Yellowstone River Tributaries 



Seven north flowinq tributaries to the Yellowstone River were sampled in 

 1977 and 1978 (Fiqure 3). Chemical parameters for each stream are shown in 

 Table 10. The invertebrate fauna of these tributaries is similar to that of 

 Beaver Creek. Hmfcfln azteca, CkiwnomuA, EndochiAonomui , and Vapknia 

 are very common throughout the lower Yellowstone basin. A list of the aquatic 

 invertebrates collected in each tributary is presented in Fiqure 10. 



Smith Creek. 

 (Table 11), 



A total of 21 species of fish were collected in Smith Creek 



The downstream sections near the mouth of the creek are dominated 

 by creek chubs, brassy minnows {HubagnathM hantzlmoni] , white suckers and 

 brook sticklebacks. Younq-of-the-year northern pike and channel catfish were 

 collected durinq the fall of 1978, suqqestinq that adults of these species 

 migrated into Smith Creek from the Yellowstone River in the spring and summer 

 of 1978 to spawn. While adults were not taken, the presence of young-of-the- 

 year fish indicate the importance of this tributary. 



Box Elder Creek . A kite diaqram of the fish distributions and relative 

 abundance of fish in Box Elder Creek is presented in Fiqure 26. A total of 

 19 species were found in the stream (Table 11). The flathead chub, silvery 

 minnow and river carpsucker dominate the lower sections of the creek. These 

 species are common near the mouth of creeks which run into the Yellowstone 

 River. The lake chub {CoveAliiA plumbeiiA] and plains killifish become abundant 

 about midway in the creek. The creek chub is by far the dominant species 

 throuqhout most of the creek. The white sucker is common except for the 

 headwaters. Lake chubs, fathead minnows, emerald shiner (Wotic'pc6 atke^nyinoideA) 

 and sand shiner appear to be headwater soecies. These four species dominate 

 the upper portions of the creek because of their tolerances to extreme 

 habitat fluctuations. The sturgeon chub [HijboiMli, gttida) was collected 

 durinq 1977. This species is rare in Montana and has only been collected in 

 the lower Yellowstone and it's tributaries. Habitat preference of the 

 sturgeon chub is turbid water over qravel substrate with moderate to stronq 

 current, restricted the species to the turbid prairie streams. The presence of 

 the northern redbelly dace {PhoxinuA e.06] in Box Elder Creek is the first 

 occurrence of this species outside of the Missouri River drainaqe. They were 

 probably introduced into the drainaqe as a bait fish by anqlers. 



Cotton Creek . Five species of fish were collected in Cotton Creek (Table 

 11). The plains killifish {fundtLtiLS kamaa) is abundant in this stream. 

 Prior to 1971, knov/n distribution of this species in Montana was limited to 

 the Biq Horn River drainaqe (Brown 1971). It has now been collected down- 

 stream in the Yellowstone River where it has established itself in small 

 feeder streams. Killifish seem to prefer shallow sandy bottomed streams 

 which vary qreatly in their thermal and chemical features (Minckley and 

 Klaassen 1969). Pflieger (1975) suqqests that the distribution of this species 

 is limited by it's requirements for high salinity or by inability to complete 

 in the more diverse populations found in a typical stream situation. 



Gl endive Creek . Ten 

 (Table 11). All of these 

 lower Yellowstone system. 



species of fish were collected in Glendive Creek 

 species are commonly distributed throughout the 

 Game fish were not collected in Glendive Creek. 



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