2. Investigate trout fry and fingerling survival in the 

 Clark Fork mainstem. 



a. Continue DFWP investigations of trout fry survival 

 at selected locations in the upper river. Live 

 fish containers developed for this purpose should 

 be placed to help identify specific locations 

 where acute and chronic toxicity conditions exist. 

 These data should be used in the development of a 

 reclamation plan (see #1) . 



b. Continue DFWP evaluations of the survival and 

 growth of trout stocked at key locations in the 

 river. The data gained from these test plants 

 will be useful to assess the relative survival 

 rates of different trout species and to better 

 define factors that limit trout abundance. 



3. Remove barriers to potential spawning areas. 



a. Identify all tributary streams where spawning trout 

 migrations are blocked by natural or man-made 

 barriers, and work with landowners and sportsmen's 

 groups to remove such barriers or provide fish 

 passage around them. The following tributary 

 streams have been identified as having barriers or 

 potential barriers to spawning trout: Sixmile 

 Creek, Harvey Creek, Tamarack Creek, Siegel Creek, 

 Elk Creek, and Prospect Creek. 



b. Exercise beaver control on streams where beaver 

 dams are affecting trout access to important 

 spawning areas. 



4. Protect instream flows. 



a. Complete measurements of instream flow requirements 

 for fisheries and analysis of fish populations on 

 the middle river and tributaries. DFWP study 

 results should be used to support an application 

 for water reservations needed to maintain and 

 enhance the existing fishery. 



b. Investigate opportunities for the public or private 

 purchase or lease of water rights in the key 

 tributary streams to maintain instream flows. Warm 

 Springs Creek at the Clark Fork headwaters is an 

 example. 



c. Continue seeking a long-term DFWP lease or purchase 

 of water rights from Painted Rocks Reservoir to 

 maintain instream flow in the Bitterroot River. 



5-25 



