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watershed impacts. 



Rattlesnake Creek is a public water supply for Missoula, Montana. Owner- 

 ship within the watershed is a checkerboard pattern of USPS and Montana 

 Power Company (MPC) lands. Past timber harvests (1960's) in the head- 

 waters area (MPC) have caused sediment problems in the drainage (DF&6 - 

 Missoula, pers. comm.). Current land management within the watershed is 

 controlled due to the A-Closed classification (DHES). However, if Missoula 

 changes its water supply (to groundwater wells). Rattlesnake Creek could 

 be developed for additional timber harvest. The USPS and MPC have agreed 

 to cooperate in planning future management activities within the drainage. 

 This planning should include the following measures for protection of 

 water quality: 1) conduct basin-wide inventories to assess physical 

 limitations of the watershed and identify water resource needs; 2) 

 coordination of silvicultural (and other) activities among land managers 

 in accordance with watershed limitations; 3) pursue watershed rehabilitation 

 and protection measures (if any are needed); 4) require use of BMP's 

 in silvicultural activities. 



The St. Regis River is tributary to the Clark Pork River at St. Regis, 

 Montana. The watershed contains little private or state ownership. Timber 

 harvest and road construction has been extensive on USPS lands. The 

 DP&G has identified areas of watershed abuse due to logging practices in 

 the St. Regis River drainage. Since research for this report showed no 

 problem areas on non-USPS lands, the identified impacts (DP&G) probably 

 occur from activities on USPS lands. 



In some cases, further investigation will be necessary to more accurately 

 identify impact causes (USPS or non-USPS lands) before corrective measures 



