^ 577.64 S NllASA 0 2006 s s s s s s s s s s s s M s s 0 s s s s s J s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s 4 Aquatic Surveys and Assessment of the Slim Buttes Region of Harding and Butte Co., SD Prepared for: The Montana and South Dakota TNC Field Offices By: srat? nnruMFNTS collection David M.Stagliano f'CT 2 7 2006 MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 1515 E. 6th AVE. HELENA. MONTANA 59620 Montana Natural Heritage Program Natural Resource hiformation System Montana State Library October 2006 MONTANA Natural Heritage Program Aquatic Surveys and Assessment of the Slim Buttes Region of Harding and Butte Co., SD Prepared for: The Montana and South Dakota TNC Field Offices Agreement Number: 1410258002-0000 "-gS^ g^ MONTANA instate Libra ^^Ubrary By: David M. Stagliano Aquatic Ecologist MONTANA Natural Heritage Prt^ram I O N T A N A If I 4a>. Natural Resource ^}KJK' Information System © 2006 Montana Natural Heritage Program PO. Box 201800 • 1515 East Sixth Avenue • Helena, MT 59620-1800 • 406-444-5354 IhisdocuinciU slu)iil(J be cited as lollovvs; Stagliano. David M. 2006. Aquatic Suncys and Assessment ofthe Slim liiittes Region of Harding and Butte Co.. SI). Report to the M I and SI) INC lield Ofllces. Montana Natural Heritage Program. Helena. Montana. 5'> pp. plus appendices. Executive Summary Project goals of the Aquatic Survey and Assessment of the Slim Buttes Region include: 1) to sample and assess aquatic community integrity based on macroinvertebrate, fish and habitat sampling, 2) to identify and interpret key community indicators found at the sites, using standardized protocols and biotic thresholds, and compare these against reference condition standards at the watershed-level and local-reach scale. Riparian habitat assessments, water quality parameter measurements, and fish and macroinvertebrate surveys were performed at 16 lotic (stream) sites and 2 lentic (ponded) sites within the Slim Buttes Region of the Little Missouri, Upper South Fork Grand and Upper Moreau watersheds. Seventeen of these sites had fish, and all had macroinvertebrates. Two other visited sites were dry. Three longitudinal sequence stream sites were sampled in the Little Missouri and South Moreau rivers; while 2 sequential sites were visited in the North Fork Moreau, South Fork Grand and Jones Creek basins. Biological community integrity was calculated at all sites using Fish Integrated Biotic Indices (IBFs) and Observed/Expected Models (O/E), as well as macroinvertebrate multi- metrics (MT MMI). Site summary descriptions based on the overall community integrity and site observations are included. Habitat Evaluations. Highest site habitat scores using both the EPA RBP (200 max. score) and BLM (24 max. score) habitat assessment methods were measured in the South Fork Grand River basin. South Fork Grand River sites #1 & 2 had reference site conditions for a Great Plains Prairie Stream with EPA RBP scores of 1 88 and 189, respectively. Most stream sites visited in the Grand River basin had higher than average landscape integrity measured at the local reach scale. Two of the 3 sites in the Little Missouri River basin ranked excellent for a Medium-Large Prairie River. The North Fork Moreau River site #2 had the highest integrity of sites visited in the Moreau River basin. Sites in the South Fork Moreau River scored lowest in habitat integrity. The South Fork Moreau Site #3 near Hoover showed moderate improvement in habitat integrity from upstream sites, but the water quality parameters showed impairment. The water quality parameters conductivity and turbidity consistently increased at the downstream reaches of a stream series. Fish Communities. Overall, 22 fish species (16 native/6 introduced or exotic) from 6,227 individuals were reported from all visited sites. Average fish species richness per site was 8, and the most diverse sites were the 3 reaches of the Little Missouri River, with 14 species (1 1 natives). Fathead minnows were collected at 16 of 1 7 (94%) fish presence sites. The next highest frequency of occurrence (FO) is the introduced green sunfish at 1 0 of 1 7 sites, and the sand shiner and black bullhead at 9 of 1 7 sites. Using Montana's Prairie Fish IBI, 6 of the 17 fish sites were ranked non- impaired (good to excellent biological integrity), 6 were slightly impaired (moderate integrity) and 5 were moderately impaired (poor biotic integrity). No sites were ranked severely impaired by the Fish IBI. The O/E scores agreed with the IBI scores in most cases, except for the smaller Prairie Intermittent Streams; the O/E ranked Campbell, North Fork Moreau # 1 and Crooked Creek as unimpaired (0/E=83.3), while the IBI ranked them as slightly to moderately impaired (IBI=62, 52 and 49, respectively). Macroinvertebrate Communities. Overall, 118 macroinvertebrate taxa were reported from the Slim Butte 2006 assessment sites. Average macroinvertebrate taxa richness per site was 29 and the highest taxa richness reported at 2 sites was 50 taxa. Using the Montana DEQ macroinvertebrate multimetric index (MMI), 9 of the 1 8 sites were ranked non-impaired (good to excellent biological integrity), 6 were slightly impaired and 3 were moderately impaired. South Fork Grand River sites # 1 & #2 had reference condition macroinvertebrate scores for a Great Plains Prairie Stream with DEQ MMI scores of 75.7 and 69.8, respectively. Most stream sites that contained riffle areas scored much higher with the MMI than sites with exclusively pool areas. Sites IV visited in the South Fork Grand River basin recei\ed higher macroin\ertebrate scores than those in the Moreau basin. The 3 sites in the Little Missouri River basin that ranked high for fish as a Medium-Large Prairie Ri\eralso received excellent macroinvertebrate integrity scores. Dra/^on/Iies and Damsel/lies. Incidental dragon Hn and damsclll\ observations were made and recorded during the fish and macroinvertebrate surveys. Three dragonfly species were common across most sites (Common Green Darner. Anax Junius: Eight-spotted Skimmer Lihcllula forensis and the Variegated Meadow hawk, Sympelrium corrupium) and no species of concern were noted at any sites. The pale snaketaii. Ophioi^omphus severus. was onl\ spotted at Medium Prairie River sites with good flow and gravel substrates. The damselflies (Familiar Bluet, Eiuillagma civile. Northern Bluet. EnalUiiima cyaihigerum: Eastern Forktail, Ischnuru veriiccilis and the Common Spread wing, testes disjunctus) were common among the sites. Sites with abundant aquatic vegetation (South Fork Moreau #1, North Fork Moreau # I , Crooked Creek, Campbell Creek and Jones Creek # 1 & 2) had abundant populations of larval damselflies as well. Amphibian and Reptile Incidentals. Incidental herpetotauna observations were made and recorded in conjunction w ith the fish and macroinvertebrate sur\eys. I hree amphibian species (Woodhouse's Toad, Bufo woodhousii. Great Plains Toad, Bufo co^natus and the Northern Leopard Frog. Raini pipiens ) and 2 reptile species (Snapping Turtle. ( hclydni serpentina and Plains Garter Snake, Thamnophis radix) were recorded during the surveys. Northern Leopard Frogs had the highest site occupanc\ rate at 72%. Integrative Community Assessment. Overall, diverse fish and macroinvertebrate communities with high biological integritx are highl\ correlated with good riparian condition and high habitat quality as ranked by the EPA Habitat Qualit\ Inde.x. Community results from the habitat, fish and macroinvertebrate surveys combined to rank the following sites from highest biological integrity to lowest within their aquatic ecological classification codes: Medium Prairie River (AES B005): I ) Little Missouri Montana site. 2) Little Missouri U2. 