Title

TU's Middle Clark Fork River Restoration Program

Abstract

A major part of Trout Unlimited's Middle Clark Fork project in 2007-2008 was the completion of a basin-wide planning effort, including the assessment of future restoration projects in the watershed. Working with Montana FWP and Lolo National Forest staff, TU compiled and analyzed existing information from fish population studies, culvert inventories, irrigation mapping, road surveys,TMDL documents, and other pertinent information to develop a comprehensive restoration strategy for 60 tributaries to the Middle Clark Fork River and 105 miles of the mainstem. The planning effort relied on TUs Conservation Success Index (CSI) technology and included the use of multiple GIS mapping layers to identify priority reaches and restoration sites, as well as monitoring needs. In all, 20 different indicators and data sets were used in GIS queries to rank 6th code HUCs in the Middle Clark Fork River by 4 general parameters: Rangewide Conditions, Population Integrity, Habitat Integrity and Future Security for both bull trout and westslope cutthroat.

The assessment, completed in 2008, yielded a massive amount of information for TU and other resources managers in the Middle Clark Fork River. At present, the project team has a preliminary list of 18 medium and high priority projects, including culvert replacement, mine reclamation, irrigation ditch screening, land acquisition and riparian fencing. The assessment and data is also being used on a project scale. For example, TU is working with project partners to analyze the riparian roads that are within 100 foot of a stream and are ranked as high priority bull trout or westslope cutthroat streams, which will lay the groundwork for a large revegetation project. Also, the analysis has led to further cooperation in education, outreach and project development between partners on Rattlesnake Creek, a primary bull trout spawning stream, where water flow was identified as a limiting factor to bull trout reproduction. Furthermore, as a result of this effort, TU is currently working with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks and the Forest Service to begin removing or replacing undersized culverts in important watersheds, analyze road systems for decommissioning, survey and design new mine reclamation projects and work with new partners on both public and private land. Examples of these projects and their intended effects on native fish will be illustrated.

Start Date

5-3-2010 3:30 PM

End Date

5-3-2010 4:00 PM

Document Type

Presentation

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Mar 5th, 3:30 PM Mar 5th, 4:00 PM

TU's Middle Clark Fork River Restoration Program

A major part of Trout Unlimited's Middle Clark Fork project in 2007-2008 was the completion of a basin-wide planning effort, including the assessment of future restoration projects in the watershed. Working with Montana FWP and Lolo National Forest staff, TU compiled and analyzed existing information from fish population studies, culvert inventories, irrigation mapping, road surveys,TMDL documents, and other pertinent information to develop a comprehensive restoration strategy for 60 tributaries to the Middle Clark Fork River and 105 miles of the mainstem. The planning effort relied on TUs Conservation Success Index (CSI) technology and included the use of multiple GIS mapping layers to identify priority reaches and restoration sites, as well as monitoring needs. In all, 20 different indicators and data sets were used in GIS queries to rank 6th code HUCs in the Middle Clark Fork River by 4 general parameters: Rangewide Conditions, Population Integrity, Habitat Integrity and Future Security for both bull trout and westslope cutthroat.

The assessment, completed in 2008, yielded a massive amount of information for TU and other resources managers in the Middle Clark Fork River. At present, the project team has a preliminary list of 18 medium and high priority projects, including culvert replacement, mine reclamation, irrigation ditch screening, land acquisition and riparian fencing. The assessment and data is also being used on a project scale. For example, TU is working with project partners to analyze the riparian roads that are within 100 foot of a stream and are ranked as high priority bull trout or westslope cutthroat streams, which will lay the groundwork for a large revegetation project. Also, the analysis has led to further cooperation in education, outreach and project development between partners on Rattlesnake Creek, a primary bull trout spawning stream, where water flow was identified as a limiting factor to bull trout reproduction. Furthermore, as a result of this effort, TU is currently working with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks and the Forest Service to begin removing or replacing undersized culverts in important watersheds, analyze road systems for decommissioning, survey and design new mine reclamation projects and work with new partners on both public and private land. Examples of these projects and their intended effects on native fish will be illustrated.