Elk Creek: 140(17/83) 



Fisheries Impaired: Y 



Project Stream: 



Total Rank: 



Biological Rank: 

 Native Species: 

 Sport Fishery: 

 Water Quality: 



Social Rank: 



FWP Reports: 



Y 



High (8/17) 



High (4/10) . ,, 



Low (5/7) 



High (20) 



High (1/4) 



Low (3/3) 



1997, 1999,2001,2002 



Elk Creek, a degraded 3"* order tributary to the lower Blackfoot River, flows -14 miles 

 through both public (BLM and State) in headwaters and private (agricultural) land in lower ~7 

 miles. It ranks high on the restoration priority list for project-impaired streams. Elk Creek has 

 high potential for water quality benefits and increases downstream flows to the Blackfoot River. 

 Elk Creek provides a high (multi-species) sport fishery value to the Blackfoot River, but is low in 

 native species value and received a low social and financial ranking. Elk Creek supports 

 populations of fluvial WSCT, rainbow trout, brown trout, and resident brook trout. Densities of 

 all species decrease in the downstream direction. Fisheries impairments in upper Elk Creek 

 include channel alterations (placer mining) and road drainage problems. Fisheries impairments 

 for lower Elk Creek include 1) lack of complex fish habitat (instream wood), 2) livestock induced 

 stream bank degradation and riparian vegetation suppression, 3) elevated water temperature and 

 channel instability, and 4) irrigation (instream flows, fish losses to ditches and fish passage), and 

 5) adverse effects of upstream mining and road drainage problems. 



Gold Creek: 150(11/83) 



Fisheries Impaired: Y 



Project Stream: 



Total Rank: 



Biological Rank: 

 Native Species: 

 Sport Fishery: 

 Water Quality: 



Social Rank: 



FWP Reports: 



2001,2002 



Y 



High (6/17) 



High (4/10) 



High (1/7) 



High (20) 



Low (3/4) 



Moderate (2/3) 



1990, 1997, 1999, 2000, 



Gold Creek, a large 3'** order tributary to the lower Blackfoot River, flows -19 miles through 

 public (FS and BLM) and private (Plum Creek) land. Gold Creek ranks high on the restoration 

 priority list for project streams. As a core area bull trout stream. Gold Creek provides spawning 

 and rearing of fluvial bull trout. Gold Creek also supports fluvial WSCT and rainbow trout and 

 brown trout in lower reaches along with resident brook trout. Gold Creek ranks high in native 

 species value and provides high (multi-species) sport fishery value. Because of generally high 

 water quality. Gold Creek ranked low for potential water quality benefits. Gold Creek provides no 

 irrigation and thus no potential in improve downstream flows to the Blackfoot River. Fisheries 

 impairments include 1) road drainage problems, 2) recreational impacts (access sites in bull trout 

 spawning areas) and 3) low whirling disease infection. ' ') 



29 



