BILLINGS,
Mont. (AP) — Montana wildlife officials indefinitely closed a 183-mile
stretch of the Yellowstone River and hundreds of miles of other
waterways Friday, barring all fishing, rafting and other activities to
prevent the spread of a parasite believed to have killed tens of
thousands of fish.
Fishing
guides and rafting operators who run businesses along the river said
the move could be catastrophic to the area's sizable outdoor industry,
which depends heavily on the busy summer season.
The
closure could extend for months if river conditions don't improve and
fish keep dying, according to officials from Montana Fish, Wildlife and
Parks. It includes hundreds of miles of waterways that feed into the
Yellowstone, including the Boulder, Shields and Stillwater rivers.
Even
when the river reopens, there are fears the fish die-off could deal a
lasting blow to the Yellowstone's reputation as a world-class trout
fishery that draws visitors from around the world.
"This
kill is unprecedented in magnitude. We haven't seen something like this
in Montana," Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokeswoman Andrea Jones said.
By
Friday, roughly 4,000 dead fish had been counted, but the total number
is estimated to be in the tens of thousands, including fish that sank to
the bottom, officials said.
Most
have been mountain whitefish, a native game species, but reports also
emerged that the die-off has affected some rainbow trout and Yellowstone
cutthroat trout — species crucial to the area's fishing industry.
No
dead fish were found inside Yellowstone National Park, where a
celebration of the National Park Service's 100th anniversary was planned
for next week. Officials said they had no plans to close waters inside
the park.
The
closure on the Montana portion of the river aims to stop the spread of
the parasite, which causes fish to contract a fatal kidney disease, and
to protect the fishery and the outdoor economy it sustains, officials
said.
The
disease was previously documented just twice in the state over the past
20 years but more recent outbreaks have occurred in Washington, Oregon
and Idaho. Officials said it does not pose a health risk to people.
Low
water levels and warm temperatures are making the problem worse by
adding to the stresses faced by cold-water species such as trout and
whitefish, officials said. In other rivers, fish die-offs caused by
outbreaks of the disease persisted until water temperatures dropped
significantly as winter began, they said.
Fishing,
wading, floating, boating and all other activities are not allowed
until further notice. Numerous fly fishing outfitters and rafting
companies operate in the closed stretch of river, which extends from
Yellowstone National Park's northern boundary to the city of Laurel,
along with all tributaries in those areas.
Fishing
guide Dan Gigone, who owns the Sweetwater Fly Shop in Livingston, said
one of his guides reported seeing hundreds of dead fish including some
trout in the Yellowstone on Thursday. Gigone called the closure
catastrophic but said he would not fight the move.
"We
have trips on the books through September," Gigone said. "It's
definitely a big part of the Livingston and area economy. But we need to
protect the resources as best we can for future years."
Yellowstone
Raft Co. owner Robin Trotter said she had started calling hundreds of
customers with reservations in coming weeks to let them know their trips
could be canceled.
Fish,
Wildlife and Parks Director Jeff Hagener acknowledged that the closure
would have a significant effect on those who use the Yellowstone. He
said the agency had to balance that against the risk to the fishery,
given that recreational activities disturb fish and exacerbate the
effects of the disease.
The
parasite is not native to the area, meaning it was introduced by people
via a contaminated boat, fishing waders or other means — or possibly by
birds that transported it from another waterway, officials said.
The
wildlife agency has set up two decontamination stations to try to
reduce the chance of equipment spreading the parasite to other rivers.
The agency urged the public to clean all equipment properly before
moving between bodies of water.
___
This story has been corrected to show that closure area includes 183 miles of the Yellowstone River, not 175.
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