3) Little Missouri^ Camp Crook. 4) South Fork Moreau #3 Northwestern Great Plains Prairie Stream (AES COOS): 1 ) South Fork Grand #2, 2) South Fork Grand #1,3) North Fork Moreau River #2, 4) Jones Creek #2, 5) Crooked Creek. 6) South Fork Moreau River #2, 7) Bull Creek Intermittent Prairie Stream (AES code D005): 1 ) North Fork Moreau #1,2) South Fork Moreau #1:3) Campbell Creek. 4) Spur Creek. 5) Hay Creek. 6) Jones Creek # 1 Intermittent Fishless Prairie Stream (AES code E005): 1 ) Pine Spring Creek Northwestern Great Plains Perennial Spring (AES code S()05): I ) Picnic Spring Jones Creek site #2. near the confluence with the SouthFork Grand River, has high ecological potential to recover if hydrologic restoration occurs. Acknowledgments We would like to thank The Montana and South Dakota Field Oflfices of The Nature Conservancy, especially Brian Martin (MT) and Bob Paulson (SD). Field work was assisted by Karen Walker; report reviewer was Linda Vance and report formatting was provided by Cobum Currier (MTNHP). M Table of Contents IntnxJuction 1 Methods 4 Habitat Assessments 5 Fish Communities 5 Macroinvertebrate Communities 6 Results 9 Habitat Assessment 9 Fish Communities 11 Macroinvertebrate Communities 13 Site Description Summaries 15 Conclusions 57 Literature Cited 58 Appendix A. Raw fish data and IB! metric calculations collected from Slim Buttes Sites. Appendix B. Macroinvertebrate taxa and abundance for the Medium Prairie River (B005) sites Appendix C. Significant indicator species of the macroinvertebrate community groups reported for the Slim Buttes Sites. Appendix D. Macroinvertebrate community descriptions (SPA-species assemblage). Appendix E. Fish community descriptions (SPA-species assemblage). List OF Figures Figure i. Picnic Spring in the Cave Hills, a small Northwestern Great Plains Perennial Spring 1 Figure 2. The Little Missouri River at the North Dakota border, a Large Prairie River I Figure 3. Untiiled landscapes in North America's Great Plains ecoregions 2 Figure 4. Study Site Locations and Level IV Ecoregions within the NGPS Slim Buttes Study Area. SD 3 Figures. Channel depth measurement as part of the habitat and geomorphic assessments 5 Figure6. Fish sampling a run by seining with a 20 ft straight seine 5 Figure 7. A western silver) minnow seined in the Little Missouri River before release 5 Figure 8. Multi-habitat macroinvertebrate sampling using LPA protocols 6 Figure 9. Dragonfly observations were made in the stream reach. This is an eight-spotted skimmer {Lihellula forcnsis) 8 figure 10. I he Little Missouri Riversite near Albion. MT 16 figure 1 1. Little Missouri River (ALS B005) Medium Prairie River habitat near Albion. MT 16 Figure 12. Little Missouri River (AES B005) cobble/woody debris near Albion, MT 16 Figure 13. Little Missouri River Site #2 (Al-S BOOS) run/pool habitat near Ladner. SD 18 Figure 14. Little Missouri River Site #2 (ALS BOOS) sauger (Samler caiuulemis) an SOC in MT but not SD IX Figure 15. IJttle Missouri River Site #2 (ALS BOOS) goldeyes (Hiocion alosoides) a sensitive indicator Medium-Large Prairie Riser fish species 18 Figure 16. Little Missouri River Site U\ (ALS BOOS) run pool habitat near Camp Crook. SD 20 Figure 17 Little Missouri RiverSite#l (AES B005)run/p(X)l habitat looking upstream 20 Figure 18. Little Missouri River Site #1 (AFIS BOOS) cotton wood stand on upper terrace 20 Figure 19. South Fork Moreau River #3 (AES BOOS) pool habitat, looking downstream near Hoover. SD 22 \ii List of Figures (continued) Figure 20. South Fork Moreau River #3 (AES BOOS) run/pool habitat, lootcing upstream near Hoover, SD 22 Figure 21. South Fori< Moreau River #3 (AES 6005) exposed layer of dense fossils in right bank 22 Figure 22. South Fork Moreau River #3 (AES B005) petrified tree stumps on right bank 22 Figure 23. South Fork Grand River #2 (AES COOS) with reference condition landscape and local-reach overview from bridge 2S Figure 24. South Fork Grand River #2 (AES COOS) bottom of reach looking upstream 25 Figure 25. South Fork Grand River #2 (AES COOS) bottom of reach looking downstream 25 Figure 26. South Fork Grand River #1 (AES COOS) looking downstream towards county bridge 27 Figure 27. South Fork Grand River #1 (AES COOS) bottom riffle of reach looking upstream 27 Figure 28. South Fork Grand River #1 (AES COOS) top 1 SOm long pool 27 Figure 29. South Fork Grand River #1 (AES COOS) catfish seined in the top pool 27 Figure 30. North Fork Moreau River (AES COOS) Marty Bridge site not sampled 29 Figure 31. North Fork Moreau River #2 (AES COOS) upper riffle looking downstream 29 Figure 32. North Fork Moreau River #2 (AES COOS) bottom of reach looking upstream 29 Figure 33. Jones Creek #2 (AES COOS) pool upstream from road crossing 32 Figure 34. Jones Creek #2 (AES COOS) pools below the road crossing 32 Figure 35. Jones Creek #2 (AES COOS) typical green sunfish, an introduced species 32 Figure 36. Jones Creek #2 (AES COOS) riffle downstream from road crossing 32 Figure 37. Crooked Creek (AES COOS) looking upstream near Cox Church 35 Figure 38. South Fork Moreau River #2 (AES COOS) pool habitat, looking upstream near Rte. 85 bridge 37 Figure 39. South Fork Moreau River #2 (AES COOS) pool habitat, top of reach 37 Figure 40. South Fork Moreau River #2 (AES COOS) pool habitat, cottonwood trees top of reach 37 Figure 41. Bull Creek (AES COOS) a silt-impaired Great Plains stream near Brown Rd 39 Figure 42. North Fork Moreau River # 1 (AES DOOS)pool #3 looking upstream 42 Figure 43. North Fork Moreau River #1 (AES DOOS)pool #2 looking upstream 42 Figure 44. South Fork Moreau River #1 (AES DOOS) vegetative pool habitat, looking from bridge 44 Figure 45. South Fork Moreau River #1 (AES DOOS) beaver dam pool habitat 44 Figure 46. South Fork Moreau River # 1 (AES DOOS) pool habitat looking up 