PROJECT GOAL

Monitor, restore, enhance and protect native fish populations in the Upper Kootenay Basin that have been negatively affected by the construction and operation of Libby Dam.


Work Elements A, B, C, D, E, G

Objective:  Assess the metapopulation strength of transboundary (British Columbia and Montana) populations of native bull trout in the Kootenay River above Libby Dam.

Before we can restore, enhance and/or protect fish (bull trout) populations in the Kootenay Basin upstream of the Libby Dam we must first have a better understanding of bull trout life history in the upper Kootenay including key spawning and over-wintering areas, and migration rates through the different fisheries.  Once we complete this objective we will have a better idea of critical spawning habitats in a number of different systems.  We will also have a good understanding of how important these systems are to bull trout production in the upper Kootenay and/or Lake Koocanusa.  We will have an understanding of the relationships (if any) between the different stocks of spawning bull trout in these tributaries including the Wigwam River.  These areas can then be protected, restored and/or enhanced as required.

Tasks

1. In cooperation with MDFWP and US Fish and Wildlife Service, continue bull trout redd surveys on the Wigwam River and its tributaries (started in 1994).  A total of 34 km of the upper Wigwam River, Lodgepole and Bighorn Creeks will be walked using two-man crews (16 people in total).
  
2. Continue bull trout redd surveys on a 3 km section of the mainstem of Skookumchuck Creek between km 39.5 and km 42.5 of the Skookumchuck Forest Road (started in 1997).  

3. Continue bull trout redd surveys on a 10 km section of the middle fork of the White River (started in 2001).  

4. Continue bull trout redd surveys on a 3 km section in Blackfoot Creek (started in 2002).  

5. Operate (year three of three) an upstream/downstream migration trap on the White River to catch post- spawning bull trout.  The trap will be located near the mouth of the North White River near its' confluence with the White River.  The trap will be installed during the first week of September and operated until mid-October.  Data collected will include total number of bull trout spawners, length, weight, and sex.  Since each bull trout is floy tagged, the number of repeat spawners, growth rates and movements through the fishery can be determined.


Work Elements H & I

Objective:  Analysis and compare bull trout fry/juvenile densities and stream habitat condition data collected over the last 9 years on the Wigwam, Skookumchuck and White Rivers and the summarize it in a report format.


Work Elements K & L

Objective:   Monitor long-term changes in bull trout spawning substrate condition

Tasks

1. Monitor long-term changes to bull trout spawning substrate condition in the White River and Blackfoot Creek by continuing McNeil core sampling at two permanent stations in the White River and one in Blackfoot Creek.  At each location, four samples will be collected from three transects (12 samples at each location-total of 36 samples).

2. Monitor long-term changes to bull trout spawning substrate condition within the Wigwam River drainage by continuing McNeil core sampling at two permanent stations in the Wigwam River and one in Bighorn Creek.  At each location, four samples will be collected from three transects (12 samples at each location-total of 24 samples).

3. Monitor long-term changes to bull trout spawning substrate condition within the Skookumchuck Creek drainage by continuing McNeil core sampling at two permanent stations.  At each location, four samples will be collected from three transects (12 samples at each location-total of 24 samples).