streams. Fish population investigations found that early life-stages of salmonids in the 

 lower Blackfoot River rely on tributaries. Tributary assessments reported extensive 

 problems, spanning multiple land ownerships that resulted in fish population declines at a 

 watershed scale (Peters and Spoon 1989, Peters 1990, Pierce et al. 1997, Pierce and 

 Schmetterling 1999, Pierce and Podner 2000, Pierce et al. 2001, Pierce et al. 2002). 



Low numbers of non-native adult rainbow (O. mykis) and brown trout {Salmo 

 trutta) at the low-to-mid elevations of the watershed, combined with high winter 

 mortality of young-of-the-year (YOY) trout and poor tributary habitats resulted in weak 

 recruitment to river populations for these species (Peters and Spoon 1989, Peters 1990, 

 Pierce et al. 1997). Reliance of native salmonids on upper tributary reaches at early life 

 stages indicates an adaptation to the severe environment of the Blackfoot River. 

 However, due to 1) poor tributary conditions, 2) long migrations, 3) high fidelity to natal 

 streams, 4) barriers to movement, and 5) more extensive use of the tributaries at early life 

 stages, fluvial native fish are even more subject to human impacts in the tributary system 

 than introduced fish species. By contrast non-native rainbow and brown trout spawn in 

 lower stream reaches, migrate shorter distances, have less fidelity to their natal streams, 

 and as a result are less sensitive to the same human-related impacts of the tributary 

 system. 



Throughout the 1990s, we directed special riparian and upland restoration 

 activities, that provide for riparian-dependant species including a diversity of self- 

 sustaining wild trout populations, to 37 tributaries of the Blackfoot River. We 

 emphasized restoration on streams supporting populations of WSCT and bull trout, with 

 further emphasis on tributaries of the lower to middle Blackfoot River (Figure 1). 

 Restoration tools include reconstructing stream channels and restoring native habitat 

 features to impaired streams, developing low impact grazing systems and removing 

 streamside feedlots, planting native riparian vegetation, improving instream flows, 

 restoring historic fish migration corridors, and enrolling landowners in perpetual 

 conservation easement programs. Cooperators included private landowners, private 

 organizations, non-profit groups, and state and federal agencies. 



Restoration has contributed to improved native fish populations at the low-to-mid 

 elevations of the watershed. WSCT densities have increased in the lower to middle 

 reaches of the Blackfoot River downstream of the North Fork confluence. Several 

 tributaries support increased WSCT densities. Bull trout densities are increasing in the 

 lower river system including both Monture Creek and the North Fork Blackfoot River, 

 but remain at static low densities upstream of Nevada Creek. 



Although fish populations are improving in the lower watershed, habitat 

 degradation is extensive and correcting major habitat problems is far fi"om complete. 

 Most of the Blackfoot watershed (upper Blackfoot River drainage upstream of Nevada 

 Creek, Nevada Creek drainage, Clearwater River drainage and Garnet Mountains) lies 

 beyond the scope of the current restoration focus area. This restoration priority report is 

 an effort to redirect and expand fisheries restoration to biologically important areas not 

 included in the current priority area on private land. We prioritized impaired project and 

 impaired non-project streams separately. Report objectives are to provide a hierarchical 

 and biologically based series of restoration priorities for fiiture restoration work, both 

 within and beyond the current focus area. ■ . 



