Trout Unlimited's Clark Fork River Project

06/15/2026

Lolo Creek project is seeing a lot of angler use already this season- and it's nice to see westslope cutthroat moving into and using the newly restored trout habitat. It is nice to see!

Work to rebuild a section of Lolo Creek away from Highway 12 was completed in Fall 2025 in partnership with Lolo National Forest Montana Department of Environmental Quality WestSlope Chapter Trout Unlimited Lolo Watershed Group and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

06/10/2026

It's amazing to see Ninemile Creek now versus then- when the ditched creek was trapped between mine-waste piles that stood up to 3 meters tall. It was so erosive that it offered no habitat for small or spawning fish.

Nearly a decade long effort focused on knocking down these mine piles to create a new stream channel with an active floodplain. The natural stream and habitat restoration is allowing native and wild fish populations to thrive. Other critters are using the restored habitat too!

This year we will finish the last phase to complete the Ninemile Restoration Project, a partnership between the private landowners, Trout Unlimited, Lolo National Forest and many funding partners including Montana DNRC Montana Department of Environmental Quality Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks WestSlope Chapter Trout Unlimited.

06/09/2026

We’re excited to share before and after photos from completion of Phase 3A of the Flint Creek restoration project focused on improving habitat and water quality for people, fish, and wildlife outside of Phillipsburg, MT.

Over one-half mile of stream was reconstructed, with eroding streambanks stabilized using overhanging wood and native vegetation. The stream channel was reshaped—narrowed and deepened —to reduce warming water temperatures and encourage the natural deposition of spawning gravels.

The surrounding floodplain was planted with native shrubs and trees, and new livestock fencing now protects 4 acres of habitat while supporting grazing management.

This project helps create a healthier, more resilient creek for generations to come and is a partnership between the JTF Ranch, Montana NRDP, USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, and Trout Unlimited with funding support from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Future Fisheries program, Montana Department of Environmental Quality 319 program, and the Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART program.

06/08/2026

Trout Unlimited and Montana Trout Unlimited - the full Montana crew gathered on the Big Hole River to talk shop and lessons-learned about our on-the-ground projects, advocacy, policy-making, and legal work that helps protect Montana's coldwater rivers and fish!

05/06/2026

https://www.kpax.com/news/missoula-county/spring-water-flows-through-restored-section-of-lolo-creek?fbclid=IwY2xjawRoTPRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe-gf08ULE-f0EJL61QKnYJAGHEVoFXQhO84e_QLAL_-SX_YqkblvXwdhM4gw_aem_EbOHmpA68lazPjrooEDjzg

Heading up to Lolo Pass this year? Check out the recently competed stream restoration construction project on Lolo Creek. You will see it from the highway. Work moved the creek away from the highway to reduce sedimentation and restored fish habitat - all on public US Forest Service lands.

We worked with the Lolo National Forest and WestSlope Chapter Trout Unlimited to complete this project. Go check it out!

Last year, a team effort restored a stretch of Lolo Creek along Highway 12. Now, with water flowing through it, those behind the project hope it can create a path forward for the creek as a whole.

04/29/2026

April is National Volunteer Month! Volunteers have been the backbone of our stewardship program on the Lee Metcalf Project. Since 2024, over 90 volunteers have spent more than 1,000 hours planting, fencing, weeding and watering.

These volunteers rock! Big thanks to the Bitterroot Trout Unlimited WestSlope Chapter Trout Unlimited, the UM TU Chapter, and the Bitterroot Bird Alliance

04/07/2026

Volunteers Needed! For details and to RSVP:
https://tu.myeventscenter.com/event/Volunteers-Needed-Weeding-At-Lee-Metcalf-National-123653

03/30/2026

Ninemile Creek Reclamation - Ninemile Creek is a tributary to the Clark Fork River west of Missoula Montana. It was historically placer mined which damaged habitat and straightened the creek. Reclamation rebuilds the stream and kickstarts the recovery of habitat and water quality. The recovery also improves resilience to wildfire on the Forest.

The last phase of Ninemile Creek Reclamation (Phase 7) will take place this summer. This wraps up over a decade of reclamation work on the mainstem of Ninemile Creek. The work is led by Trout Unlimited in partnership with the Lolo National Forest and other partners, including adjacent private landowners, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, WestSlope Chapter Trout Unlimited, and Missoula Conservation District.

03/08/2026

The Bitterroot Trout Unlimited Spring Auction is live online through 3/16!
Help support the Chapter's efforts to protect the Bitterroot, offer Trout in the Classroom programs, host youth fly tie classes, and more.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DraF6DmNB/

Silent auction 'BRTU 2026 Spring Virtual Auction and Tackle Fair' hosted online at 32auctions.

02/17/2026

We got lucky! A few large conifer trees fell over during a recent wind storm event on the Lolo National Forest. Now we can repurpose them to improve fish habitat nearby.

Trout Unlimited and Lolo National Forest inventoried the trees that will be used to build a series of log jams in a priority native trout tributary later this summer. Approximately 20 jams will be constructed to restore degraded habitat along a 1-mile reach of stream, with the goal to provide improved cover and sorting of spawning gravels for bull trout and other fish.

Stay tuned for more details and updates to come!