The site at Highway 89 is below Deep Creek and the Choteau 

 wastewater lagoon and above the discharge from the Priest Butte 

 Lakes. In contrast to the clear, riffle/run reaches upstream, 

 this site shows significant sediment loading (MDEQ field notes) 

 The site at Miller's is below the discharge from Priest Butte 

 Lakes, which is a significant source of salinity. There is lots 

 of bank erosion at this site but it still has relatively good 

 habitat compared to sites farther downstream (MDEQ field notes, - 

 C. Endicott, MDEQ, pers . comm. ) . 



Sampling sites below Miller's were established to evaluate 

 deteriorating habitat conditions in the lower reaches of the 

 river (Carol Endicott, MDEQ, pers. comm.) . The Highway 221 site 

 had a stream reach assessment score of only 41% of the maximum 

 possible score. The site at Interstate 15, located below the 

 frontage road and rest area, scored 56% of its potential (MDEQ 

 field data) . 



Significant downcutting has occurred at the Kerr Bridge 

 site, but riparian areas and the channel appear to be recovering; 

 a stream reach assessment at this site scored 68% of the maximum 

 possible points (MDEQ field data) . At Dent Bridge, the stream 

 reach assessment score was only 43% of the maximum possible 

 score, and macroinvertebrate habitat rated only 29% of its 

 potential; extensive channelization and moderately unstable banks 

 were noted here (MDEQ field data) . The habitat assessment score 

 was twice as high at the site near the mouth at Loma, indicating 

 much improved habitat conditions over the Dent site (MDEQ field 

 data) . 



METHODS 



Periphyton samples were collected in July and August 1998 

 using the composite, multi-habitat technique described by Bahls 



