restoration of chamberlain creek amy clinefelter riparian wetland research program restoration of...
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Restoration of Chamberlain Creek
Amy Clinefelter
Riparian Wetland Research Program
RestorationRestoration of of Chamberlain Chamberlain CreekCreek
Amy ClinefelterRiparian Wetland Research Program
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Presentation Outline
Describe the restoration efforts in the Chamberlain Creek basin to date
Discuss restoration recommendations and monitoring objectives
Describe one proposed restoration project Discuss the impacts of whirling disease and
the need for future monitoring
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Location of the BlackfootWatershed in Montana
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Chamberlain Creek
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•Chamberlain Creek originates in a wet meadow complex at 6,000 feet
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•Chamberlain Creek flows through a confined valley with large boulders and dense instream woody debris in the upper reaches
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•The lower 4 miles have been impacted by road building, water diversions, and improper cattle management
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•Chamberlain Creek joins the Blackfoot River in what was once a large beaver complex
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Chamberlain Creek Fishery
A stronghold for native westslope cutthroat trout
A 1990 survey conducted by Fish, Wildlife and Parks showed the highest density of cutthroat in this tributary out of 20 sampled
Restoration objectives were developed to protect the westslope cutthroat, a species of concern
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Restoration Objectives for Chamberlain Creek
Restore stream channel to allow fish access from the Blackfoot River
Improve recruitment of juvenile westslope cutthroat to the Blackfoot River
Maintain fish passage and connectivity of Chamberlain Creek to the Blackfoot River
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Restoration Projects
Deferred grazing from riparian corridorsLeasing of water rightsRemoval of irrigation ditch and diversionsRestoration of channel diversion for pond
development 1.5 miles of instream channel enhancementConservation easements on private land
through the Nature Conservancy
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Irrigation Canal
Location of former diversions and the restored Pearson Creek tributary
Pearson Creek
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•Fish Ladder installed to allow passage upstream and downstream of a water diversion
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•This diversion feeds a pond on private land. The fish ladder is immediately to the right and the pond has overflow structures to allow fish to return to the creek downstream.
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•300 feet of the channel were severely altered by heavy machinery to develop a pond, and had to be regraded for restoration.
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•Newly constructed channel to restore connectivity with the Blackfoot River. Cottonwoods were placed at downstream angles to produce fish habitat complexity.
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•Other instream enhancements were done to create habitat and prevent bank erosion.
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Chamberlain Creek Westslope Cutthroat Trout Catch per 1,000 feet
Stream Mile0.1 0.5 2.8 3.8
0
100
200
300
400
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Restored Connectivty
In 1998 the number of fish caught became more balanced between reaches suggesting that restoration efforts that removed fish barriers and improved management helped restore the connectivity of the creek.
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Further Restoration Recommendations
Evaluate culvert sizing and leakingErosion control program
Cross section monitoring
Continued monitoring of fish populations, species genetics, and whirling disease spread and infection intensity
Improvements to instream habitat diversity in heavily channelized areas (addition of instream wood)
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•Old road crossings are areas that may benefit from an erosion control plan or riparian plantings.
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•Road encroachment may allow the establishment of invasive weeds and excess sediment input to the stream.
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Future Restoration Plans
In 2001, the USDI Bureau of Land Management in cooperation with Fish, Wildlife and Parks will begin restoration of instream wood to Chamberlain Creek. Many lower reaches of the creek were cleared of instream wood when road building occurred.
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Provides cover critical in high flow and winter rearing habitat
Creates important hydrologic features such as pools and backwaters
Stores organic sedimentChannel stability
The Function of Coarse Woody Debris in Fish Habitat
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Objectives for Restoring Woody Debris to Chamberlain Creek
Increase the abundance and quality of rearing habitat for fishes
Increase deposition of spawning gravelsIncrease overall habitat complexity
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Project Methods
Project will use 35 whole conifer treesWood will be added to nine cross sectionsPlacement will follow a random design to
mimic and enhance natural recruitmentUse of draft horse teams instead of heavy
machinery to minimize impacts
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Project Monitoring
Evaluate and document changes in fish populations in response to project Fish population counts Fish use of newly created habitat Number of redds
• pebble counts
Cross section monitoring aggradation and log movement stream invertebrate assemblages
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Other considerations
Whirling disease is a parasitic infection of salmonid species effecting the spinal and nervous systems and can be fatal in young fish
Fish sampled from the Blackfoot River tested positive for the first time in 1998
The following grading system was developed to evaluate disease severity
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Whirling Disease Grading System
Average Infection Grade Salmonid Population Impacts
Grade 0.00 - 1.00 No significant impacts
Grade 1.00 - 2.00 Minor population impacts
Grade 2.00 - 2.50 Possible problems in streams of low recruitment
Grade 2.50 - 3.00 Fish population declines may occur
Grade 3.00 - 4.00 Fish population declines will occur
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Chamberlain Creek Whirling Disease Infection Rates
1997 1998 1999
Average Infection 0.00 0.16 2.71Grade
Percent of fish 0% 16% 93%infected
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Whirling Disease Management
The average infection grade increased greatly from 1998 to 1999.
Continued monitoring of the spread and grade of the disease in the Blackfoot and its tributaries is necessary.