Site Description 



Hay Creek (tributary to the South Fork Moreau) 



Figure 51. Hay Creek (AES D005) a tributary to South Figure 52. Hay Creek (AES D005) aquatic water- 

 Fork Moreau River looking upstream plantain (Alisma trrviale) 



Location: Accessed from County Rd. 2 miles west of Rt. 85 at bridge crossing and proceeded upstream 

 ~25m to the first pool designated the bottom of the reach. 



Nearest Town: Redig, Butte County, SD 



Ecoregion: Typical Northern Great Plains Steppe 



Aquatic Ecological System Type: D005-Northwestem Great Plains Intermittent Stream 



Key Environmental Factors: Hydrology — upstream dams or diversions in the watershed; Grazing — 

 moderate impacts 



Rare or Unique Species: Aquatic water-plantain, Alisma triviale (Figure 52). 



Rare Features: No rare features documented 



Introduced/Exotic Species: None 



Overall Ecological Site Condition: Fair 



Reach Summary: The 1 00 m reach consisted of 1 run/pool complex with the lower pool being ~80m 

 long and produced by an earthen uprising near the road culvert. This contained the deepest fish holding 

 habitat. This stream reach has sparse aquatic habitat and low species diversity ( 1 fish species, low 

 numbers). Only 8 fathead minnows were captured after multiple seine hauls. All substrate of the pools 

 was silt dominated with abundant growth of the water-plantain. Alisma gramineum (Figure 52). This was 

 the only site of all site visits that contained this wetland obligate plant. The riparian vegetation was 

 dominated by Scirpus sp. (rushes) and Eleocharis palustris, common spikerush. Aquatic vegetation and 

 overhanging banks provided the most significant stream habitat in this stream reach. Livestock use index 

 (LUl) was moderate with ~I5 cow pies counted on a 50 m walk of the left & right banks. Pugging and 



51 



