15 

 RECOMMENDATIONS 



1. The management of the rainbow trout provides the greatest potential 

 for enhancing the upper Beaverhead fishery. Emphasis should be 

 directed towards this species. 



2. Violent fluctuations in the flow releases at Clark Canyon Dam 

 should be avoided during the rainbow and brown trout spawning 

 periods. Results of this study suggest that flow releases 

 decreasing and then increasing by 125 cfs or more within a two 

 week period are undesirable during spawning. Further evaluation 

 of the relationship between the reproductive success of brown 



and rainbow trout and the flow patterns during spawning is needed. 



3. A minimum flow release of approximately 200 cfs is needed at 

 Clark Canyon Dam to provide a high quality, trophy rainbow 

 trout fishery in the upper Beaverhead River. 



4. Average daily flows of 50 cfs throughout the Beaverhead River 

 are adequate only for the short term survival of trout. A 

 reduction in trout numbers can be expected if average daily 

 flows of approximately 50 cfs are maintained for periods greater 

 than a few days. 



5. The Montana Department of Fish and Game should continue to 

 monitor trout populations semiannually in the upper Beaverhead 

 River. If reproduction problems in the upper river are eliminated 

 in future years, flow patterns may have a more pronounced influence 

 on trout populations. 



6. A flow management plan to minimize the impact of flow reductions 

 and fluctuations on trout populations should be developed for 

 all portions of the Beaverhead River. 



