The
Big Hole Valley in Southwestern Montana has vast hayfields,
sprawling cattle ranches, independent spirits and one of the
last river-dwelling grayling populations in the continental
United States. The Arctic Grayling have been at a critical
juncture. They are recovering from less than 5% of its original
range (now approaching 20%) in large part due to the formation
of partnerships involving landowner and various agencies to
support conservation projects like this aeration/pumping system.
When interested parties come together, mutual interests can be
served, and solving mutual problems at the local level can bring
rapid and impressive results.
Maintaining stream flow levels in the
Big Hole River is recognized as one means of stabilizing the
grayling species habitat. A partnership consisting of Emma Cayer
(Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks), Jim Magee (US Fish and
Wildlife Services), NRCS, DNRC and a private landowner worked
together this past spring in an effort that reduces water drawn
from the Big Hole River for cattle. Oasis Montana was asked to
assist with designing a remote livestock watering system that
could incorporate a freeze-resistant feature in a land that has
winter early to start and spring late to arrive. In some years,
the Big Hole River area may only have one month of frost-free
conditions at best! We had the easy part: design a solar-powered
water pumping system that would feed into two 13 foot diameter
rubber tire watering tanks and use an aerator to minimize the
potential for freezing. 500 cattle without water was not an
option. Commercial power was located about a mile away but the
power from the sun-drenched area was, like the hay crop,
harvestable, and untimately much more cost-effective.
A new well had been drilled by Ryan
Lindsay (Lindsay Drilling Company, Dillon MT), producing 40gpm
from a depth of 80 feet in one of the pastures. Bill Fischer
(B&D Pump Service, Hamilton MT) installed a SunRotor PC1500L
Pump and Motor. Jeff Laursen (JKL Electric, Victor MT) installed
the controller, eight (8) EOPLLY 190 watt 24 volt solar modules,
a top-of-pole mount, and Pennington Equipment Company’s PEC
BKBS-10 aerator.
By using the newly drilled well as a
livestock watering source, the landowner/rancher allows the Big
Hole River water to remain in place, providing critical habitat
for the Fluvial Arctic Grayling. All parties are pleased with
the simplicity, efficiency and performance of the stock watering
system. And the fish have more undisturbed water in their
natural habitat.
