Bull Trout Redd Surveys 



Bull trout redds counts are a common tool to monitor escapement of adult fluvial 

 bull trout (Dunham et al. 2001). Redds of fluvial bull trout are generally large (> 3 ft 

 long) and can be easily identified by a cleaned, oval shape (pit), and a mound of 

 unconsolidated gravel (tailspill) left by a females digging activities (Kondolf and Wolman 

 1993). Redd counts in selected spawning reaches have been conducted consistently in the 

 "big three" spawning streams (Copper Creek (by USPS), Monture Creek, and the North 

 Fork of the Blackfoot River) beginning in 1989 and continuing through 2003, and less 

 intensively in Gold and Dunham Creeks beginning in 1994 or 1995 (Table 9). Bull trout 

 spawning reaches were surveyed in late September, which corresponds with the 

 immediate post-spawning period. Only redds where a definite pit and tailspill were 

 discemable were counted. Redd counts in this report are both complete counts (for 2003) 

 and surveys of index reaches to spawning adult abundance in selected reaches. 



The spawning index reach of Monture Creek has displayed an upward, more 

 stable trend than either the North Fork or Copper Creek, increasing from 10 redds in 1989 

 to 80 in 2003, averaging 58 redds over a 14-year period of record. Likewise, the index 

 section of the North Fork averages 58 redds (with 12-years of record) and was upward 

 trending, with numbers of redds increasing from 8 in 1989 to 123 in 2000. Redds in the 

 North Fork began to decline in 2001, and were down sharply to 41 by 2003. The index 

 section of Copper Creek average 1 9 redds (range 4-27) with 1 5-years of record. Redd 

 numbers dramatically declined in 2003. 



Table 9. Bull trout redd counts for five tributaries of the Big Blackfoot River, 1989- 

 2003. 



Gold Dunham 



Monture 



North Fork Copper 



average 58(81) 58 



counts based on index reaches, ( ) total counts 



19(37) 



Gold Creek and Dunham Creek each have smaller runs of bull trout and have 

 averaged 6 to 8 redds. Compared with 2002, redd number have declined in both streams. 



79 



