CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 



This initial field season of data collection in the 

 Blackfoot River improves our understanding of the basic 

 characteristics and potential of the trout fishery. Since one 

 year of data collection is not sufficient to answer all of the 

 complex questions facing this fishery, the efforts of this first 

 field season were designed to address general questions regarding 

 current fishery concerns, and perhaps more importantly, to 

 provide direction for continued work on the Blackfoot River 

 fishery. The results of this work generated three general 

 conclusions including: 



1) Habitat and fisheries characteristics of the Blackfoot River 

 are diverse and require that the drainage be broken into at least 

 five distinct reaches for management purposes. Each reach 

 appears to have its own problems and limiting factors that must 

 be addressed individually. 



2) Trout populations were below expected levels in virtually all 

 reaches sampled. Depressed trout populations appear to result 

 from a combination of natural limiting factors and human 

 influences. Future enhancement efforts should be reach specific, 

 and take into account natural environmental influences as well as 

 those resulting from human activities such as land use and angler 

 exploitation. 



3) Populations of native trout species, cutthroat and bull 

 trout, of the Blackfoot River appear to be particularly 

 threatened. In order to maintain or enhance current population 

 densities and ensure viable gene pools, there is a need for 

 additional protective management of these species. 



Based on our findings during the 1988 field season, and 

 considering current aquatic resource studies being conducted by 

 related agencies, the following fisheries work is recommended for 

 the Blackfoot River: 



1) Conduct annual spring population inventory on Poorman-Dalton, 

 Canyon, Raymond, Scotty Brown, and Johnsrud Sections for the next 

 five years to establish a baseline from which potential effects 

 of mining and other land use activities can be evaluated. This 

 information will also aid evaluation of restrictive regulations 

 imposed during 1988 due to drought conditions. 



2) Survey major tributaries of the Blackfoot River to identify 

 current and potential spawning use of these streams, and assess 

 condition of resident trout fisheries. Emphasis should be placed 

 on evaluation and enhancement of native trout species (cutthroat 

 and bull trout) that are resident to, or spawn in, these 



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