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Yellowstone River's closure worries outdoors industry

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    FILE--This Aug. 21, 2016, file photo shows dead whitefish floating in the Yellowstone River near Emigrant, Mont. The indefinite closure of Montana's Yellowstone River due to the major fish kill is raising worries about lasting impacts to the region's lucrative outdoors industry. Rafting and fly fishing guides and others whose jobs depend on the famous river and its world-class trout fishery are expected at a Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, worker retraining session hosted by state labor officials. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, file) (The Associated Press)

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    FILE--This Aug. 21, 2016, file photo shows the Yellowstone River near Pray, Mont. The indefinite closure of Montana's Yellowstone River due to the major fish kill is raising worries about lasting impacts to the region's lucrative outdoors industry. Rafting and fly fishing guides and others whose jobs depend on the famous river and its world-class trout fishery are expected at a Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, worker retraining session hosted by state labor officials. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, file) (The Associated Press)

LIVINGSTON, Mont. – The indefinite closure of Montana's Yellowstone River due to a major fish kill is raising worries about lasting impacts to the region's lucrative outdoors industry.

A 183-mile stretch of the river has been closed since Aug. 19, after tens of thousands of mountain whitefish died downstream from Yellowstone National Park.

Gov. Steve Bullock on Monday declared an "invasive species emergency" because of a parasite blamed for the fish kill. The move allows the state to spend money on grants for impacted businesses and related programs.

Fly fishing guide Chase Chapman of Livingston says he's losing tens of thousands of dollars because of cancelled trips. He says the impacts will be severe if the river remains closed long, but he's not interested in retraining for another occupation.