State wildlife commissioners closed the Yellowstone indefinitely to all recreational activity last week following a massive fish kill in the Paradise Valley area north of Yellowstone National Park.
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Lifting the closure on some stretches of the river is meant to ease the economic impact and provide more opportunity for recreationists in the area.
“The decision has been made due to improved environmental conditions to reopen about 100 miles of a stretch of the Yellowstone River below basically where the Shields River joins the Yellowstone”, Aasheim said”.
From Livingston to Laurel, the river is reopened for all uses, the department said.
The middle section of the river, from Carbella to the Highway 89 bridge, will remain closed to all recreation, but tributary streams in that reach have been reopened to recreation.
Local fly shop owner John Bailey said it was “huge” that FWP reopened parts of the Yellowstone River, but hopes it is not too late to have an impact on this season. “I encourage all Montanans whose jobs, businesses or livelihoods are affected by this decision to take advantage of all the resources available as we get a handle on this serious situation”.
The Rapid Response Unit, created through the Dislocated Worker Program, will hold a public informational meeting Monday, August 29, from 11 a.m.to 2 p.m.at the Yellowstone Pioneer Lodge in Livingston.
To date, FWP staff has counted more than 4,000 dead whitefish and small numbers of other species including rainbow trout, Yellowstone cutthroat, longnose suckers, sculpin and longnose dace.
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Wildlife officials say there is no timeline for re-opening the river. Officials have said the actual number of dead fish could number in the tens of thousands.
