Abstract

Evaluating the State of the Clark Fork River and its Basin requires that we periodically:

  1. Assess its condition & compare that to our goals for the basin;
  2. Determine whether the basin’s condition is getting better or worse;
  3. Evaluate our plans & on-the-ground actions for effectiveness; and
  4. Consider challenges that face us in meeting our goals.

Condition and Trends

The basin’s condition in 2008 is compared to its condition in 2004 and 2000 based on biennial assessments made by MT Department of Environmental Quality and summarized in the Clean Water Act Information Center database. From 2000 to 2004, the percent of assessed streams found to be impaired decreased, mainly because many streams were judged to have insufficient current information to make a determination. Between 2004 and 2008, many of those streams were re-assessed and put back on the impaired list (77% of assessed stream miles are impaired).

MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks is converting to a new fisheries database hence fisheries condition & trends were not assessed. However, biological integrity assessments based on macroinvertebrates showed considerable improvement in the upper Clark Fork.

Challenges

Challenges that continue to interfere with achieving basin water quality goals include the rapid rate of population growth, unregulated groundwater wells, longer fire seasons (taking much of the Forest Service’s budget and leaving less for watershed work). Increased development and water use and changing climate conditions (rising temperatures and reduced snow pack) are worsening stream dewatering and temperatures.

Plans & Actions

The MT Department of Environmental Quality produced more TMDL’s and water quality restoration plans for impaired waters in the basin, but more plans remain to be completed. New digital floodplain maps are being produced in the basin which will help with land use planning. Watershed conservation partnerships, large & small, continue to form throughout the basin – around 30 watershed groups are now active in the basin.

On-the-ground ACTION in the basin continues to be outstanding. Many fisheries restoration projects are being executed by MFWP & USFS & Trout Unlimited, and private landowners. The city of Missoula upgraded its wastewater plant, drastically reducing nutrient loads to the river even as the number of sewer connections greatly increased. Superfund remediation projects are carefully coordinated with restoration work funded by the Natural Resource Damage Program. Going beyond remediation to restoration is healing the land & providing jobs to communities. The decision to re-naturalize Silver Bow Creek & the confluence of the Blackfoot & Clark Fork Rivers has produced two outstanding outcomes:

In 2008, after 100 years, native trout returned to Silver Bow Creek, and native trout also now swim through the restored confluence of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers.

Start Date

4-3-2010 7:00 PM

End Date

4-3-2010 7:40 PM

Document Type

Presentation

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Mar 4th, 7:00 PM Mar 4th, 7:40 PM

2010 State of the River - Looking Back and Thinking Forward 25 Years

Evaluating the State of the Clark Fork River and its Basin requires that we periodically:

  1. Assess its condition & compare that to our goals for the basin;
  2. Determine whether the basin’s condition is getting better or worse;
  3. Evaluate our plans & on-the-ground actions for effectiveness; and
  4. Consider challenges that face us in meeting our goals.

Condition and Trends

The basin’s condition in 2008 is compared to its condition in 2004 and 2000 based on biennial assessments made by MT Department of Environmental Quality and summarized in the Clean Water Act Information Center database. From 2000 to 2004, the percent of assessed streams found to be impaired decreased, mainly because many streams were judged to have insufficient current information to make a determination. Between 2004 and 2008, many of those streams were re-assessed and put back on the impaired list (77% of assessed stream miles are impaired).

MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks is converting to a new fisheries database hence fisheries condition & trends were not assessed. However, biological integrity assessments based on macroinvertebrates showed considerable improvement in the upper Clark Fork.

Challenges

Challenges that continue to interfere with achieving basin water quality goals include the rapid rate of population growth, unregulated groundwater wells, longer fire seasons (taking much of the Forest Service’s budget and leaving less for watershed work). Increased development and water use and changing climate conditions (rising temperatures and reduced snow pack) are worsening stream dewatering and temperatures.

Plans & Actions

The MT Department of Environmental Quality produced more TMDL’s and water quality restoration plans for impaired waters in the basin, but more plans remain to be completed. New digital floodplain maps are being produced in the basin which will help with land use planning. Watershed conservation partnerships, large & small, continue to form throughout the basin – around 30 watershed groups are now active in the basin.

On-the-ground ACTION in the basin continues to be outstanding. Many fisheries restoration projects are being executed by MFWP & USFS & Trout Unlimited, and private landowners. The city of Missoula upgraded its wastewater plant, drastically reducing nutrient loads to the river even as the number of sewer connections greatly increased. Superfund remediation projects are carefully coordinated with restoration work funded by the Natural Resource Damage Program. Going beyond remediation to restoration is healing the land & providing jobs to communities. The decision to re-naturalize Silver Bow Creek & the confluence of the Blackfoot & Clark Fork Rivers has produced two outstanding outcomes:

In 2008, after 100 years, native trout returned to Silver Bow Creek, and native trout also now swim through the restored confluence of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers.