should be carefully reviewed to insure that this unique aquatic resource is 

 protected. The water storage project planned for Beaver Creek will undoubtedly 

 affect this resource. Instream flows necessary to maintain the integrity of 

 Beaver Creek must be identified and maintained. 



Box Elder Creek also received a high rating with a value class of 2. The 

 creek was considered to have high priority habitat for the creek chub and kill- 

 ifish, both class C species of special concern. Limited habitat for the 

 sturgeon chub, a class B species of special concern also increased the rating. 

 The points accumulated from the remaining 16 species placed the value rating 

 at 10.0. Sport fishery value was only 5, receiving a class 4 rating, which 

 is not surprising considering the scarcity of game and sport fish. Since this 

 class is considered to have a high priority fishery resource, activities 

 which may affect the aquatic resources should be discouraged. Coal lease 

 applications for Box Elder Creek drainage should not be considered until 

 further research has shown that the quality and richness of this resource is 

 not jeopardized. Water resource development projects being considered for 

 this drainage should be reviewed very carefully to insure that the integrity 

 of the system is maintained. 



Table 12. 



Stream classification values for Beaver Creek, Beaver Creek 

 tributaries and Yellowstone River tributaries. 



S pecies and Habitat 

 Value Class 



Sport Fishery Potential 

 Value Class 



.1 



2 

 2 

 3 

 3 

 3 

 4 

 4 

 4 

 4 

 4 

 4 



7 

 5 

 8 

 8 

 5 

 5 

 6 

 7 

 6 

 6 

 5 



4 

 4 

 4 

 4 

 4 

 4 

 4 

 4 

 4 

 4 

 4 



Three streams. Smith Creek, Little Beaver Creek and Krug Creek, were 

 rated as class 3 streams on the basis of species and habitat values. Habitat 

 values for the creek chub and plains killifish accounted for the classification. 

 Class 3 streams have a substantial fishery resource. Resource development 

 activities in these drainages should be reviewed to protect the aquatic 

 resources. Guidelines should be established and followed, however, to 

 prevent substantial riparian damage. 



-74- 



