Rick Crawford
As this interview is the last in The Sustainable Angler blog series for 2018, I thought it would be fitting to lay out what I set out to do with The Sustainable Angler when I created the blog series in January 2018 by interviewing another Montanan, Hilary Hutcheson….The intent of The Sustainable Angler is to educate and create more awareness about environmental threats to our fisheries, such as Population, Policy and Pollution, or what I call the “3 P’s.” Population is a threat because of overfishing, and if we are to avoid the tragedy of the commons and mitigate the risks associated with climate change, we will need to take a science-based approach to manage our finite natural resources. Policy is a threat with such things as the revision of Magnuson Stevens Act as well as policy issues public lands and what’s happening right now in the state of Florida with the mismanagement of water resources and discharges from Lake Okeechobee. Pollution, such as plastic, is an obvious threat to our fisheries, but the greatest threat to our fisheries is pollution in the form of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which result in climate change that is warming fresh water, causing ocean acidification and sea level rise, all of which negatively impact our fisheries.
I am proud to say that the goal of educating and creating more awareness about environmental threats to our fisheries by interviewing people in the fly fishing industry that are far more interesting than myself is being accomplished and I would have never met Alec Underwood had it not been for The Sustainable Angler. In fact, after reading The Sustainable Angler: Hilary Hutcheson, Alec Underwood reached out to me and introduced himself “as someone who also cares deeply about the impact climate change is having on our fisheries and the sport of fly fishing.” I would discover through our conversations that these were not empty words because Alec has been running a climate change program for the Montana Wildlife Federation specifically aimed at fly fishing and the future of the industry. He has focused his efforts on guides, outfitters and other industry professionals by bringing in the science of climate change and its impacts on our cold water fisheries. Alec is a passionate angler and works hard to protect what he loves, so I hope you enjoy the interview….
Photo Credit: Alec Underwood
How did you come to work for Montana Wildlife Federation?
I’ve had a passion for conservation since I was a kid and after a while, decided that it was going to be my life’s focus. After receiving a degree in wildlife biology with an emphasis on fisheries, I worked for several state wildlife management agencies conducting fisheries work before moving into conservation advocacy. Montana Wildlife Federation was a natural fit to work with sportsmen and sportswomen on conservation issues throughout Montana.
Who inspires you and why?
The easy answer would be guys like Teddy Roosevelt. He had the wherewithal to think what things would look like one hundred years in the future. It’s because of him, and guys with his conservation ethic, that we have what we have today, which is lifetimes worth of opportunities to explore our country’s greatest natural treasures.
When did you first become aware of the impacts of climate change is having on our fisheries?
I think I’ve always been aware of some of the impacts associated with climate change on fisheries, but the first time I saw those impacts first hand was when I was attending college at the University of Montana. Seeing several summers of intense heat and low summer stream flows was concerning to me as an angler and as somebody who cares deeply about the state of our fisheries.
Here in Montana and around the Western U.S. we are seeing declines in mountain snowpack and earlier runoff which is leading to lower stream flows and warmer water temperatures in mid- late summer. These high water temps are causing some fish mortality in our rivers but more-so the larger impact is on anglers when our wildlife management agency is forced to put restrictions on the rivers to protect the fish.
Alec Underwood
What effects of climate change are most concerning to you?
Number one would be how climate change is affecting the hydrologic cycle of our streams and rivers. Here in Montana and around the Western U.S. we are seeing declines in mountain snowpack and earlier runoff which is leading to lower stream flows and warmer water temperatures in mid- late summer. These high water temps are causing some fish mortality in our rivers but more-so the larger impact is on anglers when our wildlife management agency is forced to put restrictions on the rivers to protect the fish.
Restrictions are becoming more common and occurring earlier than ever before and we also see these extreme conditions that are exacerbating occurrences of parasites and pathogens, such as the outbreak of Proliferative Kidney Disease which caused an unprecedented closure of 186 miles of the Yellowstone River to all recreation in August 2016. According to projections and current trends, summers are going to become hotter, there will be increased duration and intensity of drought, and snowpack will continue to decline.
Other impacts I am concerned about are the ones that different fisheries are seeing not just in the Western U.S. but around the world. Ocean acidification, sea level rise, loss of habitat, etc.
I know you created a climate change training program for guides…can you tell me more about this?
When I began working for Montana Wildlife Federation I took over their statewide climate change program to do outreach with the hunting and fishing community. I had a great connection with the fly fishing industry as many of my friends are guides or outfitters, so naturally I decided to develop a program for them to learn about the impacts of climate change on our fisheries. We had a some great pilot events within our first year and really focused on giving guides a platform to voice their opinions and take action on the issue. In my opinion, guides and outfitters will play a vital role in getting the fly fishing industry as a whole to take collective action on climate change and move policies forward that will protect our fisheries and the industry itself.
Climate change is something that will have the potential to completely wipe out some fisheries over time, especially given its impacts on thermally suitable habitat for cold water species. Some studies have even projected that there will be a loss of 70-80% of trout habitat in some areas of the U.S. by mid to late century. We can’t just sit around and let that happen.
Alec Underwood
Photo Credit: Alec Underwood
What are you doing in your personal life to mitigate the risks associated with climate change?
I’d like to think that the work I am doing on climate change is making a difference, and besides my profession, I try and educate anglers on the issue of climate change every time I am on the water. Instilling a conservation ethic in anyone is important to create the awareness required for people to take action. Other ways I try and mitigate my impact is trying to minimize my use of plastics, recycling whenever possible, and as an avid hunter, mostly only eating wild game meat.
What is something you wish more anglers knew about climate change?
Though I think most anglers understand that climate change is an issue, I wish that all anglers knew just how big an issue it is and what’s at stake. Climate change is something that will have the potential to completely wipe out some fisheries over time, especially given its impacts on thermally suitable habitat for cold water species. Some studies have even projected that there will be a loss of 70-80% of trout habitat in some areas of the U.S. by mid to late century. We can’t just sit around and let that happen.
Why is acting on climate important to you?
Fly fishing has played such a huge roll in my life since I picked up a fly rod at the age of seven. Protecting the sport I love for future generations is something that I take very seriously, and I think that it is every anglers responsibility to make sure they are doing what they can to do the same. If you truly care about the future of fly fishing, then you will take the time to act on climate change and other conservation issues.
TAKE ACTION
Thank you, Alec for being willing to do an interview for The Sustainable Angler and for all you do educate and create more awareness about the impact climate change is having on our cold water fisheries!
- I think one of the easiest things everyone can do is to call and/or email your elected officials. Let them know that acting on climate is important to you, because the more they hear about climate change being an issue, the more likely they are to take that into consideration as their job depends on it.
- If you are an outfitter or guide in Montana, I would encourage you to reach out to Montana Wildlife Federation and ask for Alec to learn more about the climate change program.
- Consider getting involved with Montana Wildlife Federation by becoming a member, volunteering or making a donation to support their conservation work.
Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all The Sustainable Anglers for helping to educate and create more awareness about environmental threats to our fisheries in 2018! It has been an amazing year, and I would also like to thank all of our followers, subscribers and anyone who has taken the time out of their day to read The Sustainable Angler…THANK YOU!
If you enjoyed this interview, please share this interview in an effort to protect what you love!
Stay tuned as we have a lot more in store in 2019 with more interviews via our blog and podcast. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!