the landowners monitored water temperatures, assessed stream channel conditions, 

 measured stream discharge and evaluated riparian grazing practices. These studies all 

 indicate high potential for fisheries improvement if corrective measures are implemented. 



Fish Populations 



We sampled fish populations at four locations (miles 0.1, 1.0, 2.4 and 2.6) of 

 Wasson Creek. The upper surveys show a large decline in WSCT densities below the 

 diversions with a CPUE declining from 25.7 fish/100' above the diversions to zero fish 

 /1 00' (Figure 37). In lower Wasson Creek, we also found WSCT in very low densities 

 (1.3/100' at mile 1.0) and extremely low densities of brown trout near the mouth of 

 Wasson Creek, in addition to longnose and largescale suckers and redside shiners. 



hiterestingly, we also found one yellow perch and one largescale sucker in the 

 upper-most sample. The two species likely entered Wasson Creek from the North 

 Helmville Canal, which periodically delivers water (and apparently unwanted fish 

 species) to Wasson Creek and perhaps to other adjacent drainages. Introductions of 

 unwanted fish from Nevada Creek near the reservoir have the potential to compromise the 

 WSCT population of Wasson Creek depending on the species introduced. Preventing the 

 movement of unwanted fish to from the canal to Wasson Creek should be a necessary 

 component to restoration planning. 



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