Thursday, Jan. 8, in Helena | WHAT THE DATA ARE TELLING US ABOUT THE JEFFERSON BASIN

Written By Quincey Johnson

SAVE WILD TROUT: WHAT THE DATA ARE TELLING US
ABOUT THE JEFFERSON BASIN

(HELENA, MT) - This Thursday, January 8th, Save Wild Trout’s Program Director, Brian Wheeler, will be hosting a public update on water quality conditions across the Jefferson Basin.

Brian will share findings built on Save Wild Trout’s 2023-2024 Jefferson Basin Abiotic Monitoring Report, the first basin-wide scientific assessment of its kind in southwest Montana. Drawing on multi-year data from the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Ruby, and Jefferson rivers, the presentation will cover trends in temperature, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, algae, and other indicators that directly affect wild trout and cold-water fisheries.

This Helena conversation will look ahead at what the report data and this year’s monitoring data are showing. Wheeler will discuss the critical threats that are being documented on Montana’s iconic cold water fisheries, such as the Big Hole, and how independent monitoring helps inform management, restoration, and public understanding across the basin.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information or to RSVP click here.

What: A public briefing on Save Wild Trout’s 2025 water quality monitoring across the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Ruby, Jefferson, and Boulder rivers.

When: Thursday, January 8th, 1:00-2:15 pm at the Lewis and Clark Library (120 S Last Chance Gulch St, Helena, MT) 

Why: In 2023, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks revealed trout populations across the Jefferson Basin reached historic lows. Save Wild Trout was immediately formed to work toward science-based solutions for the Jefferson Basin. In spring 2025, the Big Hole River Foundation merged with Save Wild Trout to expand water quality monitoring efforts across the basin. To better inform river management, Save WIld Trout is collecting critical data on water quality conditions; this presentation will provide an update from the 2025 field season. Earlier that morning, Brian Wheeler will also give a short presentation at Hometown Helena at 7:00 am, sharing highlights from Save Wild Trout’s Jefferson Basin monitoring work and what the data are showing as Montana heads into another critical water year.

For questions or to schedule media interviews, please contact Brian at brian(at)savewildtrout.org.

Additional Resources:

Quincey Johnson
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Event December 10 in Butte & Online: Water Quality Monitoring Across the jefferson basin