Restoration of Chamberlain Creek

Amy Clinefelter

Riparian Wetland Research Program

RestorationRestoration of of Chamberlain Chamberlain CreekCreek

Amy ClinefelterRiparian Wetland Research Program

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

Location of the BlackfootWatershed in Montana

Chamberlain Creek

•Chamberlain Creek originates in a wet meadow complex at 6,000 feet

•Chamberlain Creek flows through a confined valley with large boulders and dense instream woody debris in the upper reaches

•The lower 4 miles have been impacted by road building, water diversions, and improper cattle management

•Chamberlain Creek joins the Blackfoot River in what was once a large beaver complex

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

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

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

Irrigation Canal

Location of former diversions and the restored Pearson Creek tributary

Pearson Creek

•Fish Ladder installed to allow passage upstream and downstream of a water diversion

•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.

•300 feet of the channel were severely altered by heavy machinery to develop a pond, and had to be regraded for restoration.

•Newly constructed channel to restore connectivity with the Blackfoot River. Cottonwoods were placed at downstream angles to produce fish habitat complexity.

•Other instream enhancements were done to create habitat and prevent bank erosion.

Chamberlain Creek Westslope Cutthroat Trout Catch per 1,000 feet

Stream Mile0.1 0.5 2.8 3.8

0

100

200

300

400

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.

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)

•Old road crossings are areas that may benefit from an erosion control plan or riparian plantings.

•Road encroachment may allow the establishment of invasive weeds and excess sediment input to the stream.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chamberlain Creek Whirling Disease Infection Rates

1997 1998 1999

Average Infection 0.00 0.16 2.71Grade

Percent of fish 0% 16% 93%infected

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.