Volunteers from the Madison Valley and beyond waded up the West Madison Canal on Oct. 17 and 18 with nets and buckets hunting for trout that were trapped by the receding waters and returning them to the Madison River. The event occurs each fall when the irrigation canal is closed and the waters dry, leaving trout who have found sanctuary there throughout the Summer without an outlet to get back to the river. 

“Fish enter the West Madison Canal because there’s currently no screen preventing passage,” said Mia Cignoni, conservation programs manager for the Madison River Foundation (MRF) who organizes the event. “When the canal’s headgate is closed and water is cut off, fish can become trapped in the canal. Without intervention, they would die as the canal dries out. The Madison River Foundation has been performing these fish rescues for years to ensure the fish survive and are returned safely to the Madison River.”

The West Madison Canal provides valuable irrigation water for a huge chunk of the Madison Valley as it runs parallel to Varney Road and then HWY 287 all the way to McAllister. The focus of the MRF’s efforts are in the canal waters closest to the river, but even in that stretch Cignoni admits that they cannot save all of the fish. Efforts to find a more effective solution are ongoing with the most likely candidate being a fish gate installed at the mouth of the canal where the river waters enter it. 

“A fish screen keeps fish out of irrigation canals while allowing water to flow in. They work by creating low-velocity zones that guide fish toward a bypass, returning them safely to the river,” explained Cignoni before going on to mention two different types of gates that, The Farmer’s Fish Screen and Coanda Effect Screen, both of which claim to be designed to handle conditions present at the West Madison Canal. 

Levi Chandler, who helps manage the West Madison Canal, points out that conditions on the Madison River in the Winter are not typical. 

“The main deal is the gorge,” explained Chandler referencing the huge ice flows that back up the Madison River during the Winter. “If you were to put a screen in anywhere, you would have to take it out (in the Fall,)” he continued. “Where the headgate is is not a good place to gain access to the river.” 

Cignoni believes that with proper monitoring, which she points out the MRF is prepared to provide, a gate could stand up to gorging conditions. 

“Potential challenges include extreme ice conditions or debris buildup, which could reduce the screen’s effectiveness,” explained Cignoni. “Both the Farmers Fish Screen and Coanda-effect screens are designed to handle these conditions, but regular monitoring is key. The Madison River Foundation is prepared and capable of performing this ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the screen continues protecting fish year-round.”

Another obstacle to the installation of a fish screen is the upfront cost. 

“These systems typically cost tens of thousands of dollars, depending on size and design, but funding is often available through grants or partnerships,” said Cignoni. 

Chandler noted that the canal gates are closed in a manner that he says encourages fish to move back into the river as the water levels in the ditch drop. He indicated that the idea of a fish screen is discussed every two to three years and other attempts including a bubble screen have failed in the past. Despite that, he indicates that a permanent solution could be implemented in the future. 

“If somebody wants to be responsible for it, maintain it and take care of it, then we don't have a problem with it as long as it doesn't interfere with the water flow,” said Chandler. 

Cignoni is confident that a fish screen could be the solution that saves the fish that the volunteers are unable to capture in time each year and would be an overall benefit to the health of the river. 

“The Foundation is confident that with proper installation and monitoring, both types of screen would be an effective long-term solution,” she concludes. More information about the MRF trout rescue and how you can get involved next year will be available at www.madisonriverfoundation.org/events.