In addition to providing important spawning habitat for brown trout from the 

 mainstem river, Lost Creek and its extensive riparian wetlands provide habitat for 

 waterfowl, raptors, and large mammals such as deer, elk and moose The main purpose 

 of the MTFWP project is to restore both aquatic and riparian habitat in the basin 

 primarily for the purposes of improving fish habitat. For example, fish habitat has been 

 degraded by the loss of woody vegetation and instream structures and the abundance of 

 sediment delivered to the stream. In addition, fish barriers pose a threat to spawning fish, 

 which stack up below barriers such as Dutchman dike (site 6 on maps). As a result, late 

 spawning fish either destroy existing redds or are forced to utilize substandard habitat 

 which ultimately affects recruitment to the Clark Fork River (Reiland, 1999). 



Table 1 summarizes some measures of Lost Creek's condition and the details of 

 the MT FWP restoration plan. However, some particulars of historic management and 

 future changes are worth mentioning in terms of the goals of this project. For instance, 

 the Ueland Ranch historically contained an over-wintering area and calving facility 

 where high concentrations of cattle had free access to the stream channel. The lower 

 floodplain of Lost Creek contains a predominance of fine bank material, and the loss of 

 woody vegetation in this area has resulted in severe down-cutting and lateral movement. 

 This area was chosen for nutrient monitoring as well as riparian health assessment, since 

 the proposed corral relocation and off-stream watering will likely have a positive effect 

 on water quality as well as on revegetation of woody species and bank stability. Similar 

 conditions exist elsewhere on the Ueland ranch, and a combination of riparian fencing 

 and grazing regimes are proposed to improve riparian habitat and the stability of the 

 stream banks. The Heggelund Ranch is marked by extensive areas devoid of mature 

 woody vegetation, a result of herbicide use to remove woody vegetation in favor of 

 increased forage production. A 30 year conservation easement is sought for riparian and 

 wetland recovery for this reach. 



It should be noted that "channel relocation" and "channel reconstruction" refer to 

 removing unnecessary diversions and returning channelized reaches of Lost Creek to 

 historic channels which are now dry. In one case, the historic channel of the creek had 

 been obliterated so new channel meanders will be constructed. In addition, habitat 

 improvements will entail the installation of root wads and placement of large woody 

 material to stabilize revegetating banks and provide needed fish habitat. 



Monitoring and Assessment Design and Methods 



Where access was granted, sample stations were positioned upstream and 

 downstream of areas suspected to yield substantial nutrient loads to the creek. In 

 addition, two stations were selected on a major tributary (Dutchman Creek) and an 

 irrigation ditch (Gardiner Ditch). Station 1 (refer to map) was sampled to provide a 

 reference of ambient nutrient levels in Lost Creek above impacts of cattle ranching and 

 unsewered residential development. Except where conditions prevented access, these 



