in four of the last six years. As a result of drought-related stressors, certain fisheries 

 have expressed large declines. Notable declines include a 57% decline in bull trout redds 

 counts for two spawning streams (Monture Creek and North Fork) between 2000 and 

 2005, and a 51% decline in total trout densities (fish>6.0") in Scotty Brown Bridge 

 section of the middle Blackfoot River (Figure 1; Results Part 11). Many tributary 

 fisheries have also declined; however as this report details, restoration of habitat has 

 improved many local populations at the project scale despite drought and the presence of 

 whirling disease. Over the long term, continued habitat work is expected to make wild 

 trout populations more resilient to environmental limiting factors such as drought. 



Whirling disease has expanded in recent years. It is now firmly established at the 

 low elevations of the watershed, where infections vary within and between streams. The 

 disease overlaps with spawning and rearing areas for rainbow and brown trout and 

 mountain whitefish. The escalation of whirling disease corresponds with a recent decline 

 in rainbow trout in the middle Blackfoot River and certain nearby tributaries. 

 Conversely, populations of less susceptible species have expanded in the presence of high 

 whirling disease infections in some waters where restoration has corrected physical 

 limiting factors (Results Part III). The disease is intensively monitored and evaluations 

 of fish populations (and their habitats) in infected waters are ongoing, including several 

 infected streams at various stages of restoration (Results Part III and IV). Although 

 rainbow trout declines in the Blackfoot River correspond with whirling disease increases, 

 the relative degree to which declines relate to disease, drought or other factors remains 

 unclear. Two Blackfoot watershed research projects hope to provide insights into the 

 ecological relationships of the disease with the salmonid host. One ongoing study relates 

 telemetered rainbow trout from the Blackfoot River to geomorphic features of rainbow 

 trout spawning streams and to variable infections therein (Results Part IV). The second, 

 now in the planning phases, hopes to examine the influence of whirling disease on 

 mountain whitefish, a species whose susceptibility remains in question. 



In addition to whirling disease and rainbow trout telemetry studies, this report 

 outlines many other fisheries investigations undertaken during 2004 and 2005. These 

 include fisheries and habitat restoration assessments on 26 streams (Results Part III); 

 spawning site assessments on 22 streams (Results Part IV); a survey of angler behavior in 

 critical native fish recovery areas (Results Part IV); mountain lake surveys (Results Part 

 IV); and a summary integration of all tributary assessments into a restoration 

 prioritization strategy (Results Part IV). 



In this report, we consolidate recent results of the FWP Blackfoot River fisheries 

 restoration monitoring and related investigations. Our objectives are to: 1) summarize 

 the status of Blackfoot River wild trout and their environments; 2) summarize fisheries- 

 related monitoring in tributaries undergoing restoration; 3) present the preliminary results 

 of a fluvial rainbow trout telemetry study; 4) communicate the current status of whirling 

 disease; 5) present results of other major studies; and 5) help guide future fisheries 

 restoration actions. 



Bull Trout Recovery 



The Blackfoot River watershed supports fluvial, stream resident as well as 

 adfluvial (in the Clearwater drainage^ bull trout. Of primary concern is the recovery of 

 the fluvial (or migratory) Blackfoot River life history form. Migratory bull trout exhibit 



