- 102 



3. Ruby River Drainage 



The Ruby River drainage is tributary to the Beaverhead River. The 

 Ruby River watershed is defined by the Gravelly Range to the southeast, 

 the Snowcrest Range to the southwest, the Tobacco Root Mountains to the 

 northeast, and the Ruby Range to the west; the mouth is near Twin Bridges, 

 Montana. Its drainage basin identification number is 41C (DNR&C); all 

 streams are classified as B-Di except a portion of Indian Creek which is 

 A-Open-Di (DHES). 



Non-USFS land ownership in the Ruby drainage is divided among the BLM, 

 the State and the private sector and dominates the broad valleys and 

 foothills. There is little merchantable timber on these lands, being 

 limited by climate and aspect. 



High turbidities have been noted in the Ruby River drainage. The likely 

 causes of these conditions are highly erosive soils, slumping, and other 

 naturally occurring erosion processes (ONES, 1974; DF&G - Bozeman, pers. 

 comm.). Poor agricultural practices (overgrazing) may also complicate 

 this situation (DHES, 1974). 



There has been limited recent harvesting of merchantable timber along 

 the foothills northeast of Sheridan, Montana. Although most of this area 

 is immature second growth timber, there still remain scattered patches 

 of merchantable timber. There is also current harvesting activities on 

 Idaho Creek (T7S, R3W). It is reported that this patented claim is being 

 clear-cut along the stream bank in preparation for placer mining activity 

 (USPS - Sheridan, pers. comm.). No water quality data is available 

 relative to the impact of this operation. However, since Idaho Creek is 



