FISH HABITAT 



Situation 



Montana's streams and rivers provide some of the 

 finest fish habitat in the nation. The western two-thirds of 

 Montana has 12,050 miles of trout streams. About 70 per- 

 cent of the state's trout fishery is bordered by private land 

 (DFG 1978). This habitat can only be protected by expen- 

 sive land acquisition, or by in-stream reservations; its 

 future condition depends on its preservation. The unique 

 paddlefish inhabits the larger rivers in eastern Montana 

 where fishing access is generally not a problem. The 

 whitefish, kokanee, and grayling, however, live in streams 

 that are bordered by private land to a large extent. In- 

 creased recreation use and changes in land ownership or 

 use may affect this fishery. 



Where agricultural and other uses co-exist with fish 

 habitat, its preservation can be achieved if those responsi- 

 ble protect stream banks and avoid channelization. The 

 areas along streams are often the most vulnerable to ero- 

 sion, breakdown, and the sedimentation that follows. 

 Stream banks can be protected by maintaining vegetation 

 that resists erosion, fencing livestock, establishing riprap 

 that can be bermed and planted, and tilling away from 

 stream banks. Landowners should avoid clearing vegeta- 

 tion from stream banks since overhangs of trees and 



shrubs afford needed cover in pools that fish like to fre- 

 quent (DFWP 1981). Other problems, likedewatering, are 

 discussed in the Water Quality section. 



Concerns 



Because so much of Montana's fish habitat 

 borders private land, the cooperation of land- 

 owners is essential for its preservation. 



Objectives 



A) To provide adequate in-stream flows for 

 fish habitat, the CDD will encourage fish and 

 wildlife management agencies to work with CDs 

 and irrigators to research the feasibility of con- 

 structing off-stream storage sites for joint irrigation 

 and in-stream flow needs. See Part B, Objective 55 

 of the Work Plan. 



Rationale: The possibility of off-stream 

 storage for fish habitat preservation should be 

 researched in coordination with irrigators. 



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