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domimates this watershed (USPS, Champion, other). Timber harvesting 

 and associated road building has occurred in many areas, mainly on lands 

 of Champion and the Forest Service. Water quality impacts from these 

 activities are not known to exist (USPS - Missoula, pers. comm.; DP&G - 

 Missoula, pers. comm.). The construction of U.S. Highway 12 has sig- 

 nificantly altered the stream geometry and flow regime of Lolo Creek; 

 approximately 80 percent of the stream has been channelized (DP&G - Missoula, 

 pers. comm.). Purther timber harvest activities in the Lolo Creek water- 

 shed could produce additional water yields that would contribute to 

 stream degradation (Dept. of Pish and Game - Missoula, pers. comm.). 

 Coordination of future harvest activities (and use of associated BMP's) 

 will be necessary to prevent further water quality degradation in Lolo 

 Creek. 



Environmentally critical areas are also a factor to consider in assessing 

 water quality of the Bitterroot River drainage. Erosive conditions are 

 prevelant on soils developed from the Idaho batholith, as well as the 

 unconsolidated valley fill material of the watershed's lower reaches. 

 Steep slopes and land features (slumps, etc.) are also common forestland 

 conditions of the Bitterroot. Some helicopter logging has been done 

 in such areas. 



Other land uses in the Bitterroot River drainage also contribute to non- 

 point source pollution. The Conservation Districts believe that agricul- 

 tural practices (streambank grazing, irrigation) and subdivision expansion 

 are larger problems than si Ivi cultural practices. 



There is little merchantable timber remaining on the private forestlands 

 of Ravalli County (Brandborg, 1975); however, where little or no planning 