44 Figure 47. Campbell Creek (AES DOOS) pool looking downstream towards Brown's Pond 47 Figure 48. Campbell Creek (AES DOOS) pool looking upstream towards inlet 47 Figure 49. Spur Creek (AES DOOS) a tributary to SF Moreau River looking upstream 49 Figure SO. Spur Creek (AES DOOS) a backed up section behind a culvert 49 Figure 51. Hay Creek (AES DOOS) a tributary to SF Moreau River looking upstream 51 Figure 52. Hay Creek (AES DOOS) aquatic water-plantain (Alisma triviale) 51 Figure 53. Jones Creek #1 (AES DOOS) small remaining pool in reach S3 Figure 54. Jones Creek #1 (AES DOOS) dead snapping turtle found on side of Rte. 85 bridge 53 Figure 55. Pine Spring Creek (AES EOOS) a Great Plains Fishless Intermittent Stream with moderate landscape integrity and degraded local conditions 55 List of Tables Table 1 . Site descriptions for study sites included in the TNC Slim Buttes surveys 4 Table 2. Fish metrics and classification offish species captured in the Slim Buttes Region (2006) 7 Table 3. Impairment determinations from the MMI and O/E (RIVPACS) models 8 vm List of Tables (continued) Table 4. Physical measures, WQ parameters and habitat descriptions for the Slim Butte (SD) study sites 9 Table 5. Aquatic Ecological System types, occurrences in the database and the biological communitN groups associated \\ ith the defined aquatic ecological communities 10 Table 6. Fish Species Presence. Frequency of Occurrence (FO) all study sites, and for particular Aquatic Ecological Systems (AES) included in the TNC Slim Buttes surveys 11 Table 7. Fish and macroinvertebrate species, MT IBl, M f MMI and Observed/Expected (O/E) scores for the Slim Butte (SD) study sites Table 8. Herpetofauna, Aquatic Plant and Dragontly/Damselfly Species Observations for sites of the Slim Buttes Watershed Assessment 14 T K Introduction Prairie stream systems throughout North America have suffered neglect due to a lack of comprehensive study and understanding (Matthews and Robison 1988. Dodds et al. 2004). Only recently have there been efforts to sample and describe the interactions among the state's prairie stream aquatic biota, and to relate prairie system aquatic communities to their landscapes. This study covers one such undocumented area. South Dakota's Slim Buttes region. From the smallest prairie spring (Figure 1 ) to the Little Missouri River as it leaves South Dakota a large prairie river (Figure 2), the Slim Buttes region contains a wide variety of aquatic ecosystems. Figure 1. Picnic Spring in the Cave Hills, a small Northwestern Great Plains perennial spring. As a whole, the Slim Buttes area is an important part of a large swath of untilled prairie area in the Level III Northwestern Great Plains ecoregion (Omerink 1995) (Figure 3), also known as the Northern Great Plains Steppe (TNC 1999). Four Level IV ecoregions are found within the Slim Buttes area (Figure 4). Because intact watershed landscapes at the regional scale have been shown to support aquatic communities with high biological integrity (Allan et al. 1997), we surmised that the Slim Buttes region might support some of the most intact native prairie fish and macroinvertebrate communities in the state. One fairly recent study in the Moreau River Basin downstream from our study area reported 1 9 species of fish ( 1 6 native) (Loomisl997). To determine if this were true, we used an aquatic ecosystem classification approach developed by the Montana Natural Heritage Program (MTNHP) to increase the understanding of Montana's aquatic prairie ecosystems (Stagliano 2005). Ecosystem classification provides a way to understand the complexity of ecosystems and creates distinctions among ecosystem types based on factors that determine the distribution of ecological processes and biota (Hawkins and Norris 2000). We previously classified biological communities (fish and macroinvertebrates) within the Missouri River Zoogeographic Region with respect to the common repeatable habitat units within the watersheds that they occur. The Slim Buttes area is within the same Level III ecoregion. so we hoped that utilizing these classifications would validate their regional applicability while allowing us to predict community types in the scope of watersheds and aquatic ecological units. I ly^iD'c J. I he l.iiilc Missouri River at the North Dakota border, a large prairie river Untilled Landscapes in the Ecoregions of the Great Plains Figure 3. Untitled landscapes in North America's Ureal i'lain.\ ecoregions. F. Grand River 43a JP=''' S^. Grand River C North Figure 4. Study Site Locations and Level IV Ecoregions within the NGPS Slim Buttes Study Area, SD. 43a=Missouri Plateau, 43d=Forested Buttes, 43e=Sagebrush Steppe, 43j=Moreau Prairie Methods Riparian habitat assessments, water quality parameters, fish and macroinvertebrate surveys were performed at 16 lotic (stream) sites and 2 lentic (ponded) sites w ithin the Slim Buttes Region of the Little Missouri. Upper South 1 ork Grand and Upper Moreau watersheds (Table I ). Seventeen of these sites had fish, and all had macroinvertebrates. Two other visited sites were dry. Three longitudinal sequence stream sites were sampled in the Little Missouri and South Moreau Rivers, while 2 sequential sites were visited in the North Fork Moreau. South Fork Grand River and Jones Creek basins (Site #1 of any sequence is the furthest upstream site). Table I. Site descriptions for study sites included in the TNC Slim Buttes surveys. AES=Aquatic Ecological System. HUC-^H-digit USGS Hydrologic Unit Code. SSO=Slrahler Stream Order Site AES Code Date Visited County Crooked Creek COOS 6/6/2006 Harding 1 Little MO MT BOOS 6/S/2006 Carter 1 Little MO #1 BOOS 6/S/2006 Harding 1 Little MO #2 BOOS 6/S/2006 Harding 1 Pine Spnng Cr EOOS 6/S/2006 Harding 1 S F Grand #1 COOS 6/7/2006 Harding 1 Jones Cr #2 COOS 6/7/2006 Harding 1 S F Grand #2 COOS 6/6/2006 Harding 1 Jones Cr#1 DOOS 6/6/2006 Harding 1 Bull Creek DOOS 6/S/2006 Harding 1 Campbell Cr DOOS 6/S/2006 Harding 1 S F Moreau #3 BOOS 6/7/2006 Butte 1 S F Moreau #2 COOS 6/6/2006 Butte 1 S F Moreau #1 DOOS 6/6/2006 Butte 1 Spur Creek DOOS 6/6/2006 Butte 1 Hay Creek DOOS 6/6/2006 Butte 1 N F Moreau #2 COOS 6/7/200S Harding 1 Antelope Creek (old sample site) Antelope Creek (dry) N F Moreau #1 DOOS DOOS DOOS 7/8/2000 6/7/200S 6/6/2006 Perkins 1 Perkins 1 Harding 1 Rabbit Creek (dry) DOOS 6/7/200S Perkins 1 HUC GPS GPS Elevation SSO Laf Long* («) 10020006 4S.9067 103.5030 3018 3 10110201 4S2757 103 647S 3140 4 10110201 4SS642 103 9S31 3124 4 10110201 4S77S7 103 886S 3024 4 10130302 4SS469 103.7800 3064 2 10130302 4S6389 1033128 2721 4 10130302 4S6390 103 3232 2730 3 10130302 4S639S 102 9990 2S81 4 10130302 4S6877 1034885 3005 1 10130302 4S7841 103 5007 2885 3 10130302 458092 1034997 2934 2 10130304 45 1168 103 