sediment levels from poor road drainage. No fish sampling data has been collected on the West 

 Fork; however, the mainstem near the mouth of the West Fork supports high densities of fluvial 

 WSCT along with low numbers of brook trout. 



Cottonwood Creek (R.M. 43): 85(5/83) 



Fisheries Impaired: Y 



Project Stream: 



Total Rank: 



Biological Rank: 

 Native Species: 

 Sport Fishery: 

 Water Quality: 



Social Rank: 



FWP Reports: 



2001 



Y 



High (3/17) 



High (2/10) 



High (1/7) ... 



High (20) 



Low (3/4) 



Moderate (2/3) 



1990, 1997, 1999, 2000, 



Cottonwood Creek, a major, a 3"* order tributary to the middle Blackfoot River, flows ~16 

 miles through National Forest in upper reaches and mixed State and private lands in the lower 

 ~12 miles. Cottonwood Creek ranks high on the restoration priority list for total and biological 

 rank, including high native species and sport fishery values. These high rankings result primarily 

 for the status as a bull trout core area and fluvial WSCT stream, and multi-species assemblage 

 (rainbow and brown trout) in lower stream reaches. It has low potential water quality benefits 

 with some potential for sediment reduction. Cottonwood Creek also has potential to increase 

 downstream flows to the Blackfoot River. Low densities of rainbow and brown trout inhabit the 

 lower reaches while moderate numbers of brown and brook trout dominate the middle reaches. 

 Moderate densities of WSCT and with low numbers of bull trout dominate the upper reaches. 

 Principle fisheries impairments, located in the middle and lower reaches, include 1) lack of 

 complex fish habitat (instream wood); 2) livestock induced stream bank degradation, 3) riparian 

 vegetation suppression, and 4) whirling disease. 



Cottonwood Creek (trib. to Douglas Creek): 165(62/83) , 



Fisheries Impaired: Y 



Project Stream: 



Total Rank: 



Biological Rank: 

 Native Species: 

 Sport Fishery: 

 Water Quality: 



Social Rank: 



FWP Reports: 



Y 



Low (17/17) 

 Low (9/10) 

 Low (6/7) 

 None 

 High (1/4) 

 Low (3/3) 

 2001 



Cottonwood Creek, a 2" order tributary to lower Douglas Creek, flows ~ 18 miles first 

 through public (BLM) and then private agricultural land in the lower ~8 miles of the stream. 

 Overall, it ranks very low on the restoration priority list for project-impaired streams. A low 

 native species value, low social ranking, and lack of sport fishery value generate its low total and 

 biological ranking. Due to dewatering, potential for a reduction in sediment, temperature and 

 nutrients, Cottonwood Creek ranks high in potential water quality benefits. The upper reaches 

 support high densities of resident WSCT and brook trout. Lower Cottonwood Creek supports 

 only long nose suckers. Fisheries impairments, located in the lower reaches, include 1) livestock 



26 



