The Friends of Big Horn Lake, a Lovell-based group that advocates for ample water at Horseshoe Bend for summer recreation, would welcome an investigation into the management of the Big Horn River. The group’s statement is in response to Montana Sen. Max Baucus’ recent request for a federal investigation of the Bureau of Reclamation’s management, specifically at Yellowtail Dam.
FOBHL President Bob Croft said last week that a thorough investigation would probably yield positive results for the local group, rather than furthering Baucus’ cause. Croft said the letter contained some inaccurate statements and the investigation would show a clearer picture of what’s actually happening with management.
Citing a “pattern of disregard,” Baucus demanded a high-level investigation into BuRec management of the Big Horn River and Yellowtail Dam in his letter dated Oct. 22, written to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for Department of the Interior. The OIG is an independent, investigative arm of the federal government.
Baucus laid out several cases of what he calls “major blunders” by the BuRec, including recent cases when Yellowtail Dam outflows were severely cut down for a period of time. He said the reduced flows severely damaged the health of the fisheries upstream in Montana portions of the Big Horn River.
“It is clear that better coordination on the entire length of the system would have prevented many of the impacts of these damaging events. I would like your office to conduct an investigation into the overall management of the Big Horn River System, specifically investigating the operation of the Yellowtail Dam in coordination with all the dams on the river,” Baucus wrote to Mary Kendall, the acting inspector general for the Department of Interior.
He states that management for the entire river system should be put into effect, opposed to managing for lake levels.
“Reclamation management practices continue to favor lake levels over releases; regular intra-agency meetings, conference calls and quarterly public issue group conferences have succeeded only in benefiting the south end of the lake and Horseshoe Bend, a boat input that is quickly being buried under 0.8-1.1 feet of sediment per year,” Baucus wrote. “All parties made compromises to deal with limited water resources during the drought years of 2001-07. However, the river should not suffer in good to above average water years as was the case in 2008 and 2009.”
Baucus advocates for a stream flow of at least 2,500 cfs into the Big Horn River, regardless of drought status in the area. He cites the economic impact of the fishery, stating 70,000 to 90,000 angler days are spent annually on the river and that fishing on the Big Horn contributes $30 million dollars per year to the local economy.
Croft said an investigation would be a positive thing for the FOBHL and said he would like to see an investigation so all of the information can be brought to the table, instead of only the issues presented by Baucus.
“We want them to realize they are taking water from a national park, not the state of Wyoming,” Croft said.
Rep. Elaine Harvey (R-Lovell) talked to a staff member of Sen. John Barrasso’s office in Washington, D.C. last week by phone. Harvey told the member of Barrasso’s staff that she would welcome an inquiry into management of the Big Horn River and said she wants to make sure all the facts are presented.
Some of those facts are contained in memorandum of understanding documents that state the priorities for management at Yellowtail Dam. Several of these documents were brought to light in recent years, causing the BuRec to shift management practices to favor lake level at Big Horn Lake for recreation over the health of downstream fisheries. Harvey, along with County Commissioner Keith Grant, members of the FOBHL and others have fought to make the BuRec recognize and follow the laws laid out in the documents.
“I have no worries about an inquiry,” Harvey said, “because all we’ve tried to do all along the way is to enforce the laws that are in place.”