2709 2750 4 10130304 45 1261 1035497 2919 3 10130304 45.1785 1036508 2968 2 10130304 45 1885 10363S4 2997 2 10130304 45 1983 1036238 2995 2 10130305 45 2697 103 1979 2821 2 10130305 45 3132 102 6876 2822 2 10130305 453272 1029204 2845 1 10130305 45 3575 103 5479 3071 2 10130305 45 4436 102 9110 2795 2 • GPS readings were taken from the top and txjttom of reach, only top GPS reading Is reported here. Habitat Evaluations On-site habitat assessments were conducted using the rapid assessment protocol (RBP Level 1, scores 0-200) developed for the EPA by Barbour et al. (1999) with modifications and additions by the National Aquatic Assessment of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Buglab (scores 0-24) (http://www 1 .usu.edu/buglab/forms/ Bug%20Protocol%20fonTi.pdO- Using the BLM assessment protocols, the reach was divided into 10 equally spaced transects. Parameters recorded at each were: wetted width, bankfull width, 3 channel depth measurements, large woody debris and riparian shading. Basic water chemistry parameters (temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved 0,and turbidity) were recorded prior to sampling using the Horiba H-10. The goal of these evaluations is to characterize local reach geomorphology, riparian and in-stream habitat, and other characteristics that influence aquatic community integrity (Figure 5). The sites ranking higher using these protocols are determined to have higher quality local-scale habitat. Habitat assessments were performed during the same visit as the biological sampling. '^vi^^^^ J Wy'"^ '-is Figure 5. Channel deplh measurement as part of the habitat and geomarphic assessments. Fish Communities Fish sampling protocols ( MTFWP 2003) required the positioning of upstream and downstream block nets at the ends of the reach (300m or 40x wetted width), but most of the time shallow sections and/or riffle areas were sufficient to prevent fish from escaping while the run & pool areas were being seined from the upstream to the downstream direction with a 20-30 ft '/4 inch straight seine, depending on wetted width (Figure 6). Fish were transferred to holding buckets, identified to species, enumerated in the field, examined for external anomalies (e.g. deformities, eroded fins, lesions, and tumors), and then released (Figure 7). Young- of-the-year fish less than 20 millimeters in length were noted on the field sheet (not included in the totals), and released. Voucher specimens were only taken in the case of uncertain field identifications of the silvery minnows, Hybogttathus spp., which were preserved in 10% buffered fonnalin and identified in the lab. Vouchers were submitted to the Montana State University fish collection. Figure 6. Fish sampling a run by seining with a 20 ft straight seine. Figure 7. A western silvery minnow seined in the Little Missouri River before release. Analysis of the sampled fish communities used Integrated Biotic Indices (IBI) (Brambiett et al. 2005) and derived ()bser\ed/i;xpected (()/!•) Fish Models(Stag!iano2005)todetect impairment in the biological integrity of the sites. Ihe IBI involved calculation of a series of metrics evaluating ditTerent attributes of the community (Table 2). The metrics allowed calculation otan overall score between 0 and 100. Bramblen et al. (2005) did not propose threshold criteria for good, fair, and poor biological integrity for these scores. Iherefore, we applied commonly used criteria. Scores of 75 to 1 00 indicate good to excellent biological integrity, 50-74 fair to good biological integrity, 25 to 49 indicated poor to fair biological integrity and scores <25% indicate poor biological integrity or severely impaired. Macroin vertebrate Communities Macroin\ertebrates were collected from all habitats that we could wade w ithin the sampling reach of the streams (Figure 8). Sampling involved multi-habitat. c|iialitati\c methods outlined in the EPA protocols (Barbour ctal. 19W). Cobble substrates, vegetation, woody debris and bank-side areas were sampled qualitatively with a 500-micron D-frame net within the designated transects. A total of Iwcnt) habitat-weighted, randomized 0.5m jabs or kicks were conducted within the reach, allow ing 1 0 seconds per kick and composited into one sample. All organisms in the net were washed on a 500-micron sieve, transferred to a 1 liter Nalgene bottle, labeled and preserved in 95% Figure H. Atulli-hahiiai mavroinvcriehrulu sumpliny^ usiriji IJ'A protocols. ethanol and brought to the M fNHP lab in Helena for processing. These samples were processed (sorting, identification, and data analysis) by David Stagliano at the Helena lab follow ing DF,0 protocols (MT DliQ 2005). Macroinvertebrates were identified to the lowest ta.xonomic level, imported into 1:DAS (Jessup 2006), and biological metrics were calculated from the data using the Montana Department of Ijivironmcntal Qualitv's newest multimetric macroinvertebrate (MMI) protocols (Jessup et al. 2005. Feldman 2006). Metric results were then scored using the Montana DFQ bioassessment criteria and each sample categorized as non-impaired or impaired according to threshold values (Table 3). The macroinvertebrate MMI score is based upon a series of metrics that measure attributes of benthic macroinvertebrate communities regarding condition changes to a stream s\stcm ( in the form of pollution or pollutants). Ihe invertebrate metrics include: EPT Taxa Richness (Score = F.PT richncss/i4*100): Iplienieriiptcra. I'lecoptera &Trichoptera ta.xa; Percent Tanypodinae (Score = PcrccntTanypodinac/M) *!(>0): Percent Orthocladiinae of C'hiron(»midae (Score = (100-pcrccnt Orthocladiinae of Chironomidae/ nU))*l(M)); Predator Taxa Richness (.Score = number of predator taxa/9*100); Percent Collectors and Filterers (Score = (KM) - percent collectors and rilterers/65)*100): Ihis metric measures the relative abundance oi' collector and tllterer taxa in the sample. Hie index score represents the condition of the macroinvertebrate commiinit\ at the time the sample was collected within that past \ear. If the index score is below the impairment threshold, the iiidi\ idiial metrics can be used to pnn ide insight as to wh\ llie ci>mniuiiities arc ditTerenl Irom the reference condition ( Barbour et al. 1 999, Jessup et al. 2005). Ihc impairmenl threshold set b> Ml 1)1. (,) is 37 lor ihe I aslern Plains Stream Index; thus any scores above this threshold are considered unimpaired South Dakoia does not \el lia\e iiiacroimertebrate models to calculate scores. For ihe Observed/Iixpected (O/E) scores, taxa in liic sample were compared to their expected macroiiuerlebrate indicator species for that classilled prairie aquatic ecological type (Stagliano 2005) (Appendix C). Table 2. Fish metrics and classification offish species captured