7.9 11.5 17.2 



Location (stream mile) 



Figure 31. CPUE for juvenile bull trout in four long-term 

 samplina sites on the North Fork 1989-2002. 



Blackfoot Cooperators continued to work closely with landowners on a wide range of 

 conservation measures involving instream flow enhancement, riparian grazing changes, 

 and charmel re-naturalization on North Fork tributaries. 



Catch/100' of shoreline 



Fish Populations and other 



monitoring 



The North Fork of the 

 Blackfoot River is a primary 

 spawning tributary for fluvial 

 bull trout and fluvial WSCT to 

 headwater areas, and supports 

 rainbow trout, brown trout and 

 brook trout in the lower basin. 

 Fisheries-related monitoring for 



2002 and 2003 included: 1) bull 

 trout redd surveys; 2) 

 assessments of juvenile fish 

 abundance; 3) whirling disease 

 sentinel cage studies; and 4) 

 water temperature monitoring. 



Bull trout redd counts in 2002 and 2003, show declining numbers of adult 

 spawners for the third consecutive year, declining from a high of 123 in 2000, to 41 in 



2003 in the long-term monitoring reach. Monitoring of juvenile bull trout abundance in 

 four long-term monitoring sections of the North Fork, also show a sharp decline during 

 the drought (Figure 31). For the first time in 2002, we recorded no YOY bull trout at the 

 uppermost survey section at mile 17.2. 



Temperature monitoring in the lower North Fork Blackfoot River (mile 2.3) 

 recorded a maximum summer temperature of 63.1 ° F in August, 12.7 ° F cooler than the 

 75.8 ° F detected in the Blackfoot River at Raymond Bridge (mile 60.2). 



Whirling disease is present the lower North Fork, and its two primary lower 

 tributaries, Kleinschmidt Creek and Rock Creek. The disease is currently absent from 

 upstream bull trout spawning sites in the North Fork (Results Part IV). 



Pearson Creek 



Restoration objectives: restore the stream 

 to its original channel; improve stream 

 flows, access to, and the condition of a 

 historical fluvial WSCT spawning site. 



Project Summary 



Pearson Creek is a small tributary 

 to Chamberlain Creek with a base-flow of 

 approximately one cfs. Pearson Creek 

 has a history of channel alterations, and 

 adverse irrigation and riparian land 



WSCT Age 1 + 



Figure 32. Estimated densities of WSCT in 

 Pearson Creek at mile 1.1, 1999-2003. 



47 



