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Prevention and mitigation measures must be applied on a basin-wide basis 

 to effectively deal with the previously identified problems. The most 

 comprehensive measures include: 1) restriction of silvicultural (and 

 other) activities that could further impact existing problem areas; 2) 

 conduct basin-wide inventories to assess physical limitations of the 

 watershed and identify water resource needs; 3) coordination of silvi- 

 cultural (and other) activities among various land managers in accordance 

 with watershed limitations, particularly in drainages already impacted; 

 4) pursue watershed rehabilitation and protection measures (i.e., 

 reforestation, road reclamation, streambank stabilization); 5) promote 

 or require use of BMP's in both silvicultural and agricultural activities. 



4. Lower Kootenai River Drainage 



Between the mouth of the Fisher River and the Idaho border (approximately 

 45 miles) there are many tributary streams to the Kootenai River. These 

 streams drain the Purcell Mountains to the north and the Cabinet Mountains 

 to the south. The DNR&C has designated all streams (except the Yaak 

 River) within drainage basin 76D. The DHES has classified all streams as 

 B-Di waters, except Rainy Creek (A-Open-Dj, C-D^) and Flower Creek (A-Open- 

 Dl). 



Ownership is predominantly USFS, although private holdings dominate the 

 narrow stream valleys. Intermingled ownership patterns (USFS and multiple 

 private) are prominent in Pipe Creek, Libby Creek, Lake Creek, O'Brien 

 Creek, and Ruby Creek drainages. These areas are likely to sustain 

 future water quality impacts if timber harvesting is not pursued on a 

 coordinated basis involving the land managers of the watersheds. 



Extensive timber harvesting and road building has occurred in several 

 drainages; the north(^rn tributaries between Libby and Troy are heavily roaded, 