in the Slim Buttes Region (2006). Species Scientific Name Trophi Feeding Lltho- Tol** Origin Total c* Modet obligate Re prod Guildt ft Length 3 years Hiodontidae Goldeye Hiodon alosoides IN WC LO INT N 259 Catostomidae River carpsucker Carpiodes carpio OM BE LO MOD N 229 Shorthead Redhorse Moxostoma macroledidotum IN BE LO MOD N 254 White suclcer Catostomiis commersoni OM BE LO TOL N 229 Cyprinidae Common carp Cyprinus carpio OM BE TOL 1 381 Golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas OM WC MOD 1 102 Flathead Chub Platygobio gracilis IN GE MOD N 140 Fathead Minnow Pimephales promelas OM GE TOL N 76 Longnose dace Rhinichthys cataractae IN BE LO INT N 71 Brassy minnow Hybognathus hankinsoni HB BE MOD N 94 Plains minnow Hybognathus placitus HB BE MOD N 94 Western silvery Hybognathus argyritis HB BE MOD N 94 minnow Sand shiner Notropis stramineus OM GE LO MOD N 61 Esocidae Northern pike Esox lucius CA WC MOD 1 457 Gasterosteidae Brook stickleback Culaea inconstans IN GE TR5 MOD N 64 Centrarchidae Green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus IC GE TOL 1 102 . Percidae Iowa darter Etheostoma exile IN BE INT N 51 Sauger Sander canadensis IC GE LO MOD N 279 Ictaluridae Channel catfish Ictalurus punclatus IC BE TR§ MOD N 254 Stonecat Noturus Jlavus IC BE LO INT N 140 Black bullhead Ameiurus melas IC BE TR^ TOL 1 152 Yellow bullhead Ameiurus natalis IC BE TR§ MOD 1 254 *HB = herbivore (> 90% plants or detritus); IC = invertivore/camivore (>25% both invertebrates and vertebrates); IN = invertivore; OM = omnivore(25-90% plants or detritus) CA=camivore (90% fish or other vertebrates); t BE = benthic: GE = gencralist: WC = water column: Brown (1971 ): Scott and Crossman ( 1973): Becker (1983) X LOLitho-obligate Reproductive Guild; Scott and Crossman ( 1973): Pllieger (1997): Barbour et aL ( 1999) § Tolerant reproductive strategists are not litho-obligates, use parental care at spawning site: Scott and Crossman (1973); i*flieger(1997) ** INT = intolerant; MOD = moderately tolerant: TOL = tolerant; Barbour et al. (1999); tt N = native; I - introduced; Holton and Johnson (2003), SD Fish Species List (SD Heritage Program) Table 3. Impairment determinations from the MMI and O/E (RIVPACS) models (taken from Jessup et al. 2005. Feldman 2006). Ecoreqion [RIVPACS |MMI |lmpairment Determination Mountain Low Valley Eastern Plains > 08 or < 1 2 < 08 or > 1 2 >08 or < 1 2 <08 or > 1 2 >08or < 1 2 <08 or > 1 2 >63 <63 >48 <48 >37 <37 Not impaired Impaired Not impaired Impaired Not impaired Impaired Dragonflies and Damselflies Incidental dragontlN and daniscin> observations were made and recorded during the fish and macroinvertebrate surveys. The dragonfly identifications and observations were usually done on the wing, but we did collect numerous damselflies and an occasional reference dragonfly using an aerial sweep net along the riparian vegetation (Figure 9). Fi^re 9. Dragonfly ohscrvulions were made in the stream reach. This is an cighl-spotted skimmer (Lihellula forensis). Results The Slim Buttes region of northwest South Dakota is an excellent example of untilled, intact Northwestern Great Plains or Northern Great Plains Steppe. The extent of some of these intact prairies and quality of the landscape rivals or exceeds landscapes that I have personally seen in Northwestern Great Plains reference sites of southeast Montana. One of the most impressive areas includes the landscape of the South Fork of the Grand River watershed, which exhibited high integrity at the landscape level and at the local stream-reach scale. We identified fish and macroinvertebrate communities with high ecological integrity within 5 Prairie Aquatic Ecological Systems (AES) during this study: Medium Prairie River (AES B005), Northwestern Great Plains Prairie (AES COOS) and Intermittent Prairie Streams (AES code D005), Intermittent Fishless Prairie Stream (AES code E005) and the Northwestern Great Plains Perennial Spring (AES code S005) (Table 4). Habitat Evaluations Overall, 11 of 1 8 sites had good to excellent habitat quality ranked by at least one of the assessment methods (Table 5). Highest site habitat scores using both the EPA RBP (200 max. score) and BLM (24 max. score) habitat assessment methods were measured in the South Fork Grand River basin. South Fork Grand River Sites # 1 & #2 had reference site conditions for a Great Plains Prairie Stream with EPA RBP scores of 188 and 189, respectively (Table 5). Most stream sites visited in the Grand River basin had higher than average landscape integrity measured at the local reach- scale. All sites in the Little Missouri River basin ranked high for a Medium-Large Prairie River. The North Fork Moreau River site #2 had the highest integrity of sites visited in the Moreau basin. Sites in the South Fork Moreau River scored lowest in habitat integrity. South Fork Moreau site #3 near Hoover showed moderate integrity but the water quality parameters show impairment. The water quality parameters conductivity and turbidity both increased at the downstream reaches of a stream series. Two conductivity values that would exceed DEQ impairment standards in Montana were recorded at the South Fork Moreau River #3 and the Crooked Creek sites (>3,000y4s). Table 4. Aquatic Ecological System types, biological community groups (SPA) associated with the defined aquatic ecological communities and occurrences in the Slim Buttes Study Area. Aquatic Ecological System AES code Fish SPA^ Macroinvert groups* Number of Occurrence* Medium Prairie River Ecosystem BOOS 1,2, 18,20 3,9, 11,37,40 4 Great Plains Prairie Stream Ecosystem Great Plains Intermittent Stream Ecosystem COOS D005 2,20 18,20 9, 11, 12,37 9, 12 6 9 Great Plains Fishless Intermittent Stream Ecosystem EOOS None 12 1 Small Fishless Prairie Spring Ecosystem SOOS None 1,12 1 '^See Appendix E for Fish Species Assemblages * See Appendix C & D for Macroinvertebrate species groups **Nuniber of sites visited with data collected 9 •2 K a « ft: .$• SB "^ I' i; 1| 5* -^ •C *< ^ s II 2§ t; &^ I St| a I s - c ? S' 5 St. s Si "^ ■s ^ "^ -s: ■it I 5 . II §"^ -^ "? -i K t^ oa "^ ^n 8 u> T og (M n £ • e <^ S ° ° in rH \0 00 ^ 00 •" fH CmI CmI Ml tH .-H «H rH o o eg fH T CM fH O^ 00 O^ iH 00 fH CM fH O O O 00 ^ fH O O O in vo in 00 CO 00 :s » iH fH O O O (M n m ^ ° o CMI o> ml ^ ^ .H "^ CQ t 2 5 M « 73 $ (1 1 o c la o c o -> (J to C 5 5 o 0) O o a> o ^ lu Fish Communities '" ^^e Great Plains Intermittent Prairie Streams, the ^ 11 -IT 1- 1 /!