funds. In some cases, growth has led to communication, planning and oversight 

 problems. In some cases, projects have been pursued with only limited resource 

 justification or potential for measurable outcomes. 



Attempts to promote fisheries conservation, while managing the challenges of 

 growth, are occurring on many fronts. These attempts involve: I ) a BBCTU decision to 

 hire a full time manager dedicated to project oversight; 2) the addition of NRCS planning 

 staff; 3) an increased level of coordination and monitoring requirements on BC funded 

 projects: and 4) a heightened level of permitting scrutiny. Strategic planning, undertaken 

 both within and between the principal watershed groups, is also proceeding. Planning 

 documents prioritizing fisheries and water quality projects have been written and adopted 

 by the Blackfoot Cooperators (Pierce et al. 2005; Blackfoot Challenge 2005). These 

 plans outline project development methods and monitoring actions associated with 

 restoration processes, such as: 1) the collection of baseline data; 2) the development of 

 concise, attainable and measurable objectives; 3) proper project oversight; and 4) post- 

 project monitoring methods. Although effectiveness monitoring (e.g. did the project meet 

 fisheries and water quality objectives) is critical and continuous need to this program, 

 project maintenance (fences, irrigation fish screens, shrub plantings, etc.) and periodic 

 review of riparian grazing plans are likewise critical due to the large number (>200) of 

 fisheries-related restoration projects now complete in the Blackfoot River basin. 



With attention to these strategies, the Blackfoot Cooperators should avoid 

 regional (and national) trends of exponential growth in restoration fiinding, but which 

 generally fail to provide adequate quality control (over-sight and maintenance) and assess 

 project outcomes (Fisheries 2005-Vol. 31 No. 1; Roni 2005). These concerns are 

 outlined in the National River Restoration Science Synthesis (a database of 38,000 

 restoration projects - most in the Pacific Northwest), which found only 14% of projects 

 document any form of project monitoring (Fisheries 2005-Vol. 30 No. 6). 



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 



The 2004-2005 

 reporting period ended 

 with the sixth straight 

 year of drought. During 

 this six-year period: 1) 

 mean monthly flows 

 during the critical 

 summer (July and 

 August) period averaged 

 66 - 76% of normal; 2) 

 the river set an 18-year 

 record for warm water 

 temperatures; 3) normal 

 "flushing flows" 



occurred only once 

 (Results Part I); and 4) 

 emergency angling 



restrictions were enacted 



Density/1000' + 95% CI 



250 



200 



150 



100 



50 





''i/^4' 



"•'h 



■nti 



A 



2000J 2002 



2004 



Johnsrud 



rfi 



20001 2002 



2004 



2000 2002 



Scotty Brown 



Wales Creek 



Figure 1. Total trout densities (fish>6.0") for three sections of 

 the Blackfoot River, 2000-2004. 



