RECOMMENDATIONS 



- Identify a sustainable fisheries technician-funding source in order to continue restoration-related 

 fisheries monitoring and related-assessments as outlined in this report. 



- Encourage watershed groups and resource agencies that promote and develop restoration 

 projects to implement monitoring and ensure maintenance needs for their projects. 



- Expand on the ground restoration to the upper Blackfoot and Clearwater River basins with 

 support provided through watershed groups including the Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout 

 Unlimited, the North Powell Conservation District, Northwestern Energy, the Blackfoot 

 Challenge as well as other supporting agencies and organizations. 



- Complete restoration projects in all bull trout "core areas" and current restoration streams. 

 Expand restoration to the upper Blackfoot watershed, with emphasis placed on "priority" water 

 bodies. 



- Focus restoration and protection on migration corridors, spawning and rearing areas, and 

 tributaries that have a high proportion of their stream length in higher elevations and basin-fed 

 stream with steeper gradients. These habitat types have been found to be less susceptible to T. 

 tubifex and whirling disease infection. • 



- Continue to monitor the spread and impacts of whirling disease and the results of restoration on 

 infection rates. Complete the rainbow trout - whirling disease risk assessment and examine the 

 susceptibility of whirling disease on mountain whitefish. Incorporate pertinent results into the 

 restoration program. 



- Increase landscape protection on critical fish and wildlife habitat in cooperation with the 

 Montana Land Reliance, Nature Conservancy, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana Fish, 

 Wildlife and Parks, Blackfoot Challenge and Plum Creek Timber Company. 



- Continue fish populations monitoring at the Johnsrud and Scotty Brown Bridge section of the 

 Blackfoot River, and major tributary restoration projects as funding allows. 



- Complete fisheries inventories (lakes and streams) to wilderness areas and complete a mountain 

 lakes management plan. 



- Increase FWP enforcement efforts in bull trout spawning and staging areas. 



- Address fish passage and northern pike issues at Milltown Dam and continue to mitigate for 

 Milhown Dam within the geographic range of fish population impacts. 



- Complete the cleanup of contaminated sediments at the Mike Horse mine and on Helena 

 National 'Forest in a manner that allows the recolonization of WSCT. 



- Adopt a conservative approach to recreational planning in native fish recovery areas. 



MB 



