MDT Montana IVetland Assessment Method May 25, 1999 



document; however, the list is available on the internet at http:/Avater.moDtana.edu/doc$/tmdl/303d/303dContents.htm . 



The presence of certain groups offish in the AA is considered along with habitat features to derive an overall fish/aquatic habitat 

 rating. This was included in the assessment to reflect MDFWP fisheries management priorities. The ranking of such groups was 

 based on the guiding principles of MDFWP's "Fisheries Beyond 2000" 10-year strategic fisheries management plan (MDFWP 1999). 

 The mission of the plan and the Fishenes Program has the aim of preserving and enhancing all aquatic species and their ecosystems to 

 meet the pub he's demand for recreational opportunities while assuring prudent stewardship of aquatic species. The Fisheries Program 

 seeks to accomplish this imssion by developing and implementing policies and programs that foster sound management of wild fish 

 populations and their habitats, at the same time that it monitors and regulates angler harvests, maintains recreational activities for 

 anglers, and provides improved access to fisheries (MDFWP 1999). 



Given these management priorities (managing for wild fish populations and recreational opportumties). the following groups offish 

 are considered in the assessment m order of descendmg "rank": native game fish; introduced game fish; non-game fish; and no fish. 



L Habitat Quality. Working from top to bottom within the double vertical Lmes. circle the appropriate AA attributes m the matrix 

 provided on the data form to arrive at an exceptional (E). high (H). moderate (M), or low (L) rating. The first variable considered is 

 the maximum duration of surface water in the AA. Use the definitions provided above imder 14C. The second variable is structural 

 cover. Estimate the percentage of the waterbody within the AA that contains cover objects such as submerged logs, large rocks and 

 boulders, overhanging banks, and submerged and floating-leaved vegetation. The final vanable is shading, as determined by estimating 

 the percent of streambank or shoreline within the AA that contains wetland or riparian scrub-shrub or forested communities. This will 

 determine the rating for habitat quahtv'. 



u. Modified Habitat Quality. Circle the appropriate response to the following question; Is fish use of the AA precluded or 

 significantly reduced by a culvert, dike, or other man-made structure or activity or is the waterbody included on the MDEO list of 

 waterbodies in need ofTXIDL development with listed "Probable Impaired Uses " including cold or warm water fishery or aquatic 

 life support? If the answer is yes. then reduce the habitat quahtv' rating determined in i above by one level (E = H. H = M, M = L, L = 

 L). If the answer is no. then do not modify the habitat quality rating determined in i. 



iiL Rating. Determine and circle the general fish/aquatic habitat rating and fiinctional jwints for the AA by appKing the results of i 

 and ii to the matnx provided in the data form. The term "native" implies a species indigenous to Montana; not necessarily to a given 

 drainage or v^ater bodv The evaluator is referred to A Field Guide To Montana Fishes (Holton 1 990) for the status (native vs. 

 introduced) offish species known or suspected to occur in the AA. 



As listed in the Montana Code Annotated (1997). "game fish" means all species of the family Salmonidae (chars, trout salmon- 

 grayling, and whitefish); all species of the genus Stizostedion (sandpike or sauger and walleyed pike or yellowpike perch); all species 

 of the genus Esox (northern pike, pickerel and muskellunge); all species of the ssmis Micropterus (bass); all species of the genus 

 Polyodon (paddlefish); all species of the famih' Acipensendae (sturgeon); all species of the genus Lota (burbot or ling); and the 

 species Ictalurus punctatus (channel catfish). 



Native game fish in Montana include: white. paUid. and shovebose sturgeon; paddlefish; mountain whitefish; pygmy whitefish; 

 westslope cutthroat, Yellowstone cutthroat, interior redband. buU, and lake trout; arctic grayling; channel catfish; burbot; and sauger. 



14E. Flood Attenuation: This field assesses the capabiUtv of jurisdictional wetland in the AA to slow in-channel or overbank flow 

 during high water/flood events. This parameter appUes onK" if the AA occurs within or contains a discernible floodplain (e.g.. is 

 subject to flooding and possesses the opportunitv' to attenuate flood waters), based on floodwater proximity, evidence of flood deposits, 

 FEMA maps, etc., and can appK' to any AA that includes a flowing water/channel component (e.g., rivers, streams, flowing ditches). If 

 jurisdictional wetland v\ithin the AA does not occur within a channel or discernible floodplain. circle NA where indicated on the form 

 and proceed to the next fimction. 



Variables used to assess this function are: the area of jurisdictional wetland subject to periodic flooding; percent composition of this 

 area by woody vegetation; and outlet presence or absence. Generally, the larger the wetland, the greater its abUity to attenuate flood 

 flows. Wetlands with dense woody vegetation are better able to slow floodwaters than are wetlands dominated by oi)en water or low- 

 growing vegetation, which ofier httle resistance to such flows. Finally, wetlands with no outlets or with restricted outlets can attenuate 

 and capture floodwaters more efiectively than wetiands with unrestricted outlets. 



i. Rating. Working from top to bottom, use the matrix on the data form to arrive at [circle] the fiinctional points and rating [H = high, 

 M = moderate, or L = low] for this function. 



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