Abstract
The upper Clark Fork River is the focus of a multi-decade Superfund effort to remediate and restore the watershed from the impacts of historic mining activities near its headwaters. One of the primary goals of the restoration effort is to improve fish populations in the mainstem Clark Fork. Current salmonid population estimates in the Upper Clark Fork average only about 20 percent of the populations in reference rivers in western Montana, and are dominated by non-native trout species. While remediation and restoration of the mainstem river will improve the water quality and habitat of the Clark Fork, additional work to reconnect and restore tributaries is key component of the overall plan to restore fish populations and in particular, migratory native trout species. Trout Unlimited and the Clark Fork Coalition are working with a variety of partners including private landowners; local, state and federal agencies; and other NGOs to reconnect and restore tributary habitats for migratory westslope cutthroat and bull trout populations in the upper Clark Fork watershed. Our assessment work has identified numerous barriers to upstream fish passage including irrigation diversion dams, road crossings, and dewatering. In addition, we have identified the entrainment risk to out-migrating adults and juveniles that may be trapped in irrigation ditches while moving downstream. Work is now underway to prioritize, develop, and implement projects on key tributaries intended to mitigate these challenges and improve native fish populations in both the mainstem Clark Fork River and tributary streams. This presentation highlights the last five years of those efforts.
Start Date
24-4-2015 9:30 AM
End Date
24-4-2015 10:00 AM
Document Type
Presentation
Restoring Migratory Native Trout in the Upper Clark Fork River
The upper Clark Fork River is the focus of a multi-decade Superfund effort to remediate and restore the watershed from the impacts of historic mining activities near its headwaters. One of the primary goals of the restoration effort is to improve fish populations in the mainstem Clark Fork. Current salmonid population estimates in the Upper Clark Fork average only about 20 percent of the populations in reference rivers in western Montana, and are dominated by non-native trout species. While remediation and restoration of the mainstem river will improve the water quality and habitat of the Clark Fork, additional work to reconnect and restore tributaries is key component of the overall plan to restore fish populations and in particular, migratory native trout species. Trout Unlimited and the Clark Fork Coalition are working with a variety of partners including private landowners; local, state and federal agencies; and other NGOs to reconnect and restore tributary habitats for migratory westslope cutthroat and bull trout populations in the upper Clark Fork watershed. Our assessment work has identified numerous barriers to upstream fish passage including irrigation diversion dams, road crossings, and dewatering. In addition, we have identified the entrainment risk to out-migrating adults and juveniles that may be trapped in irrigation ditches while moving downstream. Work is now underway to prioritize, develop, and implement projects on key tributaries intended to mitigate these challenges and improve native fish populations in both the mainstem Clark Fork River and tributary streams. This presentation highlights the last five years of those efforts.