Appendix J. 



Stream Temperatures 



During 2002 and 2003, we completed stream temperature monitoring for the 

 mainstem Blackfoot River and all major direct tributaries to the Blackfoot River. The 

 study included seven Blackfoot River sampling locations (four long-term sampling 

 locations), plus 48 sampling sites on 37 tributaries. Of these 37 tributaries, 22 are direct 

 tributaries to the Blackfoot River. Temperature sensors were placed near the confluence 

 with the Blackfoot River for these 22 tributaries. Water temperatures (" F) were recorded 

 at 48 to 72 minute intervals using Hobo temperature or tidbit data loggers. Data for each 

 station are summarized with monthly mean, maximum, minimum and standard deviation 

 in Appendix I. All water temperature data collected between 1997-2003 (92 sites with 

 180 individual data bases) was also complied into a GIS (ArcView) layer. We tested 

 temperature differences using t-tests and results were considered significant at < 0.05 



Objectives of the temperature data collections were to: 1) continue long-term data 

 collections at established monitoring sites; 2) profile temperatures over the length of the 

 river; 2) identify and monitor thermal properties of tributaries entering the river; 3) 

 identify thermal regimes favorable and unfavorable for trout; 4) monitor temperature 

 triggers used in the Drought Management Plan; 5) monitor stream restoration projects; 

 and 5) establish winter baseline data in areas of anchor ice and upwelling, and compile 

 data for future studies. 



Natural channel design and fish habitat restoration {from Brown et al. 2001). 



Habitat restoration relies on both passive and active methods. Passive methods 

 rely on changes to riparian areas by addressing the sources of the degradation, which 

 generally requires incorporating grazing BMPs in degraded riparian areas, enhancing 

 instream flows and screening irrigation ditches. Active restoration methods involve 

 entering the channel with machinery and reconstructing severely damaged streams, or 

 directly restoring and enhancing habitat features to areas of 5/mp////ec/ habitat. 



For channel reconstruction and habitat restoration in the Blackfoot River drainage, 

 we rely on a natural channel design philosophy (NCDP). This philosophy requires a 

 multidisciplinary approach to stream restoration along with an understanding of historical 

 riparian land use. Project complexity and risk define a specific combination of design 

 methods. Methods involve a geomorphic approach that fits the proper stream to the 

 proper stream valley. The Rosgen stream classification provides the basis of this 

 approach (Rosgen 1994; Rosgen 1996). NCDP quantifies channel shape, pattern, and 

 gradient (Rosgen 1996). Riparian health, instream habitat, and fish population surveys, 

 along with measurements of discharge, sediment, and bed and bank stability, permit the 

 assessment and evaluation of existing and potential channel conditions as well as 

 biological attributes of the project. The NCDP aims to restore natural channel stability, or 

 dynamic equilibrium, and habitat to impaired streams. Streams in dynamic equilibrium 

 are generally more biologically productive, and provide higher quality and more complex 

 habitat than altered or unstable streams. Geomorphic indicators (bankfull channel), 

 prediction analysis (reference reaches and dimensionless ratios), and method validation 



25 



