INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES 



The Blackfoot River flows 132 miles in a westerly direction 

 from its source near the Continental Divide to its confluence 

 with the Clark Fork River at Bonner, Montana. Principle 

 tributary streams in downstream order are: Alice, Landers Fork, 

 Arrastra, Nevada, North Fork, Chamberlain, Monture, Clearwater, 

 Belmont, Gold, and Union Creeks. The Landers Fork, North Fork, 

 Clearwater and Monture creek are the largest of the Blackfoot 's 

 tributaries, three of which originate in the Lincoln-Scapegoat 

 Wilderness. The Clearwater River does not originate in the 

 wilderness area, and is significantly influenced by the series of 

 lakes through which it flows. 



The Blackfoot River drainage in non-wilderness areas is used 

 extensively for timber production, recreation (hunting and 

 fishing) , mining, and livestock production. Segments of the 

 Blackfoot River tributaries that occur in the Lincoln-Scapegoat 

 wilderness dissect high elevation mountainous terrain and 

 generally reach the broad Blackfoot River Valley shortly after 

 leaving the Wilderness and National Forest boundaries. 



The Blackfoot River is essentially a "free-flowing" stream 

 except for a small dam near the mouth that serves the wood 

 products mill at Bonner. Milltown Dam, located on the Clark Fork 

 River near the confluence with the Blackfoot River, is a barrier 

 to fish migration from the lower Clark Fork River. 



Fishing and other forms of water based outdoor recreation 

 are important in the Blackfoot Drainage. The formation of the 

 Blackfoot River Conservation and Recreation Management Plan to 

 assure orderly public access through private lands in 1977 has 

 greatly increased the availability of the Blackfoot River to 

 recreationists. A recreational user survey (Walker 1977) found 

 fishermen comprised 80% of the recreational users of the 

 Blackfoot River downstream of the Clearwater River. Campers and 

 non-fishing floaters accounted for most of the remaining 20% of 

 recreational users. The river corridor development provided 

 better river access, greater fisherman use, and ultimately 

 contributed to the reclassification of the Blackfoot River to a 

 Class 1 stream (based on the State of Montana river 

 classification system) . A total fishing pressure estimate based 

 upon statewide wave survey in the 1984-85 fishing season was 

 40,824 man-days (334 per mile). Most of the fishing pressure 

 occurred below the Clearwater River with a pressure of 832 man- 

 days per mile. 



The Blackfoot River contains wild populations of rainbow, 

 westslope cutthroat, brook, brown, bull trout, and mountain 



