904 | Upper Missouri Watershed Conservation with Josh Seckinger and David Stagliano from UMOWA
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The Upper Missouri Watershed Alliance (UMOWA) is fighting to protect one of Montana’s most iconic rivers through long-term scientific monitoring and community-driven conservation. At the heart of their work is a decades-long effort to track macroinvertebrates and water quality, which has revealed a critical insight: the river’s health depends on periodic, high-volume flushing flows—something dams now prevent. These flows, which historically cleared silt and rejuvenated insect hatches, are now rare due to regulated water releases. Yet, when they do happen, mayfly and caddisfly populations rebound dramatically within a single year, proving that nature can recover quickly if given the chance. The team, led by David Stagliano (a veteran entomologist) and new executive Josh Seckinger, is navigating a complex web of stakeholders—dams owned by different entities, agricultural runoff, and invasive weeds—while building partnerships with ranchers and landowners to expand their reach. Their annual rendezvous in Craig, Montana, doubles as a community gathering and a strategic forum to align efforts. Despite climate uncertainty and declining snowpack, they remain hopeful, emphasizing that small, coordinated actions—like wetland restoration and targeted weed spraying—can have outsized impacts.
Flushing flows of 15,000 CFS are essential to clear silt and restore mayfly and caddisfly hatches on the Missouri River, with populations rebounding within a year.
The Upper Missouri Watershed Alliance uses fall benthic macroinvertebrate sampling to predict spring hatch strength with 90% accuracy, providing actionable intel for guides and anglers.
Dams stabilize fishing conditions year-round but prevent natural flushing flows, creating a paradox where human intervention sustains the fishery but undermines its ecological resilience.
Nutrient pollution from agricultural runoff in the Townsend area is being tracked and addressed through wetland mitigation and partnerships with landowners using state-funded 319 grants.
Invasive weeds like leafy spurge and cheatgrass are spreading upstream, but targeted spraying and community engagement with ranchers and cabin owners are slowing their advance.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Long Game of River Conservation
“How do you protect a river for future generations when the winds are slow, the work is steady and the payoff isn't always visible in a single season?”
The Science Behind the Hatches
“Once we do get that flow, our caddis hatches and our mayfly hatches are phenomenal the next year. Oh wow. Yep, yep. So that happens quick. It happens quick.”
The Dam Paradox: Stability vs. Resilience
“The blessing is like Josh was saying, we get to fish that thing year round. There's never a time when it's unfishable and turbid up so bad that, you know, you can't get some fishing in. But the curse of the dam is also what we were describing with the flushing flows.”
Nutrient Pollution and Agricultural Runoff
UMOWA discovered elevated nutrient levels in tributaries above Holter Reservoir, primarily from agricultural irrigation. They’re now working with landowners to implement wetland mitigation and beaver dam analogs to filter runoff before it reaches the river.
Invasive Species and the Angler’s Role
Terrestrial noxious weeds like leafy spurge and cheatgrass are spreading up the corridor. The team is hosting events to engage ranchers and cabin owners in weed spraying, emphasizing that cleaning boots and gear is the most effective way for anglers to prevent spread.
“Once we do get that flow, our caddis hatches and our mayfly hatches are phenomenal the next year. Oh wow. Yep, yep. So that happens quick. It happens quick.”
“The blessing is like Josh was saying, we get to fish that thing year round. There's never a time when it's unfishable and turbid up so bad that, you know, you can't get some fishing in. But the curse of the dam is also what we were describing with the flushing flows.”
“I honestly don't believe it matters what sole you're wearing on your boot. It's about where you were and what species was there, specifically for the terrestrial noxious weeds.”
Host
Guests
Upper Missouri Watershed Alliance
organization
David Stagliano
person
Josh Seckinger
person
Grateful Dead
other
Craig, Montana
place
Bureau of Reclamation
organization
Smith River
other
Northwestern Energy
organization
Holter Dam
other
Dearborn River
other
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