Madison River

The Madison River is a headwater tributary of the Missouri River, approximately Template:Convert long, in Wyoming and Montana. Its confluence with the Jefferson and Gallatin rivers near Three Forks, Montana forms the Missouri River.

Course

The Madison River begins in Teton County, Wyoming at the confluence of the Firehole and Gibbon rivers in Yellowstone National Park, a location known as Madison Junction. It flows west out of the park and into Montana, turning north through the Rocky Mountains of southwestern Montana to join the Jefferson and Gallatin rivers at Three Forks. The Missouri River Headwaters State Park lies at this confluence.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Dams and Lakes

In its upper reaches in Gallatin County, Montana, the Hebgen Dam forms Hebgen Lake. Downstream of Hebgen Dam, the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake led to the formation of Quake Lake, a naturally dammed body of water that remains part of the river’s hydrology. In its middle course, the Madison Dam in Madison County, Montana creates Ennis Lake. These reservoirs and lakes regulate flow, support recreation, and are associated with hydroelectric power infrastructure (see Natural Resources).

History

The river was named in July 1805 by Meriwether Lewis at Three Forks. The central fork of the three, it was named for U.S. Secretary of State James Madison, who later succeeded Thomas Jefferson as President in 1809. The western fork, the largest, was named for President Jefferson and the east fork for Treasury Secretary Albert Gallatin.Template:Citation needed

On August 17, 1959, a massive earthquake near Hebgen Lake triggered a landslide that blocked the Madison River, forming Quake Lake. The quake, known as the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake, measured 7.3 to 7.5 on the Richter scale and caused significant loss of life and property damage in the area.Template:Citation needed

Recreation

The Madison is a class I river in Montana for the purposes of access for recreational use.<ref name=StreamAccess>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Bear Trap Canyon section downstream from Ennis and Ennis Lake is known for its class IV–V whitewater, drawing experienced paddlers during seasonal flows.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Ecology

The Madison River is widely regarded as one of the finest trout fisheries in the world.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is classified as a blue ribbon fishery in Montana, where fly fisherman target brown trout, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and mountain whitefish.<ref name="MFWMadison"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref>

Grizzly bears and wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park roam the river valley.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Fish Species

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the Madison River supports many fish species, reflecting its varied aquatic habitats and long history of fisheries management.<ref name="MFWMadison" /> Both coldwater and warmwater species are present, including several native salmonids such as Arctic grayling, mountain whitefish, and westslope cutthroat trout. Introduced species like brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout are also well established and widely targeted by anglers. In addition to trout, the river sustains native suckers, minnows, and sculpin, contributing to the ecological complexity of the watershed. The following table provides an overview of representative fish species recorded in the Madison River.

Fish species found in the Madison River

Common name	Scientific name	Group	Water Type	Origin
Arctic Grayling	Thymallus arcticus	Trout	Coldwater	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Brook Trout	Salvelinus fontinalis	Trout	Coldwater	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Brown Trout	Salmo trutta	Trout	Coldwater	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Common Carp	Cyprinus carpio	Minnow	Warmwater	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Longnose Dace	Rhinichthys cataractae	Minnow	Warmwater	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Longnose Sucker	Catostomus catostomus	Sucker	Warmwater	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Mottled Sculpin	Cottus bairdii	Sculpin		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Mountain Sucker	Catostomus platyrhynchus	Sucker		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Mountain Whitefish	Prosopium williamsoni	Trout	Coldwater	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Rainbow Trout	Oncorhynchus mykiss	Trout	Coldwater	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Stonecat	Noturus flavus	Catfish		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Utah Chub	Gila atraria	Minnow		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Westslope Cutthroat Trout	Oncorhynchus lewisi	Trout	Coldwater	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
White Sucker	Catostomus commersonii	Sucker	Warmwater	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout	Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri	Trout	Coldwater	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• Angling in Yellowstone National Park
• Fishes of Yellowstone National Park
• Montana Stream Access Law
• List of rivers of Montana
• List of Wyoming rivers

Sources

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External links

• Template:Cite Collier's