upstream was barely deep enough to allow seining for fish (Figure 53), but fathead minnows were 

 captured. All substrate of the pools was silt dominated with some embedded grave! in the run upstream. 

 The surrounding vegetation was dominated b> Scirpus sp. (rushes) and Elcocluiris paliislris. common 

 spikerush. Aquatic vegetation and overhanging banks provided the most significant stream habitat in this 

 stream reach. Livestock use index (LUI) was moderate with -25 cow pies counted on a 50 m walk of 

 the left & right banks. Pugging and hummocking was especially noticeable below the lower pool area 

 where the cows have a stream crossing. 



Reach Riparian Ranking: BLM= 66.7% (16 of 24) EPA RBP= 64% (125 of 200) 



Reach Riparian Geomorphology: The geomorphologv of this stream reach is a Rosgen F-6 with a 

 gentle slope (<!%). moderate sinuositv, a ritlle-pool conllguration with silt-dominated runs and pools. 

 Pools are slightly incised and averaged -25 cm in depth, wetted width of the reach averaged Im. 

 Surrounding bank materials are coarser than the channel bed materials indicating an accumulation of 

 sediments in the reach. 



Amphibian Community: I adult Northern Leopard Frog CNLF) present. Undetermined toad. Bufo sp.. 

 tadpoles also present in pool. 



Fish Community: 1 fish species (fathead minnow) was seined in the pool, none in the run. Expected 

 fish for this stream type (D005 trending toward E005) have been met. 



Fish Community Quality: 1BI= 44.77 0/E= 1/1 .4 or 71% of the expected reference fish. 



Macroinvcrtebrate Community: This community of intermittent prairie stream invertebrates consists 

 of the Prairie Pool assemblage (f^ 1 2. Stagliano 2005). Ihe community indicator species are characterized 

 by tolerant, damselflv taxa, Coeiuigrkm Enallagma sp. Enullagma civile, testes and Ishnura. the 

 crustaceans (Hyalella ami Gammarus), many genera and species of the water boatman (Corixidae: 

 Sigani iillernale. Trichocorixa mils, ami Corisella). the snails (Physella. Civraiiliis. ami Staiiiiicola). 

 ma>tlies (Caenis ami Callihaells). and beetles (OreoJvles. Laccophilus. Ihilroporus ami llviiroius). 

 As the complexity of the pool habitat decreases the dinger habitat species are lost, such as the 

 damselflies and many of the water boatman taxa. Over 60% of the indicator species were present in this 

 sample for a 1)005 stream type indicating slight impairment. The Montana MMl ranks the comnuinit> as 

 slightK impaired as well. 



Macroinvcrtebrate Community Quality: MT MMI= 35.6 0/E=6I.5 



54 



