classified B-1 in the Montana Surface Water Quality Standards. Waters classified B-1 are 

 suitable for drinking, culinary and food processing purposes, after conventional treatment; 

 bathing, swimming and recreation; growth and propagation of salmonid fishes and associated 

 aquatic life, waterfowl and furbearers; and agricultural and industrial water supply. 



Among other criteria for B- 1 waters, no increases are allowed above naturally occurring 

 concentration of sediment which will or are likely to create a nuisance or render the waters 

 harmful, detrimental, or injurious to public health, recreation, safety, welfare, livestock, wild 

 animals, birds, fish or other wildlife. Naturally occurring includes conditions or materials 

 present from runoff or percolation from developed land where all reasonable land, soil and water 

 conservation practices have been applied. Reasonable land, soil, and water conservation 

 practices include methods, measures, or practices that protect present and reasonably anticipated 

 beneficial uses. These practices include but are not limited to structural and non-structural 

 controls and operations and maintenance procedures. Appropriate practices may be applied 

 before, during, or after pollution producing activities. The State has adopted Forestry Best 

 Management Practices (BMP) through its Nonpoint Source Management Plan as the principle 

 means of controlling nonpoint source pollution from silvicultural activities. 



The Upper Willow Creek drainage has been identified as a water quality limited water body in 

 the year 2002 update to Montana's 303(d) list. Major causes of impairment include chronic 

 dewatering, channalization, bank instability, and reduction of riparian woody vegetation. 



The Montana Streamside Management Zone Law (77-5-302 MCA) and rules regulate forest 

 practices that occur adjacent to streams, lakes and other bodies of water. The law prohibits or 

 restricts timber harvest and associated activities within a width of SMZ that varies from 50-100 

 feet either side of a stream, depending on the steepness of slope and the class of stream. 



The Montana Stream Protection Act (87-5-501 MCA) regulates activities conducted by 

 government agencies that may affect the bed or banks of any stream in Montana. The law 

 provides a mechanism to require implementation of BMPs in association with stream bank and 

 channel modifications carried out by governmental entities. Agencies are required to notify the 

 DFWP of any construction projects that might damage or modify the natural existing shape and 

 form of any stream. 



Cumulative watershed effects - Existing Conditions 



Principal land use activities within the Upper Willow Creek watershed are forestry, livestock 

 grazing, hay production, dispersed recreation and home sites. Past human related disturbances 

 include road construction, stream diversion and de-watering, riparian clearing, mining, timber 

 harvest, and heavy riparian livestock grazing. 



A moderate level of timber harvest and road construction has occurred within the watershed in 

 the recent past. Approximately 5,606 acres of timber harvest has occurred in the Upper Willow 

 Creek watershed since 1965. Most of this harvest occurred prior to 1978 with a majority of the 

 earlier harvest having occurred on private land. Overall timber harvest on private land has 



43 