/: t- //: ■ t J J species occurring most often were the brook Overall, 22 tisn species (16 native/6 introduced or . ,, , , , *• \c. ic TTT • J -J I _. jf stickleback, brassy mmnow and fathead minnow exotic) from 6,227 individuals were reported from ,, . ■' ,1 ■•, , •, /T- ui T A J- AA A (Table 6). Using Montana's Prairie Fish IBI, 6 of all visited sites (Table 2, Appendix A). Average , ', . ^ I- , ■ ■ u V o J »u * the 17 tish sites were ranked non-impaired (good to fish species richness per site was 8, and the most ,,■•,•■■ • diverse sites were the 3 reaches of the Little excellent biological integrity), 6 were slightly Missouri River, with 14 species ( 1 1 natives). I'^P^""^'^ (moderate integrity) and 5 moderately r .u A ■ II » J . I/: e^^tnAo/\ impaired (poor biotic integrity) (Table 7). No sitcs Fathead minnows were collected at 16 of 17 (94%) ^ /^, * -"^ ' ,- , •. -ru *!,- u tf f were ranked severely impaired by the Fish IBI. rish presence sites. 1 he next highest frequency or , ^, .^ r ./ /ir/^->\ • tu ■ t A A i- I * The O/E scores agreed with the IBI scores in most occurrence (FO) is the introduced green suntish at ^ ° in fn •» j*u J u- J ui I cases, except tor the smaller Prairie Intermittent 1 0 or 17 sites, and the sand shiner and black ^ , ^ u iiu J ♦n *-i-7 * CI *!, J u u J 1 ■ Streams; the O/E ranked Campbell, North Fork bullhead at 9 of 1 7 sites. Flathead chubs and plains „ , h ' , ».u . ^ t- u II * J Moreau #1 and Crooked Creek as unimpaired (O/ minnows round out the top 6 fish species collected ^ ^ across all fish sites (Table 6). Fish species highly ^=^,^-^)' ^^''" ^^^ '^' '"^"'^^^ ^'^^"^ ^^ ^"s'^^'^ *« associated (100% of the time) with the Medium moderately impaired (181=62, 52 and 49, Prairie River Ecological System (AES BOOS) respectively). included sand shiner, flathead chub, plains minnow, channel catfish, white sucker, river carpsucker, '^'^'^ community structure in the Slim Buttes sites stonecat and western silveiy minnow (Table 6). responded to two primary landscape factors: the Table 6. Fish Species Presence, Frequency of Occurrence (FO) at all study sites, and for particular Aquatic Ecological Systems (AES) included in the TNC Slim Buttes surveys. Blanks indicate absence from that stream type. Fish Species # of Sites Overall AES AES AES Present FO B005 €005 D005 FO FO FO Fathead Minnow 16 0.94 0.75 1.00 1.00 Black Bullhead 10 0.59 0.50 1.00 0.29 Green Sunfish 10 0.59 0.75 1.00 0.14 Sand Shiner 9 0.53 1.00 0.83 Flathead Chub 8 0.47 1.00 0.67 Plains Minnow 8 0.47 1.00 0.67 Channel Catfish 7 0.41 1.00 0.50 Longnose Dace 7 0.41 0.75 0.67 White Sucker 7 0.41 1.00 0.33 0.14 River Carpsucker 6 0.35 1.00 0.33 Stonecat 6 0.35 1.00 0.33 Western Silvery 6 0.35 0.75 0.50 Minnow Brook Stickleback 3 0.18 0.17 0.29 Common Carp 3 0.18 0.75 Goldeye 3 0.18 0.75 Shorthead Redhorse 3 0.18 0.75 Yellow Bullhead 2 0.12 0.33 Golden Shiner 2 0.12 0.17 0.14 Iowa Darter 2 0.12 0.17 0.14 Brassy Minnow 1 0.06 0.14 Northern Pike 1 0.06 0.25 Sauger 1 0.06 0.25 11 stream size/drainage area & discharge (lotic- connected vs. lentic-ponded-unconnccted conditions), and the human-factor, stock pond/fish species introductions. Increasing drainage area directly relates to increasing fish diversity (Anucrmeierand Schlosser 198Q. Brambictt et al. 2005), sshich is evident in the greater number of expected indicator species in our fish assemblages for the medium and larger prairie river systems. Clearly, measures of connectivity are important in structuring fish communities (Matthews and Robison 1998. Bramblett and Fausch 1991 ). Many fish, even warmwater species (e.g. sauger, channel catfish), arc migrator) during their spawning periods ( I lolton and Johnson 2003 ) or pioneering (e.g. white sucker, shorthead redhorse) and will opportunistically search for suitable habitats. If the conditions are fa\orable for fish species to migrate into a particular type of aquatic system, especially if connectivity is complete across the basin or there is connectivity to reservoirs or other pools of non- native fishes, then the community observed might be surprisingly different than what was expected. This explains white suckers co-occurring w ith Table 7. Fish and macroinverlehrale species. IBI s. MT MM! s and Observed/ Expected (O/E) scores for the Slim Butte (SD) study sites. Bold-underlined score are good-excellent reach scores, shaded gray represent fair-good local-reach conditions. Fish Species Total Fish Species Native Fish IBI O/F. Macro- invert Taxa MT MMI O/E Moreau River Basin N F Moreau #1 2 2 51.51 75.00 25 28.00 60.00 N F Moreau #2 11 8 90.26 103.23 34 57.00 >80 S F Moreau #1 7 4 56.65 51.61 28 35.00 65.00 S F Moreau #2 5 3 34 92 3871 20 2200 40 00 S F Moreau #3 11 9 71.30 116.13 34 45.60 62.00 Tribto S.F Moreau (Spur) 1 1 48 08 50 00 24 34 92 60.00 Trib to SF Moreau (Hay) 1 1 4991 50 00 22 2800 55 00 Grand River Basin Jones Cr #1 1 1 44 76 50 00 23 35.60 6100 Jones Cr #2 8 5 88.29 64.52 28 58.90 >80 S F Grand #1 12 9 99.77 116.13 38 75.70 >80 S F Grand #2 11 9 103.61 116.13 35 69.80 >80 Campbell Creek 2 2 62.05 83.30 30 35.60 >80 BullCr#1 2 1 43 60 50 00 19 24 80 50 00 Crooked Cr #1 5 3 51 97 83.30 29 39.50 >80 Pine Spring Creek no fish no fish no fish no fish 22 32 50 6100 Little Missouri River Basin Little MO #2 14 12 87.63 100.00 36 72.60 >80 Little MO #1 Camp Crook 14 12 65.19 92.10 32 63.37 >80 Litlle MO MT 14 11 88.05 100.00 50 62.50 >80 12 fathead minnows and brook sticklebacks, the usual inhabitants, in the upper South Fork Moreau site #1. The influence offish stocking is considerable. Green suntlsh and black bullhead, two introduced fish species, dominated some sites. We know that most stock ponds and reservoirs in this part of the state have been stocked with various introduced species of tlsh at some time (Doug Backland, SD NHP, pers. comm. 2006). In addition to reducing native fish numbers through competition, stocked fish can often overwhelm a stream reach and displace the natives. Since the non-native or stocked fish now represent self-sustaining communities, they have considerable influence on the stream ecosystems. Macroinvertebrate Communities Overall. 