Closure details

 At 183 miles, almost one third of the Yellowstone River is closed between the Yellowstone National Park northern boundary in Gardiner to the Highway 212 bridge in Laurel. This is a popular stretch for activities such as rafting and fly-fishing. The closure also includes all tributaries flowing from this region.

Jeff Hagener, Director of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP), explained that the organization made the decision to close this part of the river as a response to the aggressive impact of the fish kill. After careful research and assessment, they believed the closure was necessary in order to protect the fishery and the economy reliant on it and to stop the spread of the disease.

Governor Steve Bullock agreed stating that a threat to Montana's fish is a threat to the state's outdoor economy. Montana's outdoor economy currently employs 64,000 people and generates $6 billion annually. The FWP made their closure decision in consultation with the governor. Governor Bullock continued to show his support by stating that the decision to close parts of Yellowstone River was based on science and that the priority would be stopping this deadly disease in order to protect Montana jobs.

What is killing the fish?

As of August 19th, 4000 dead fish were counted in this region of Yellowstone River. The FWP estimate the actual number of dead fish to be in the tens of thousands as many may have sunk to the bottom of the river or been eaten by predators. The majority of the deceased fish are mountain whitefish. However, reports of dead rainbow trout and Yellowstone cutthroat trout have surfaced.

Samples sent to the US Fish and Wildlife Service Fish Health Center in Bozeman revealed the lethal disease to be Proliferative Kidney Disease. This disease is caused by microscopic parasites and is most serious in whitefish and trout. The disease has a 20-100% mortality rate in trout. It poses no risk to humans or animals who eat the infected dead fish.

Past problems

Cases of the Proliferative Kidney Disease have been seen in Canada, Europe and the United States. There are two records of this disease in Montana over the last two decades. Recent outbreaks were recorded in nearby states Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

In 2012, Idaho dealt with its own outbreak of the Proliferative Kidney Disease. Dan Garren of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game explained that officials decided to not close any of the bodies of water and that only whitefish, but trout, were affected by the disease. However, he admits that every summer since the initial outbreak larger quantities of whitefish have been found dead and tested positive for this disease.

The FWP in Montana insists the outbreak is more deadly in Yellowstone River due to a number of unfavorable conditions that exacerbate the disease such as record low flows, extremely high temperatures and large disturbances caused by recreational water activities.

Advice to Yellowstone River visitors

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department is asking all visitors to the area to respect the closure and stay off the water. Anglers are being asked to disinfect their gear and the visiting public is requested to properly clean their boats, waders and trailers. The FWP has set up two Aquatic Invasive Species decontamination stations along Interstate 90 to help reduce the spread of this disease to other parts of the river.

Violators who do not respect the closure will first be educated. Persistent violators will be issued a citation with further consequences.

Local reaction

As the closure was announced, many water-based businesses were left scrambling to cancel reservations and make accommodations for clients. Some boats were even pulled off the water. Many angling and rafting businesses point to Labor Day weekend as their busiest of the year and have clients booking well into the next month.

Despite the initial worry and scrambling, the majority of river residents are supportive of the closure. They trust the FWP to rely on scientific advice and prioritize the long-term health of the fishery. Protecting resources for future generations is what's most important. But local businesses and residents worry this support may not last.

Andrea Jones, an FWP officer, announced that there is no official timeline for the closure. In cases like this, they have to wait for environmental conditions to improve and no one knows exactly when that will be. Local fishermen point out that flows are not expected to rise until next spring. But how long can Montana's outdoor economy, a $6 billion industry that relies heavily on the fishery and tourism from Yellowstone River, afford to wait?