Grayling dilemma

By The Standard Staff - 05/19/2007

From a science perspective, it’s a no-brainer that the fluvial arctic grayling belongs on the Endangered Species List. The only place this river-dwelling fish still lives in the lower-48 states is a roughly 80-mile stretch of the Upper Big Hole River, and its numbers are so low biologists can’t even make a statistically valid estimate of how many remain.

The grayling’s lake-dwelling cousins are fine, but their river-bound relatives are in trouble and have been for more than 25 years. Unlike four-legged fauna that can move on, they’re stuck in a bad situation.

“If you look at the decision, it’s clearly not based in science,” said Mike Bias, executive director of the Big Hole River Foundation. Bias was referring to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s recent decision not to place the grayling on the Endangered Species List.

Having worked 22 years with endangered species from the spotted owl of the Pacific Northwest to the salt marsh harvest mouse of San Francisco Bay, Bias is well aware of the major role politics plays in decisions like these. Endangered species are clearly out of favor in Washington. The Center for Biological Diversity, one of the parties planning to sue over this decision, reports that the present administration has listed fewer species than any other since the Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973.

To date, only 57 species have been listed under George W. Bush’s watch, compared to 512 under the Clinton administration and 234 under the Bush Sr. administration. A center press release noted that May 9 marked a full year gone by without any new listings. The last time that happened was 1981, when James Watt was interior secretary under President Reagan.

And while his scientist side deplores the decision, Bias must also contend with local politics. Foundation board members range from outraged anglers to Big Hole Valley ranchers who agree with the decision.

Bias is carefully navigating the middle, pointing out reasons to stay hopeful. Nearly all the grayling’s habitat flows through private ranch land, and the foundation, along with the Big Hole Watershed Committee, has been building a positive track record working with landowners on voluntary improvements to aid stream flow and preserve habitat. That work continues full-speed ahead, listing or no listing, Bias said.

Since the April 24 decision, three new landowners representing 20,000 acres have committed to making improvements through the Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances program, Bias said. Also, all 500 points of diversion from the river have been mapped and a priority list drawn up of those most in need of repair. In partnership with landowners, the Natural Resources Conservation Service will work on 65 different diversions this summer, Bias said, and the state has 30-some projects going, such as installing fish ladders and riparian fencing and working with ranchers on grazing plans. The grayling’s status as a state “species of concern” remains unchanged, he said.

He admits a listing probably would have brought more funding, but stressed that “just because a species is listed doesn’t mean you get a blank check to recover it.” “All the work that’s been done is still being done,” Bias said, “and funding for the project is still there.” The George Grant Chapter of Trout Unlimited “strongly disagrees” with the decision not to list, said Treasurer Steve Luebeck. “We don’t buy it,” Luebeck said. “We think it’s flawed.” He thinks it’s too soon to tell whether the decision means certain extinction for grayling, but believes the only hope lies with the state’s Congressional delegation making it a priority. “The Blackfoot River got $8 million out of the (federal) ’06 supplemental budget,” Luebeck said. “The Big Hole got zero.” Any steps to save the grayling will benefit the river overall, and it’s clear the Big Hole needs help — not only from ranchers, but also from Butte-Silver Bow water customers who can curb sprinkling habits and conserve in other ways. Drought-wise, the region is in worse shape this year than last, Bias said, so the challenge will be great.

“The only way we’re going to save the grayling is to make more grayling, and we’re doing as much as we can with the resources we’ve got,” Bias said. “The drought’s not helping, but we’re working .... And the grayling are doing their part — they’re up there spawning right now.”