‘Fish and Cow’: A Film about Ranching and Conservation

 

Big Hole Valley

‘Fish and Cow’: A Film about Ranching and Conservation
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"It's really not about the grayling. It's more about the river and the health of the overall fishery."

— Cal Erb, Big Hole rancher, who sought out a federal program that absolves penalties under the Endangered Species Act in exchange for adopting management plans that benefit grayling.

"I'd like to see this valley stay in agriculture and I wish other ranchers here would sign conservation easements to make sure we keep the valley like it is."

— John Dooling, Big Hole rancher, who has signed a conservation easement with the Conservancy that covers his family's 6,300-acre ranch

Big Hole Valley
 

What do cattle and Arctic grayling have in common? Find out in a new 18-minute Nature Conservancy film called "Fish and Cow: A Story of Restoring the Upper Big Hole Valley."

"Fish & Cow" is a poignant look at ranching in western Montana. It features ranchers who are passionate about their land, their way of life and the river that is the lifeblood of their valley. And it shows how the Conservancy is helping such ranchers accomplish their goals.

Healthy Land, Healthy Fishery

Landowners here know their stretch of river is special. It's home to the last native population of river-dwelling Arctic grayling. Also, the multi-generational ranch familes here want to protect the rural character of the scenic Big Hole Valley. So, they are teaming up with conservationists to do what's best for the river and its fish, and also their ranching heritage. 

To help accomplish this goal, the Nature Conservancy is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to:

  • Find funding and tools for ranchers to improve their irrigation efficiency;
  • Fence and plant willows along streambanks; and
  • Give sensitive streamside pastures rest from grazing.

One cooperative effort involved reconnecting Rock Creek — a once productive grayling spawning stream severed by a previous landowner — to the Big Hole River. 

The Conservancy is also working to preserve the rural heritage of this high, remote valley in southwestern Montana. It holds a conservation easement on the 6,300-acre Dooling ranch on the headwaters of the Big Hole. Rancher John Dooling is featured in the film.

About the Filmmakers

Bozeman, Montana filmmakers Geoff Stephens and Rick Smith spent three months in the spring of 2007 filming and editing the film for the Conservancy. Stephens is a 20-year veteran of NBC News, while Smith is a graduate student in Montana State University’s Natural History Filmmaking Program.

This film has been selected as a finalist in the "newcomer" category at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Oct. 1–6, 2007.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Wayne Mumford (Big Hole Valley); Photo © Wayne Mumford (Big Hole Valley); Photo © Wayne Mumford (Big Hole Valley)