Walleye West of the Continental Divide?

In 1989 an Environmental Assessment was completed by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to assess the potential impacts of walleye introductions west of the Continental Divide. Citing the paucity of suitable habitat west of the divide and potential impacts on other fisheries and on native fish populations, the FWP Commission voted for a policy of no stocking of walleye west of the divide citing biological and social concerns.

In 2004, the Commission again agreed to hear a proposal to stock sterile walleye in closed-basin lakes west of the continental divide. The proposal was strongly opposed by several conservation and sportsman’s groups including Trout Unlimited and the Montana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. In their response to the proposal, AFS stated,

The biology of walleye and the aquatic environments on the west side has not changed since the 1989 EA. It may appear, however, that social demands have changed due to a vocal minority. We believe that a policy change of this magnitude based on social demands would set a dangerous precedent for future management of fish and wildlife in Montana, and result in deleterious impacts to aquatic ecosystems.

Science has demonstrated that non-native fish introductions are a primary cause of declines in fish abundance and diversity throughout Montana and worldwide. The bull trout is currently listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the westslope cutthroat trout is classified as a species of special concern. Both fish have declined due to habitat loss and negative interactions with non-native fish species. The proposed walleye stocking proposal may jeopardize or delay bull trout recovery efforts (i.e., delisting) and may result in listing westslope cutthroat trout if populations are impacted and continue to decline.

Montana TU and AFS also pointed out that any population of non-indigenous fish west of the divide will provide a source for bucket biologists to spread the population to other water bodies nearby. Dale Burk of Stevensville, representing about 100 members of the Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association, called the idea of introducing walleye west of the divide “insane.” Walleye were illegally introduced to Canyon Ferry Reservoir and have resulted in a decline in trout populations and a reduction of fishing pressure in a very popular fishery.  Finally in September,2004  the FWP Commission voted 4-1 to reject the proposal to plant walleye west of the divide and uphold the 1989 ban.

During the 1980s and 1990s, there were several attempts to illegally plant walleye in waters west of the divide. Most failed, but by the late 1990s, it was revealed that there is a reproducing population of walleye in Noxon Reservoir near Thompson Falls. They were first caught in the reservoir by FWP in 1994 and have reached over 13-pounds. Noxon Reservoir is a popular smallmouth and largemouth bass fishery that supports several popular fishing tournaments during the year. It is also part of the corridor for native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout.  Avista Utilities, Idaho Fish and Game, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL) Montana, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service are currently pursuing an intensive and costly program to aid bull trout recovery in the lower Clark Fork.

In recognition of the threat posed by this reproducing walleye population, the Montana Statewide Fisheries Management Plan, adopted in 2012 called for a Management Type of “Suppression” for walleye in Noxon Rapids Reservoir. The specific Management Direction called for the Department to “Suppress illegally introduced walleye from the reservoir as possible.” Guidelines adopted by the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission commits FWP to launching, within 30 days of a credible report, investigations that confirm the presence and distribution of the new species. The department is then committed to draw up an action plan for responding to and potentially suppressing or even removing the unwanted species.

In 2013, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks released a “Draft Environmental Assessment to Investigate Suppression of Walleye in Noxon Reservoir”.  That proposed plan included, as its number one Primary Objective to “Suppress walleye in Noxon Reservoir to minimize future impacts to the sport and native fisheries and conform with Montana’s Illegal and Unauthorized Introductions of Aquatic Species policy.” The EA was met with substantial opposition by the growing group of walleye anglers in the Lower Clark Fork even though, early studies found,

“In a thorough review of fisheries trends since the completion of Noxon and Cabinet Gorge Reservoirs, Scarnecchia et al. found significant increases in nonnative predator abundance concurrent with significant declines in forage species.”

The walleye population in the lower Clark Fork is not only a threat to fisheries in Montana, but has caused headaches for neighboring states as they move downstream. It has been estimated that 2 million young steelhead and salmon are consumed each year by non-natives in the Columbia River system, accounting for up to 1/3 of the loss due to predation. In Lake Roosevelt, nonnative fish constitute what has been called a “predator trap”, a large number of predatory fish with a declining prey base threatening moves to re-establish native redband rainbow trout. In the “1970s, the average length of Roosevelt walleye was 18.5 inches,” he said, citing state-managed fish surveys. “By the mid-’80s, the average length had dropped to 14 inches.”

A study by and Eastern Washington University  research biologist found that walleye and to a lesser extent, smallmouth bass were consuming

• 95 percent of the kokanee fry being released in the Sanpoil arm
• 40 percent of kokanee yearlings,
• 24 percent of redband trout yearlings,
• 27 percent of 2-3-year-old redbands.

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As Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks continues to study the walleye problem in Noxon Rapids Reservoir, the number of nonnative fish and the constituency for that fishery continue to increase. The forage fish base that supports other popular fisheries in the reservoir continues to decline and the threat to existing populations and recovery of native species increases. These factors make it ever harder to do any kind of meaningful suppression on the invasive population. We have been studying this problem for more than a decade, we know what the threat is and not only what needs to be done, but what we are required by law to accomplish. Is it finally time to act and do the right thing?

You can help. If you observe an illegal transfer of fish in Montana, call:  1-800-TIP-MONT