management objectives. Road decomissioning projects are accomplished as the NEPA analysis and 

 decision notice is completed for an area. The NEPA process is under now for Big Creek, and a 

 decision notice is expected in fall 2002. Then the actual work is accomplished when funds become 

 available to do the work. For the 2002 field season there are 4.7 miles of decomissioning planned in 

 upper Big Creek, and 8.2 miles in Skookoleel Creek. 



The road reclamation process includes: 1) water barring of the entire road length; 2) removal of the 

 perennial and intermittent stream culverts; 3) the construction of an earth berm at the beginning of the 

 road segment; and 4) revegetation of the soils disturbed during the water barring and culvert removal 

 process. Roads that need to be closed for wildlife habitat improvement and that are not needed for 

 management for several years, are proposed for road reclamation. The road reclamation is done in 

 order to reduce the sediment yield from the road prism and decrease the probability of a culvert failure. 

 There are short-term sediment increases associated with the culvert removal process, as the fine 

 materials under the culvert in the streambed are eroded down to gravel/peeble surface. The initial 

 estimate for the amount of erosion/sedimentation from road decomissioning is 510 tons. The reduction 

 of sediment both from the road prism and the ditches are analyzed in section - D of this report. 



Situation - 7 Road Drainage Improvements - BMP implementation: There are segments of the existing 

 road system that are to remain in use, which needs improvements in the road surface drainage and 

 stream drainage systems to meet current Montana State Best Management Practices and IN FISH 

 standards. This work would include up-sizing culverts (approximately 77), and adding more road cross- 

 drains (culverts or drive thru dips) at approximately 35 sites. The road segments that need the work 

 are primarily located along road numbers 316, 315, 1655, 1658, 5207, 5272, and 803, which represents 

 more than 48 miles of roads. There is approximately an additional 1 8 miles of road that water-bars are 

 proposed on that will be converted into snowmobile trails. 



There is a small road used by Winter Sports Inc. to access portions of the north side of the Big 

 Mountain in the Chair 7 area. The road starts near the Summit House and ends on Forest Service 

 Road #316. Shallow water bars have been installed in the road so as to not impede snow grooming. 

 However, these waterbars are occasionally topped by runoff after a rainstorm, and some sediment 

 reaches a tributary of Big Creek. Winter Sports Inc. has agreed to Improve the water drainage from this 

 road segement. 



- Water Quality Objectives (TMDL Targets) 



The support of cold water fishery is the primary goal behind the development of this watershed 

 restoration plan. To assess the amount of interstitial fine sediments occuring in the fish spawning 

 habitat, the McNeil Core methodology is proposed as a measurement tool. The objective would be 

 maintain less than 30% instream fines as described by Weaver and Fraley (1995), for a minimum of 

 three years running in a row. This target number is based upon calculating the mean and standard 

 deviation of the McNeil Core values for years 1981 thru 1986. Nineteen eighty seven was the year 

 sediment core values appeared to be increasing due to the sediment flush through the system. The 

 lowest core value 21 .6% plus one standard deviation is approximately 24%. Using a criteria of 80% 

 survival of Bull Trout fry to support beneficial use, and then calculating the McNeil Core percent fines to 

 attain that goal using Weaver and Fraley's equation : %Survival = (-1.29462) (X % fines) + 72.4615, the 

 percent fines is 30.4%. A target of 30% fines is 5% less than the 35% threshold for a threatened 

 stream recommended by Weaver and Fraley, and adopted as a forest plan admendent to the Flathead 

 N.F. Land Management Plan. This modification from 35% to 30% applies only to Big Creek since 

 historic percent fines data from Big Creek indicates that the lower level is achievable and consistent 

 with MDEQ criteria for making beneficial use support determinations (Water Quality Assessment 

 Process and Methods, Appendix A of the 2000 303(d) List). 



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