F - Monitoring and Evaluation 



Our monitoring efforts will evaluate our proposed restoration efforts and success toward meeting water 

 quality objectives. The purpose of the restoration activities will be to reduce sediments from upland 

 eroding sites, the existing road system, and streambanks, as well as to reduce stored sediments within 

 the stream channel. All the restoration efforts are aimed at improving the aquatic habitat for the 

 beneficial use of cold-water fisheries. 



Various techniques are proposed to monitor these restoration activities: 



D The McNeil Core procedure would be used to measure amounts of fine sediments in the stream. 

 This monitoring procedure is currently being done annually on a sampling reach in Big Creek near 

 Skookoleel, by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The Forest Service would 

 continue to support this effort on an annual basis. 



D A combination of channel cross-sections, Wolman peeble counts, Bank Erosion Index, and bank 

 profile monitoring (using bank erosion pins per the Rosgen technique) would be used to quantify the 

 amount of streambank erosion occumng in the most sensitive reaches of Big Creek. Monitoring sites 

 would be located above, below, and within sensitive stream reaches. The Forest Service would 

 monitor these sites on an annual basis. 



D The effectiveness of the BMP/erosion control practices would be reviewed by the Forest Service 

 during the second year following implementation of the control practices. 



Results from monitoring would be compiled biannually by the Forest Service in a report to be shared with 

 the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. The physical monitoring results would be reviewed 

 and interpreted to determine if Big Creek is improving from the impaired status, reaching equilibrium, or 

 declining. We would then recommend monitoring to continue until streambank erosion has significantly 

 improved. When improvements have been documented, continuation of the monitoring program would 

 be discussed with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Where necessary, the monitoring 

 information will be used to justify adjustments to this restoration plan. The estimated annual time/cost to 

 complete the monitoring and reporting would be approximately 8-10 person-days, and $2,500 to $3,000. 



As an additional margin of safety to ensure full support of beneficial uses, the MDEQ will also do 

 macroinvertabrate and periphyton sampling once every five years to ensure that there are not any other 

 indicators of aquatic life support problems associated with sediment. 



G - IVIaintenance of Effort Over Time 



The activities both on private and Forest Service lands that cause the impairment of Big Creek occurred 

 over several decades. The Flathead National Forest has had a commitment for the last two decades to 

 improve the water quality concerns in Big Creek, and there have been tens of thousands of dollars spent 

 toward that goal. At the same time the Regional Forester has made a commitment that the Forest 

 Service will work toward improving any impaired streams as rapidly as possible. Therefore, there is a 

 common interest for several reasons to see the restoration activities go forward in Big Creek. As stated 

 earlier once the NEPA analysis is completed for the proposed actions in Big Creek, and as funds become 

 available, the restoration work in Big Creek will be a high priority for the Flathead National Forest. There 

 have been funds allocated for work on post-fire projects in the Moose Fire area. These funds should 

 accomplish major portions of the work, but probably not all the work outlined in the plan. 



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