1 18 macroinvertebrate taxa were reported from the Slim Butte 2006 assessment sites. Average macroinvertebrate taxa richness per site was 29 and the highest taxa richness reported at one site (Little Missouri) was 50 taxa (Appendix B). Using the Montana DEQ macroinvertebrate multimetric index (MMl), 9 of the 1 8 sites were ranked non-impaired (good to excellent biological integrity), 6 were slightly impaired and 3 moderately impaired (Table 7). South Fork Grand River sites #1 & #2 had reference condition macroinvertebrate scores for a Great Plains Prairie Stream with DEQ MMl scores of 75.7 and 69.8, respectively (Table 7). The Little Missouri River sites ranked excellent with Montana MMl scores in the 60"s and lower 70"s. Sites visited in the South Fork Grand River basin received higher macroinvertebrate scores than those in the Moreau basin. The 3 sites in the Little Missouri River basin that ranked high for tlsh as a Medium-Large Prairie River, received excellent macroinvertebrate integrity scores. Macroinvertebrate community structure in the Slim Buttes sites responded to similar landscape factors as found with tlsh (stream size and lotic-connected vs. lentic-ponded- unconnected conditions), but were less affected by the connectivity of pools. However, most stream sites that contained riffle areas between the pools scored much higher with the MMl than sites with exclusively pool areas. The Montana MMl was not as effective at ranking intermittent sites that contained intact communities, but were dominated by the more tolerant species of that assemblage. Dragonflies and Damselflies Incidental dragonfly and damselfly observations were made and recorded during the fish and macroinvertebrate surveys (Table 8). Three dragonfly species were common across most sites (Common Green Darner, Anax Junius; Eight- spotted Skimmer, LibeUuIa forensis and the Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrium corruptum) and no species of concern were noted at any sites. The pale snaketail, Ophiogomphus sevenis, was only spotted at Medium Prairie River sites with good flow and gravel substrates. The damselflies (Familiar Bluet Enallagma civile. Northern Bluet, Enallagma cyathigerum, Eastern Forktail, Ischnura verticalis and the Common Spreadwing, Lestes disjunctus) were common among the sites. Sites with abundant aquatic vegetation (South Fork Moreau # 1 . North Fork Moreau #1. Crooked Creek, Campbell Creek and Jones Creek #1 & 2) had abundant populations of larval damselflies as well. Amphibian and Reptile Incidentals Incidental herpetofauna observations were made and recorded in conjunction with the fish and macroinvertebrate surveys. Three amphibian species (Woodhouse's Toad. Bufo woodhousii. Great Plains Toad. Bufo cognatus and the Northern Leopard Frog, Rana pipiens ) and 2 reptile species (Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina and Plains Garter Snake, Thamnophis radix) were recorded during the surveys. Northern Leopard Frogs had the highest site occupancy rate at 72%. 13 oa CO '* 3 "^^ *"/_ ^*vn '>0o ■VOn "^0 ^ ^*.- '//O. 'e ^O //^, '^^■O 3 ^« ^'z, '^^O, ""^v. ^ ^ 5 1 it "-^v £ i i "-% o « 1 S '^''^^.o ^ 3 ^-. o .- "^-°^. 2! 1 ^ *"*«. ''"^^^o f . ''^^ s 1 ^*'>* ''^o* ^^/w « « ■a c a 1 1 Z u I 3 a -^ "it — a: 5 ^1 ^ a ^ -s ooooo ooooXX oXooo oooooooo ^_ ooooo OOOOXX oXooo ooooXooo ooooX ooooXo oXooo ooooXooo ooooo Xooooo Xooox xoooXooo ooooX XoooXo XoXox ;?_ OOOOX XoooXo XoXoX X X o o o XoooXooo ooo:g XoooXo ^^XX^ XoooXooo oooXX ooooXX xoooo XoooXooo ooooX OOOOXX Xoooo XoooXooo OOOOX oXoXXX xgx.^g XXooXooo XX XX XoXoXo Xooc. 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O u %« ? g ? 3 a 0(i tfi c ; £ n ^ as S -< pa — o c m 5 o U O Ui (- ^ 2- i2 o o C u. -/■ •s. •- I 5. ^ I ^ If 3 o g on S c _ E - P w O r »- — ^ -^ is X 14 Site Description Summaries Medium Prairie River Ecological Types Medium Prairie River (AES 8005) Ecological Types inorderof highest biological integrity to lowest. 1) Little Missouri Montana site, 2) Little Missouri #2, 3) Little Missouri@ Camp Crook, 4) South Fork Moreau #3 Management/Threats to this ecological system include: Grazing and livestock use around the riparian areas occurs and can have strong local effects resulting in sedimentation and stream widening at cattle crossings. Introductions of game or forage fish in stock ponds anywhere in the watershed can make their way downstream to these larger prairie rivers and become permanent residents, competing with (green sunfish) or preying upon (northern pike) resident native fish species Global Rank Comments: The number of viable occurrences is unknown, but probably somewhat rare. These prairie river ecological types are abundant in terms of river miles across the Northern Great Plains Steppe of North America, but the hydrology (i.e. water permanence) and biological integrity can be easily affected by upstream dams or diversions in the watershed. Stock ponds that are stocked with game fish, and bait bucket introductions can also contribute to the community degradation of introduced fish species. 15 Site Description IJttlc Missouri River (MT site) I LIHLE MISSOURI RIVER Figure 10. The Little Missouri River site near Albion. MT. ^ Mf^ ^^JS ~ PJ "•..■^^•^^yB 1 1 Figure II. Little Missouri River I.AES BOOS) Medium Figure 12. Little Missouri River (AES BOOS) cobble/ Prairie River habitat near .\lhion. MT. woody debris near Albion. MT. Location: Accessed from Statclinc Rd. at bridge crossing about 6 miles Northeast of Albion. MT. Proceeded upstream lOOm to the first rifHe/pool set designated as the bottom olthe reach (I igure I I ). Nearest Town: Albion. Carter County. MT Ecoregion: Northern Cireat I'lains Steppe .Aquatic Rc(»l(»(>ical .System Type: liOO.^-Northwestern Great Plains Medium Prairie Stream, borderline Large I'rairie River probably shifts around the ND border. Key Knvironmental Kactors: Hydrology — upstream dams or diversions in the watershed; Grazing — slight impacts, cattle on right bank. Rare or Unique Species: No rare species, but giant floater mussel shells were documented. Rare Features: No rare features documented. Introduced/Exotic Species: Black bullhead, carp and green sunfish Overall Ecological Site Condition: Good Reach Summary: The 300 m reach consisted of 2 riffle/run/pool complexes with full flowing water connectivity. The lower pool was ~50m long (averaged 0.75m deep) and contained the deepest fish holding habitat. This stream reach has good aquatic habitat and a diversity of microhabitats, thus leading to high fish species diversity (14 species, 1 1 native), although an abundance & dominance of introduced species. Pools averaging 25-40m long and 8- 10m wide. All substrate of the upper pool was gravel/silt dominated with some cobbles, and pool #2 was dominated by silt & gravel. Aquatic geomorphic structures and overhanging banks at the margins provided most fish habitat in this stream reach. Riparian vegetation coverage was dominated by shrubs & some willows on the immediate riparian bank with cottonwoods along the 2nd tier riparian area. Livestock use index (LUI) was low with only ~7 cow pies counted on a 75m walk of the left and right banks. Reach Habitat Ranking: BLM= 95.8% (23 of 24) EPA RBP= 94% (188 of 200) Reach Riparian Geomorphology: The geomorphology of this stream reach is a Rosgen F-4 with a gentle-medium slope (-1%), moderate sinuosity, riffle-pool configuration with substrate dominated by gravel and sand/silt dominated pools. Pools are slightly incised and averaged >40 cm in depth.. Wetted width of the reach was 9.8m. Surrounding bank materials are finer than the channel bed materials indicating no in-stream accumulation of sediments. Amphibian Community: 1 adult Northern Leopard