A basin-wide restoration action plan for the Blackfoot watershed

2005·9.7 MB·English

by  Blackfoot Challenge

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MontanaStaleLibraiy
333.73
N7BWR
3 0864 1003 5145 4
2005
A BASIN-WIDE RESTORATION ACTION PLAN FOR
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THE BLACKFOOT WATERSHED
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.ATE DOCUMENTS COLLECTION
/ O2005
1
Prepared for:
MONTANA STATE. LIBRARY
]515 C 6th AVE.
Montana Department ofNatural Resources and Conservation" ""ontvia 59620
Renewable Resource Grant & Loan Program
and
The Blackfoot Watershed Restoration and Monitoring Partners
Prepared by:
The Blackfoot Challenge in partnership with the Big Blackfoot Chapter ofTrout Unlimited,
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Hydrometrics Inc., and other partners
41
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August 2005
39

s
MontanaStaleLibraiy
333.73
N7BWR
3 0864 1003 5145 4
2005
A BASIN-WIDE RESTORATION ACTION PLAN FOR
THE BLACKFOOT WATERSHED
..t DOCUMENTS COLLECTION
J.I 2005
1
Prepared for:
MONTANA STATE LIURARY
1315 C 6tli AVE.
Montana Department ofNatural Resources and Conservation v r;oNT.'"^JA 59620
Renewable Resource Grant & Loan Program
and
The Blackfoot Watershed Restoration and Monitoring Partners
Prepared by:
The Blackfoot Challenge in partnership with the Big Blackfoot Chapter ofTrout Unlimited,
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Hydrometrics Inc., and otherpartners
August 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF FIGURES iv
LIST OF TABLES v
LIST OF APPENDICES v
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
vi
INTRODUCTION
1.0 1
1.1 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 2
1.2 REPORT SCOPE AND FORMAT 2
WATERSHED CHARACTERISTICS
1.3 3
1.3.1 Impairment Issues 4
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
1.4 5
2.0 ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS 12
ACTION PLAN IMPLMENTATION APPROACH
2.1 12
2.1.1 Tributary Focus 12
2.1.2 Partnership Building 12
2.1.3 Landowner Cooperation 13
IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS
2.2 13
2.3 PARTICIPATING PARTNERS 14
2.4 ROLE OF PARTNERS 14
FUNDING PROGRAMS
2.5 15
TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD (TMDL)-RELATED RESTORATION
3.0
PLANNING 21
THE TMDL PROCESS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR RESTORATION
3.1
PLANNING 21
3.2 TMDL DEVELOPMENT IN THE BLACKFOOT WATERSHED 22
3.3 303(D) LISTED WATER BODIES 22
3.4 TMDL-RELATED RESTORATION PROJECTS 23
4.0 FISHERIES RESORATION PLANNING 31
4.1 RESTORATION CONCEPTS 31

1
4.2 FISHES OF THE BLACKFOOT WATERSHED
33
4.2.1 Nonnative Salmonids ofthe Blackfoot Watershed 33
4.3 NATIVE TROUT OF THE BLACKFOOT RIVER: INTRODUCTION,
MANAGEMENT, AND RECOVERY GUIDELINES
35
4.3.1 Bull Trout Recovery Areas - Core Areas and Proposed Critical
Habitat
35
4.3.2 Bull Trout Recovery - Recreational Conflict Areas 36
4.3.3 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 35
4.3.4 Native Species Management Areas 37
4.3.5 Native Species Conservation Areas 37
4.3.6 Native Species Maintenance Areas 38
4.4 GENERAL FISHERIES HEALTH
38
4.4. Fisheries Impairments ofthe Blackfoot River 38
4.4.2 Tributary Impairments
41
4.4.3 Whirling Disease 42
5.0 FISHERIES RESTORATION PRIORITIZATION
51
5.1 FISHERIES PRIORIZATION STRATEGY 51
5.2 DEWATERED STREAMS PRIORITIZATION
53
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
5.3 53
5.4 PRIORITIZATION RESULTS 54
5.4.1 High Priority Streams 54
5.4.2 Moderate Priority Streams 55
Low
5.4.3 Priority Streams 55

LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE STUDY AREA: THE BLACKFOOT RIVER WATERSHED AND
1-1.
LAND OWNERSHIP
7
FIGURE 1-2. FISHERY RESTORATION PRIORITY, 303(D), AND
DEWATERING STREAMS IN THE BLACKFOOT DRAINAGE 8
FIGURE 3-1. BLACKFOOT WATERSHED 303(D) LISTED STREAMS 25
FIGURE 4-1. DISTRIBUTION MAP OF FIVE SALMONIDS SPECIES IN THE
BLACKFOOT RIVER BASIN 43
FIGURE 4-2. BULL TROUT CORE AREA WATERSHEDS (EXCLUDING THE
CLEARWATER DRAINAGE) AND PROPOSED CRITICAL BULL
TROUT HABITAT 44
FIGURE 4-3. BULL TROUT RECOVERY/RECREATIONAL CONFLICT AREAS
FOR THE BLACKFOOT WATERSHED 45
FIGURE 4-4. WESTSLOPE CUTTHROAT TROUT GENETICS MAP WITH
SAMPLE LOCATIONS AND PERCENT WSCT COMPOSITION 46
FIGURE 4-5. REGION 2 NATIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT AREAS FOR THE
BLACKFOOT RIVER WATERSHED 47
FIGURE 4-6. PERCENT TROUT SPECIES COMPOSITION FOR FIVE
REACHES OF THE BLACKFOOT RIVER 48
FIGURE 4-7. GENERALIZED WHIRLING DISEASE DISTRIBUTION MAP FOR
THE BLACKFOOT WATERSHED 49
FIGURE HISTOGRAMS AND CUMULATIVE PERCENTAGE CURVES
5-1.
USED TO DEVELOP PRIORITIZATION CATEGORIES 57
FIGURE DEWATERED STREAMS OF THE BLACKFOOT WATERSHED:
5-2.
HUMAN INDUCED AND NATURAL DEWATERING 58
FIGURE 5-3. HIGH PRIORITY STREAMS OF THE BLACKFOOT RIVER
WATERSHED
59
FIGURE 5-4. MODERATE PRIORITY STREAMS OF THE BLACKFOOT
RIVER WATERSHED 60