densities below the lower diversion compared with above the upper diversion (Figure 33). 



Rock Creek 



Restoration Objectives: restore migration corridors for native fish; restore natural stream 

 morphology to improve spawning and rearing conditions for all fish using the system. 



Project Summary 



Rock Creek, the largest tributary to the lower North Fork of the Blackfoot River, 

 has been the focus of restoration since 1990. 



Rock Creek, a basin-fed stream over most of its length, receives significant 

 groundwater inflows between mile 1.2 and 1.6. Rock Creek was degraded over most of 

 its 8.2-mile length due to a wide range of past channel alterations and riparian 

 management activities (Pierce 1990; Pierce et al. 1997). 



In 2002. the Blackfoot cooperators reconstructed -3,000' of floodplain in an 

 over-widened section of stream between mile 3.0 and 3.8. This project focused on 

 importing sod-mats and included shrub plantings, along with fencing and off-stream 

 water developments. To date, this brings the total amount of restored stream to -7.2 

 miles. 



Fish Populations 



Rock Creek supports spawning migrations of brown trout and rainbow trout in 

 lower reaches, and brook trout throughout the length of the stream. Middle reaches 

 provide bull trout rearing and 

 fluvial migration corridors to small 

 headwater populations, ki 2002, 

 we continued to survey fish 

 populations in a section (mile 1.6) 

 of stream reconstructed in 1999. 

 Our surveys show an increase in 

 densities (Figure 34) and a shift 

 from a brook trout to a more brown 

 trout dominated community 

 (Appendix A). Bull trout and 

 rainbow trout also periodically 

 utilize this portion of Rock Creek 



in lower abundance. Figure 34. Total trout densities (fish > 4.0") for Rock 



Creek at mile 1.6,2001-03. 



Density (95% CI) 



Wales Creek 



Restoration objective: improve habitat conditions for resident WSCT above Wales Creek 

 Reservoir; improve instream flows and overall habitat conditions below Wales Creek 

 reservoir; increase recruitment of WSCT to the Blackfoot River. 



Project Summary 



Wales Creek is a small tributary to the Blackfoot River entering at river mile 60.2 

 with a base flow of -1-2 cfs. A reservoir at mile 2.4 provides irrigation storage and forms 



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