishing tactics that are less intrusive—landing fish quickly, keeping them in water while releasing them, and fishing in cooler periods of the day, to name a few. “Drought affects everyone, so all of us, including the recreating public, need to shoulder responsibility for reducing its impacts,” said Ryen Anderson, a fisheries biologist for the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks who works in the Blackfoot.

 These voluntary actions taken by irrigators, outfitters, and recreationists are part of the Blackfoot Challenge's Emergency Drought Response Plan which began in 2000.  Over the past four years, hundreds of Blackfoot water users have participated in this "shared sacrifice."  “The Blackfoot Challenge would like to thank all of those who have participated in the past and we hope that we can count on your support again in 2004,” said Poett.  The Blackfoot Challenge will continue to keep water users informed on drought conditions and issues through periodic updates as the summer progresses.