| Right now we are fighting hard for stream access. In a couple of years it might not be so important. The days of trout in Montana are numbered.
Since moving to Montana, I have experienced only one winter that was close to what is refered to as "average". I love trout more than just about anything (hence my handle) and I depend on the "average" winter for there to be good fishing through the summer.
I now tell people if they want to come visit Montana to fish, they should come no later than early July. That's because every spring since I have lived here snowmelt has happened in March or April, not May and June. I tried to be a fishing guide, but it's tough when they close the rivers in late July, in the middle of the season. In the comming years we are going to see more and more outdoor opportunites compromised by climate change.
These issues are important to ranchers, foresters, outfitters, and recreators. We can build common ground with this issue. That is now a possibility, where before it seemed unthinkable.
The new western Democrat: an outdoorsman who realizes the impact of global warming on livelyhoods and recreation, while maintaining our 2nd ammendment rights; a rancher who sees how drought will effect his cattle; the tree farmer who knows that climate change means slower growing trees more susceptible to disease and infestation. |
