applied before, during, or after completion of potentially impactive 

 activities. 



Designated beneficial water uses within the project area include 

 agriculture, irrigation, aquatic life support, industrial, recreation, cold- 

 water fisheries (partial watershed), and multiple domestic water uses. 



Water Quality Limited Water bodies 



Fish Creek, Water body MT76M002-060, from the confluence of the 

 South and West Forks to the Clark Fork River was listed as a water quality 

 limited water body in both the 1996 and 2002 303(d) list. The 303(d) list 

 is compiled by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) 

 as required by Section 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act and the 

 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Water Quality Planning and 

 Management Regulations (40 CFR, Part 130). Under these laws, DEQ is 

 required to identify water bodies that do not fully meet water quality 

 standards or where beneficial uses are threatened or impaired. These 

 water bodies are then characterized as "water quality limited" and thus 

 targeted for Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) development. The 

 TMDL process is used to determine the total allowable amount of 

 pollutants in a water body within a watershed. Each contributing source is 

 allocated a portion of the allowable limit. These allocations are designed 

 to achieve water quality standards. The listed probable causes of 

 impairment in lower Fish Creek are fish habitat degradation and other 

 habitat degradation due to construction and highway/road/bridge 

 construction. 



The Montana Water Quality Act (MCA 75-5-701-705) also directs the 

 DEQ to assess the quality of State waters, insure that sufficient and 

 credible data exists to support a 303(d) listing, and to develop TMDL for 

 those waters identified as threatened or impaired. Under the Montana 

 TMDL Law, new or expanded non-point source activities affecting a listed 

 water body may commence and continue provided they are conducted in 

 accordance with all reasonable land, soil, and water conservation 

 practices. MDL's have not been completed for the Middle Clark Fork 

 river and Fish Creek drainages these are scheduled for 2008. The State of 

 Montana has adopted Forestry Best Management Practices (BMP's) 

 through its Non-point Source Management Plan (DHES 1991) as the 

 principal means of meeting Water Quality Standards. DNRC will comply 

 with the Law and interim guidance developed by DEQ through 

 implementation of all reasonable soil and water conservation practices, 

 including Best Management Practices and Forest Land Management 

 Rules. 



Fish Creek Salvage Environmental Assessment 3-5 



