stage discharge relationship was developed near the diversion to assist in the monitoring 

 (Figure 16). 



Copper Creek 



Copper Creek, the largest tributary to the lower Landers Fork entering at mile 3.6, 

 is a critical spawning and rearing stream for genetically pure fluvial WSCT and fluvial 

 bull trout in the upper Blackfoot River drainage. Copper Creek supports an entirely 

 native fish community basin-wide, and provides the only major spawning migration of 

 fluvial bull trout in the upper Blackfoot River basin. Copper Creek's consistent cold- 

 water temperatures help moderate temperatures in the lower Landers Fork. 



During 

 August 2003, the 

 Snow/Talon wildfire 

 on the Helena 

 National Forest ran 

 through the Copper 

 Creek drainage. This 

 high intensity, stand 

 replacement fire 



burned significant 

 portions of the basin 

 including a fluvial 

 bull trout spawning 

 site approximately 

 three weeks prior to 

 spawning. The 



spawning area was 



o 

 o 



i 



o 



(0 



o 



4?W ^W^>^ sW/ 4p>r 



MUe 1.1 



Mile 6.2 



Mile 8.9 



Mile 10.8 



Figure 17. CPUE for native trout at four locations in Copper Creek, 1989- 

 2005 



also subject to an accidental drop of fire retardant (Fire-trol LCG-R), considered toxic to 

 aquatic life, during fire-fighting activities. 



Fish Populations 



In 2004, we duplicated fish population sampling at four long-term monitoring 

 sites established in 1989 and last sampled one year prior to the wildfire in 2002. We also 

 continued to monitor juvenile bull trout densities near the bull trout spawning area in 

 2005 (Figure 17). A comparison of the pre-to post-fire survey results suggests no post- 

 fire negative influence on juvenile bull trout production. Although bull trout redd counts 

 in the index reach have recovered fi-om a sharp decline during the 2003 wildfire (Figure 

 2), redd counts in the index section average 40% lower during the current drought (2000- 

 2005) compared to pre-drought (1989-1999) period. 



Other monitoring in Copper Creek for the 2004-2005 period involved an 

 assessment of bull trout spawning sites (Results Part IV) and water temperature 

 monitoring downstream of the bum area. Water temperature monitoring in 2004 

 indicates warming of Cooper Creek in the summer post-fire environment with 

 temperatures >3 °F higher than previously recorded maximum monthly temperatures. 



29 



