![]() Compared to summer, when many fish move into side channels to get out of heavier currents in the mainstem and/or to feed, many fewer fish were trapped. The season: Most fish, adult trout in particular, were already in winter holding areas of deep areas of the main channel or – in the case of fish “Between the Lakes” between Hebgen Dam and Quake Lake – down in Quake Lake.While stressful, since these areas did not freeze, most fish trapped in the deep spots in side channels did and will survive. In effect, the side channels cut off from the main river were briefly turned into shallow ponds in which fish were trapped. This means that most isolated side channels did not freeze overnight, even at the surface. The weather: It has been extremely warm in Montana lately. ![]() Several factors probably help reduce the overall impacts of the dam failure: Impacts on redds are likely present throughout the Madison between Hebgen Dam and Ennis Lake. Both impacts gradually decrease the further downstream you travel, with the trout kill in particular much lower by Cameron, Montana, about halfway between Quake Lake and Ennis Lake. The worst egg loss is likely the entire section between Hebgen Dam and natural Quake Lake downstream. The worst fish kill seems likely to have occurred immediately below the dam. Additionally, a substantial loss of the 2021 brown trout spawn is also certain. Immediate Impactsĭespite the above efforts and the relatively short period before flows returned to normal, a fish kill of unknown proportions is certain. That said, the largest trout rescued were over 24 inches in length. It seems that most larger trout were already in deeper water (typical for winter water conditions) or were strong enough to wriggle over the shallow gravel while it still had any water at all flowing over it. Most fish moved were sculpins and some small trout. On Wednesday December 1, volunteers coordinated by Montana FWP staff conducted a salvage operation to move fish trapped in deep spots in cut-off side channels to the main channel while avoiding redds that were still damp. The channel at left is usually a couple feet deep and is full of brown trout redds.
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