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mouth of the Fisher River is located approximately 12 miles southeast of 

 Libby, Montana. The drainage basin identification number for the Fisher 

 River is 76C (DNR&C) and the entire watershed is classified as B-Dj (DHES) 

 streamwaters. 



The Fisher River watershed is owned by the USFS, St. Regis, Champion, 

 Burlington Northern, State, and other private concerns. Intermingled 

 ownership on lands of expansive commercial timber resources has been a 

 contributing factor in the degradation of the Fisher River, due to the 

 historical lack of management activity coordination in such ownership 

 patterns. 



Extensive timber harvesting is an historical and continuing land use within 

 the Fisher River drainage. The area is heavily roaded with the largest 

 remaining unroaded areas less than township size. It is difficult to 

 identify water quality impacts associated solely with silvicultural 

 practices. However, extensive harvesting and road building have combined 

 with other factors to significantly degrade the quality of streams in 

 the drainage. 



Pleasant Valley, in the southeast portion of the Fisher River basin, is 

 mostly owned by Champion, and to lesser extents, private owners and the 

 state. Extensive harvesting and road building has occurred in the Pleasant 

 Valley Creek and Pleasant Valley Fisher River watersheds producing moderate 

 increases in sediment loads and water yields (USFS -Fisher River, pers. 

 conm. ; DF&G - Kali spell, pers. corm.). These factors, combined with poor 

 grazing practices within Pleasant Valley (stock have grazed and trampled 

 streambanks) have resulted in high sediment loads and channel degradation 

 in the Pleasant Valley drainage. 



