Chris Edgington grew up in the flatlands of Nebraska, where his pursuit of fish started at a young age, and led to chasing bass and bluegill with a fly rod in his early teens. He found his way to Missoula Montana in 2002 after pursuing a degree in Wildlife Biology-Fisheries Management at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. While at UNL, Chris started cooking to put himself through school and developed a deep passion for local food and community built around the dinner table. He spent several years as a chef bouncing around Montana, learning the rivers of western and southwest Montana. The currents of the rivers were strong and pulled him to Dillon to reignite his desire for conservation. Chris graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Environmental Science-Wetlands Management from The University of Montana-Western. Over the course of his recent education, he worked as a seasonal fisheries tech with Chris Clancy at Fish, Wildlife and Parks, a sage grouse range tech with NRCS, and a hydro-tech with Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. He was a board member of the George Grant Chapter Trout Unlimited for the last couple of years, as well as being involved with the Chuck Robbins Chapter in Dillon. He will continue to serve these two chapters in his new role as Jefferson Watershed Project Manager. Chris brings a breadth of experience and knowledge to Montana Trout Unlimited and a passion for Montana’s rivers and trout.
Why the Jefferson Watershed?
Southwest Montana is known for its iconic rivers and quality fisheries, but chronic dewatering and critical water temperatures during late summer are a persistent issue. MTU realized a need in the region and, by creating the Jefferson Watershed Project Manager position, aims to continue the good work by Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks and partner organizations that has been helping maintain and restore healthy flows in this watershed. Based out of Dillon, Chris will work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders to find solutions for overall watershed health.