TIMELINE 



1872: — The General Mining Law is enacted, establishing procedures for staking and 

 maintaining claims and for patenting claims. 



1935: — Reservoir is constructed on the East Fork of Rock Creek. 



1948: — Logging starts in the Rock Creek drainage on the Deerlodge National Forest. 



1959: — Rock Creek is designated a blue ribbon trout stream. 



I960: — Logging starts in the Rock Creek drainage on the Lolo National Forest. 



196I: — The Montana Fish and Game Department begins phasing out the Rock Creek 

 trout stocking program. 



1964: — The Wilderness Act becomes law, protecting the headwaters of Rock Creek as 

 part of the Anaconda- Pintlar Wilderness. 



1967: — The first ranch is subdivided in the Rock Creek canyon. 



1969: — Rock Creek receives Murphy^ Right status for protection of instream flows. 



— The Montana Sierra Club Group and the West Slope Chapter of Trout Unlimited 

 form in Missoula. 



1970: — The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) becomes law. 



1971: — The Montana Sierra Club Group and the West Slope Chapter of Trout Unlimited 

 file an appeal of timber sales planned for the Rock Creek drainage. 



— The Regional Forester, USES, orders a moratorium on timber sales in the 

 drainage. 



1972: — The Rock Creek Advisory Committee is chartered by the U.S. Department of 

 Agriculture to advise the Forest Service on Rock Creek management. 



1973: — The Montana Water Use Act becomes law. 



— The Rock Creek Advisory Committee and the Forest Service agree to water 

 quality monitoring standards for Rock Creek. 



1976: — The Rock Creek Advisory Committee disbands. 



1978: — The Welcome Creek Wilderness Area is created with passage of the Endangered 

 American Wilderness Act. 



— Environmental Impact Statement is completed for Upper Rock Creek; 

 moratorium on timber sales in the Upper Rock Creek drainage is lifted. 



1979: — The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department (formerly Fish and Game) 



tightens creel limits and tackle restrictions and institutes catch-and-release only 

 on one portion of Rock Creek to reverse decline in trout populations. 



1983: — The Regional Forester of the Forest Service lifts the moratorium on timber sales 

 in the remainder of Rock Creek drainage. 



1984: — The Montana Water Court issues a Temporary Preliminary Water Rights Decree 

 for Rock Creek. 



1985: — The Deerlodge National Forest announces timber sales in the drainage amount- 

 ing to 4,000 acres of clearcut. 



— Citizens protest lack of monitoring on the Deerlodge. 



— The Rock Creek Advisory Committee reconvenes informally. 



