LETTER: MT BHA Opposes Adopting Lower Selenium Standards for Lake Koocanusa

Montana State Legislature

2021 - 2022 Water Policy Interim Committee Members

Attn: Jason Mohr, Legislative Staff Researcher

RE: HJ 37: Study of selenium standard for Lake Koocanusa

Dear Sen. Jill Cohenour, Rep. Willis Curdy, Rep. Robert Farris-Olsen, Rep. Tom France, Rep. Rhonda Knudsen, Rep. Marty Malone, Sen. Shane Morigeau, Rep. Bob Phalen, Sen. Walt Sales, and Sen. Jeff Welborn:

The Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers represents roughly 3,000 sportsmen and women who are passionate about quality fish and wildlife habitat, public access and fair-chase hunting and fishing opportunities. Our Montana Chapter includes many members who fish and hunt in and around Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenai River mainstem. 

Montana BHA opposes changing the recently adopted selenium standards. It is our opinion that proposed revisions to this standard are being promulgated by those with mining interests and with a blatant disregard for Montanans who value clean water and our robust outdoor recreation economy. We all live and play downstream, and to us, clean water for Montanans is more important than a Canadian mining company's bottom line. Please recognize that there is no need to change the current standards for selenium set forth by ARM 17.30.632.

Respectfully, 

Molly VandeVoort, Flathead Valley Board Member
Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers