STUDY NUMBER ; 10.5 



ORGANIZATION ; University of Montana (UM), Department of Botany 



TITLE OF STUDY ; Improving Biotic Resources of the Upper Clark 

 Fork River 



CONTACT ( S ) ; Vicky Watson, University of Montana, Botany/EVST 

 Department, Missoula - 243-5153 



OBJECTIVE ; 1) Assess the relationship between algae growth and 

 fish production in the upper river and establish a baseline of 

 algae growth for evaluating future changes in the river; 2) de- 

 termine the relationship between macroinvertebrate populations, 

 toxic metals and fish populations over the length of the upper 

 river. 



DURATION ; 1986 - Indefinite 



CURRENT STATUS ; Funding for this project with Resource Indemnity 

 Trust Funds was approved by the 1987 Legislature. The project 

 will utilize aerial and on-ground measurements of algae growth 

 and standing crops at various locations in the upper river for 

 comparison with metal concentrations, river morphometry, nutrients 

 and other factors. Diurnal oxygen concentration will be measured 

 at 4-5 sites in the upper river biweekly from July to early Sep- 

 tember for comparison with the Department of Fish, Wildlife and 

 Parks fishery studies. 



Aquatic insect habitat will be inventoried at various loc- 

 ations in the upper river to determine if habitat is limiting 

 aquatic insect populations. Insect populations will be quantified 

 at selected stations over the annual cycle as a measure of avail- 

 able fish food and to establish a baseline for future measure- 

 ments. 



FUTURE ACTIVITIES ; Some preliminary data have been gathered. 

 The project is expected to be underway during the 1987 field 

 season depending on funding arrangements. 



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