Blackfoot watershed. This designation is not representative of the species needs and is 

 now undergoing a legal challenge. ji . ^^ 



To assist in bull trout recovery, the Montana Bull Trout Recovery Plan 

 established recovery goals for the Blackfoot watershed (MBTRT 2000). Goals are to: 1 ) 

 maintain self-reproducing migratory fish in the Blackfoot River with access to tributary 

 streams and spawning in all core area watersheds; 2) maintain the population genetic 

 structure throughout the watershed; 3) maintain and increase the connectivity between the 

 Blackfoot River and its tributaries; 4) establish a baseline of redd counts in all drainages 

 that presently support spawning migratory bull trout; and 5) maintain a count of a least 

 100 redds or 2,000 individuals in the Blackfoot drainage with an increasing trend 

 thereafter (MBTRT 2000). Both the USFWS and State of Montana have developed 

 similar recovery plans that outline measures needed to help remove bull trout from the 

 ESA list, similar to the Montana Bull Trout Recovery Team (USFWS 2002; MBTRT 

 2000). 



Since 1990, many actions targeting the recovery of bull trout in the Blackfoot 

 Watershed are ongoing or completed (Pierce et al 2004). During 2004 and 2005, bull 

 trout recovery efforts continued on several fronts, including: 1) continued restoration 

 work in core areas (Cottonwood, Monture, and Copper Creeks, the North Fork Blackfoot 

 River) as well as four non-core area bull trout-bearing streams (Arrastra Creek, Poorman 

 Creek, Nevada Spring Creel; Results Part III); 2) completion of a bull trout spawning site 

 assessment (Results Part IV); 3) the removal of the Stimson weir and completion of 

 designs for the removal of Milltown Dam; and 5) assessments of angler behavior in 

 critical recovery areas 

 (Results Part IV). We 

 also monitored bull 

 frout population trends 

 in the Blackfoot River 

 and five 

 sfreams. 



screened 

 canals on 

 tributaries 

 completed 

 assessments 

 frout habitat 

 Part II, III 



spawnmg 

 monitored 

 irrigation 

 spawning 

 and 

 other 

 in bull 

 (Results 

 and IV). 



s 



o 

 to 

 O 



Figure 3. CPUE for juvenile bull trout near spawning sites of three primary 

 spawning streams. 



All of these bull frout 



recovery actions have provided insight into the complex nature of native species recovery 



and conservation. 



During the 1990s, bull trout densities in the lower Blackfoot River increased, with 

 an inclination towards large fish (Pierce et al 2004). However since 2000, bull frout 

 spawning surveys (redd counts) revealed a sustained watershed decline involving all 

 primary spawning sfreams (Figure 2). Redd surveys in index reaches of the two primary 

 lower Blackfoot River spawning sfreams (Monture Creek and the North Fork) have 

 declined 56% and 65% from recent highs. Redd counts in the index reach of Copper 

 Creek have declined from a pre-drought (1989-1999) mean of 20 redds to a mean of 12 



