Final Upper Clark Fork River Basin Aquatic and Terrestrial Resources Restoration Plans ...

204 Pages·2012·16.58 MB·English

Final Upper Clark Fork River Basin Aquatic and
Terrestrial Resources Restoration Plans

December 2012

Table of Contents

Section 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1-1

1.1 Purpose and Scope of Document ............................................................................... 1-1

Section 2. Background ........................................................................................................ 2-1

2.1 Restoration Plan Development Steps ......................................................................... 2-1

2.2 Previous Analysis of Restoration Alternatives .......................................................... 2-2

2.3 Public Solicitation of Aquatic and Terrestrial Concept Restoration Proposals ......... 2-5

2.4 Funding Summary ...................................................................................................... 2-6

Section 3. UCFRB Aquatic Resources Restoration Plan ................................................. 3-1

3.1 Evaluation of Alternatives ......................................................................................... 3-1
3.1.1 Aquatic Restoration Goals ............................................................................. 3-1
3.1.2 Description of Alternatives ............................................................................ 3-2
3.1.3 Evaluation of Alternatives ............................................................................. 3-3
3.1.4 Evaluation Summary ...................................................................................... 3-7

3.2 Development of Proposed Alternative: Restoration of Priority 1 and 2 Stream Areas
as Watersheds............................................................................................................. 3-8
3.2.1 UCFRB Flow Restoration Plan .................................................................... 3-11
3.2.2 Aquatic Priority Area Specific Plans ........................................................... 3-20
3.2.2.1 Other Proposed Actions for Silver Bow Creek and Clark Fork
River Mainstems ........................................................................ 3-20
3.2.2.2 Summary of Proposed Actions and Funding in Priority Tributary
Areas .......................................................................................... 3-22
3.2.2.3 Blacktail Creek Watershed ........................................................ 3-25
3.2.2.4 Browns Gulch Watershed .......................................................... 3-31
3.2.2.5 Cottonwood Creek Watershed ................................................... 3-37
3.2.2.6 Dempsey Creek Watershed ........................................................ 3-43
3.2.2.7 Flint Creek Watershed ............................................................... 3-48
3.2.2.8 German Gulch Watershed .......................................................... 3-54
3.2.2.9 Harvey Creek Watershed ........................................................... 3-58
3.2.2.10 Little Blackfoot River Watershed .............................................. 3-63
3.2.2.11 Lost Creek Watershed ................................................................ 3-70
3.2.2.12 Mill-Willow Watershed ............................................................. 3-72
3.2.2.13 Racetrack Creek Watershed ....................................................... 3-78
3.2.2.14 Warm Springs Creek .................................................................. 3-83
3.2.3 Aquatic Resource Monitoring and Maintenance Plan ................................. 3-90

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Section 4. UCFRB Terrestrial Resources Restoration Plan ............................................ 4-1

4.1 Evaluation of Alternatives ......................................................................................... 4-1
4.1.1 Terrestrial Restoration Goals ......................................................................... 4-1
4.1.2 Description of Alternatives ............................................................................ 4-3
4.1.3 Evaluation of Alternatives ............................................................................. 4-4
4.1.4 Evaluation Summary ...................................................................................... 4-8

4.2 Preferred Alternative ................................................................................................ 4-10
4.2.1 Terrestrial Landscape Areas ........................................................................ 4-10
4.2.2 Terrestrial Actions ....................................................................................... 4-14
4.2.3 Analysis of Priority Landscapes .................................................................. 4-16
4.2.4 Priority Landscape Area Plans ..................................................................... 4-19
4.2.4.1 Proposed Actions for Philipsburg West Priority Landscape ............ 4-19
4.2.4.2 Proposed Actions for Lower Flint Creek Priority Landscape .......... 4-21
4.2.4.3 Proposed Actions for Garnet Priority Landscape ............................ 4-23
4.2.4.4 Proposed Actions for Avon North Priority Landscape .................... 4-26
4.2.4.5 Proposed Actions for Deer Lodge North Priority Landscape .......... 4-28
4.2.4.6 Proposed Actions for Deer Lodge South Priority Landscape .......... 4-30
4.2.4.7 Proposed Actions for Anaconda Priority Landscape ....................... 4-32
4.2.4.8 Proposed Actions for East Flint Priority Landscape ........................ 4-35
4.2.4.9 Proposed Actions for Clark Fork Mainstem Priority Landscape ..... 4-37
4.2.5 Terrestrial Habitat Enhancement ................................................................. 4-40
4.2.6 Terrestrial Resource Monitoring .................................................................. 4-40
4.2.7 Summary Table of Terrestrial Restoration Budget ...................................... 4-44

Section 5. Recreational Services Enhancement Plan ....................................................... 5-1

5.1 Recreation Project Funding........................................................................................ 5-1

5.2 Proposed Actions and Implementation ...................................................................... 5-2
5.2.1 Recreational Enhancements in Injured Areas ................................................ 5-2
5.2.2 Recreational Enhancements in Priority 1 and 2 Resource Areas ................... 5-4
5.2.3 Summary of Proposed Recreation Projects and Funding .............................. 5-4

Section 6. Restoration Plan Implementation .................................................................... 6-1

List of Figures

Figure 2-1. Aquatic Priority Areas 1 and 2 ............................................................................. 2-7
Figure 2-2. Terrestrial Priority Areas 1 and 2 ......................................................................... 2-8
Figure 2-3. Restoration Concept Proposal Locations ............................................................. 2-9
Figure 3-1. Aquatic Area Overview ..................................................................................... 3-10
Figure 3-2. Blacktail Watershed ........................................................................................... 3-30
Figure 3-3. Browns Gulch Watershed .................................................................................. 3-36
Figure 3-4. Cottonwood Creek Watershed ........................................................................... 3-42
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