In 2002 and 2003, we continued fish population monitoring in a reconstructed 

 section of Bear Creek. Total CPUE for all salmonids (> 4.0") is showing an overall 

 positive trend increasing from 7.7 in 2000, to 14.7 fish/ 100' in 2003 (Figure 17). 

 Increased densities (> 4.0") were noted for all species in the sample. Total CPUE for fish 

 <4.0" decreased from 18.6 fish/100" in 2000 to 14.1 fish/100' in 2003. 



Blanchard Creek 



Rc'storalion objectives: improve access and spawning and rearing conditions for trout, and 

 increase recruitment of trout to the Blackfoot River. 



Project Summary 



Blanchard Creek, a small 2"*^ order tributary to the lower Clearwater River 

 entering at mile 2.9, has a long history of adverse land management activities, and 

 riparian and fish habitat degradation. These include changes to the hydrograph (12% 

 above natural) related to timber harvest (DNRC unpublished data), side-casting of road 

 grade material to the channel by Missoula County road maintenance crews, excessive 

 livestock access to riparian areas, and dewatering through irrigation. 



Chronic dewatering in the lower one mile of the stream from irrigation resulted in 

 large fish population declines. In 1991, the irrigator began increasing flows, and then 

 entered into a water lease between 1993 and 2000 for three-cfs instream flow during the 

 irrigation season. In 2001 with the onset of the drought, irrigation needs increased. 

 During this time, the water right holder began to exercise a lease option to increase 

 irrigation, thereby dewatering the stream during low flow periods of 2001-03. In spring 

 2004, continued drought, competing water use and declining population trends led to a 

 decision to terminate the water lease. In 2002, the DNRC completed a needed riparian 

 grazing project for a 2.7 mile reach (mile 1.1 to 3.8) to manage grazing on State land. 



Fish Populations 



Blanchard Creek is a 

 spawning tributary for rainbow 

 and WSCT. and supports low 

 densities of brown trout and 

 brook trout. During the early 

 years of the water lease, 

 Blanchard Creek supported 

 high rainbow trout densities. 

 However, since the early 

 1990's population monitoring 

 recorded a downward trend in 

 rainbow trout (> 4.0") 

 densities (Figure 18). The 

 trend coincides with a period 

 of more intensive riparian 

 grazing in lower Blanchard 

 Creek. With increased 



Density (95% CI) 



25 



20 



10 



\h 



ND 



^ 





^ 



:^ 



Til 



2003 



Year 



Figure 18. Estimated rainbow trout (fish >4.0") for 

 Blanchard Creek at mile 0. 1 . 1990-2003. 



33 



