Summary of Recommendations 



grated with surface water monitoring 

 and nutrient analysis to provide more 

 in-depth linkages between sediment and 

 nutrient loadings. 



24. Develop a basin-wide stream classifi- 

 cation system that integrates geomor- 

 phology and selected current physical, 

 chemical, and biotic criteria (for ex- 

 ample, number of bull trout stream 

 segments, base flow nutrient concen- 

 trations). 



25. Adjust the FBC Monitoring Master 

 Plan to reflect evaluation of cause- 

 and-effect relationships between for- 

 est practices such as BMPs and se- 

 lected water quality variables. 



26. Algal growth should be used as a moni- 

 toring tool of timber harvest impact 

 and evaluation of BMPs. 



27. Macroinvertebrates have been shown 

 elsewhere to be an excellent indicator 

 of stream ecosystem degradation. Al- 

 though we found no significant rela- 

 tionships in this study between timber 

 harvest and invertebrate community 

 attributes, we believe that this is be- 

 cause the study streams selected for 

 investigation are not sufficiently im- 

 paired to result in quantifiable species 

 losses. Therefore, macroinvertebrate 

 studies should be tailored to document 

 severe stream ecosystem damage on a 

 site-by-site basis. 



28. Recruitment of woody debris to streams 

 is known to be important to maintain- 

 ing stream ecosystem character with 

 natural pool-to-riffle ratios, retention 

 of organic matter, retention of sedi- 

 ment, and fish migratory, spawning, 

 and resident fish habitats. However, 

 we do not know the effect of past prac- 

 tices or the possible effect of proposed 

 SMZ management on this important 



stream attribute. Thus, we recommend 

 that a study be undertaken to determine 

 the frequency distribution and effect of 

 woody debris on the Flathead Basin 

 streams. Additional SMZ research was 

 also recommended in Module G. 



29. Continue monitoring fish populations 

 and habitat conditions in Flathead Ba- 

 sin tributaries. Adjust the FBC Moni- 

 toring Master Plan to reflect continued 

 evaluation of cause-and-effectrelation- 

 ships between forest practices, fish 

 populations, and fish habitat. 



30. Use McNeil coring to monitor spawn- 

 ing/incubation habitat in important 

 spawning areas identified in the FBC 

 Monitoring Master Plan. However, use 

 caution to ensure that the sediment 

 disturbance caused by the monitoring 

 efforts themselves does not negatively 

 impact spawning areas. 



31. Extend efforts to develop a Whitlock- 

 Vibert box sampling program for the 

 Flathead Basin. If this methodology 

 can be validated, it will reduce stream 

 disturbance caused by McNeil coring 

 and provide greater flexibility and ex- 

 pansion of monitoring of the percent- 

 age of fine sediment in stream sub- 

 strates. 



32. Continue to monitor substrate scoring 

 in all streams identified as critical rear- 

 ing habitat for juvenile bull trout. 



33. Continue to monitor fish population on 

 streams supporting bull trout. Continue 

 to develop similar estimation/habitat 

 relationships for other species, particu- 

 larly indices which correlate popula- 

 tion densities of westslope cutthroat 

 trout. 



34. Expand the fisheries sampling program 

 to a greater number of known high risk 

 watersheds. 



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