Frog (NLF) present. Fish Community: 14 fish species ( 1 1 native) were seined in the 2 riffle/run/pools. Dominant species were sand shiners, black bullheads and green sunfish. Expected dominant fish species for this stream type would have included flathead chubs, sand shiners, western silvery and plains minnows and fewer introduced species. Although most fish species expected are present and there were a good number of river carpsuckers which helped the IBl score. Presence of abundant non-natives (black bullheads and green sunfish) has shifted the IBl score lower than it would have been, but overall a good fish community. Fish Community Quality: 1BI= 88.05 0/E= 1 1/1 1 or 100% of the expected fish community. Macroinvertebrate Community: This community consists of the Filtering Collector, Prairie Stream and Large Prairie River assemblage of macroinvertebrates (#9, 1 1, 37 Stagliano 2005). Over 80% of the indicator species expected were present in this sample. Macroinvertebrate Community Quality: MT MMI= 62.5 0/E= >80%. 17 Site Description IJttle Missouri River (Site #2, Salmen Ford) Figure 13. Utile \tissouri River Site »2 (AES B0U5) run/pool habitat near Ladner. SD. Figure 14. Little Missouri River Site U2 (AES BOOS) sauger (Sander canadensis} an SOC in MT hut not SD. Figure 15. Little U,as. ,7- , Rncr Site U2 (AES BOUSi gotdeyes (Hiodon alosoidesl a sensitive indicator Medium-Large Prairie River fish species. Location: Accessed going north on Rt. 867 out of Camp Crook, turn Right at Rt. 988 and proceed 3 mile to a dirt road on the left before Salmen Ford. Top of reach starts -1 00m downstream of this ford (see photo 13) and proceeds 3()()m downstream to the corner bend. Nearest Town: ladner. Harding County. MT Ecoregion: Northern Great Plains Steppe (Typical) Aquatic Ecological System T\pc: n()05-Northwestern Great Plains Medium Prairie Stream, borderline Large Prairie River probably around the Nl) border 18 Key Environmental Factors: Hydrology — upstream dams or diversions in the watershed; Grazing — sheep grazing on right bank looking downstream Rare or Unique Species: The dominance of large river species (goldeyes, sauger and channel catfish) Rare Features: Cottonwood stand with good recruitment and regeneration. Introduced/Exotic Species: Northern pike & carp Overall Ecological Site Condition: Good to Excellent Reach Summary: The 300 m reach consisted of 3 riffle/run/pool complexes with full flowing water connectivity and a braided channel around an island. The uppermost pool was ~ 12m wide, ~50m long (averaged 0.5 m deep) and contained the most fish holding habitat, a riffle above this pool was the top of the reach. This pool was followed by a 50m deep run which divided around an island forming a braided channel (see photo). This stream reach has excellent aquatic habitat (30% of the channel depths were >0.5m), and a diversity of microhabitats leading to high fish species diversity (14 species). Pools averaging 25-40m long and 8- 10m wide. Substrate of the upper pool was gravel-dominated with some silt and cobbles, and the lower pools dominated by sand/gravel. Aquatic vegetation and overhanging banks at the margins provided significant stream habitat in this stream reach. Riparian vegetation coverage was dominated by grasses and shrubs with a significant cottonwood grove with regeneration on the left bank. Livestock use index (LUI) was moderate with -20 sheep pies counted on a 75m walk of the right bank. Reach Riparian Ranking: BLM= 90% (22 of 24) EPA RBP= 90% ( 1 80 of 200) Reach Riparian Geomorphology: The geomorphology of this stream reach is a Rosgen C-4 with a gentle-medium slope (~1 %), moderate sinuosity, and a riffle-pool configuration with substrate dominated by gravel/cobbles and ranging to gravel-dominated pools. Pools are slightly incised and averaged >40 cm in depth, wetted width of the reach was 1 5.4m. Surrounding bank materials are finer than the channel bed materials. Amphibian Community: None recorded. Fish Community: 14 fish species (11 native) were seined in the 3 rififle/run/pools. Dominant species were goldeyes, sand shiners and channel catfish. Expected dominant fish species for this stream type would have included flathead chubs, western silvery and plains minnows. Expected fish for this stream type have been met and included the important species, sauger (Figure 14) and the intolerant goldeye (Figure 15). The presence of these species substantially raised the IBI scores, and compensated for the occurrence of 2 introduced species in this river reach, the carp and northern pike. Overall, excellent fish community. Fish Community Quality: 181= 87.6 0/E= 1 1/1 1 or 100% of the expected fish community. Macroinvertebrate Community: This community consists of the Filtering Collector, Prairie Stream and Large Prairie River assemblage of macroinvertebrates (#3, 9, 1 1, 37 Stagliano 2005). Over 80%) of the indicator species expected were present in this sample. Macroinvertebrate Community Quality: MT 1VIM1= 72.6 0/E= >80%) 19 Site Description Little Missouri River (Site #1 C amp C rook) Figure 16. Little Missouri River Site Ul (AES BOOS) run/pool habitat near Camp Crook, SD Figure 17. Utile Missouri River Site »l l.-iES BUU5) Figure IS. Little Missouri River Site «/ I.4ES BOOS) run/ pool habitat looking upstream cotlonwood stand on upper terrace Location: Accessed going north on Rt. 867 out of Camp Crook, turn Right at dirt road aTtcr 1 mile, go 1 mile east until you hit the state section fence and proceed to river. Reacli is lUUiii downstream of this point and 200m upstream to the top riffle. Nearest Town: Camp Crook. I larding County. MT Kcoregion: Northern Great Plains Steppe ( lypical) Aquatic Ecological System Type: liOOs-Northwestern (ircat I'lains Medium i'rairie Stream, horderline Large I'rairic River t\pe-prohabl\ changing around the Nl) border. Key F.nvironmcntal Factors: Hydrology upstream dams or diversions in the watershed; Grazing — old grazing on left bank looking downstream 20 Rare or Unique Species: No rare species or communities documented Rare Features: Cottonwood stand with good recruitment and regeneration Introduced/Exotic Species: Green sunfish and common carp Overall Ecological Site Condition: Good Reach Summary: The 300 m reach consisted of 1 long riffle/pool/run complex with full flowing water connectivity (Figure 16). The uppermost pool was 15-18m wide, ~50m long (averaged 0.75m deep) and contained the most diverse fish species habitat, a riffle above this pool was the top of the reach (Figure 1 7). This pool was followed by a 1 50m deep run along the incised left bank. This stream reach has good aquatic habitat and a fair diversity of microhabitats, leading to high fish species diversity ( 1 4 species, 1 1 native). Substrate of the upper pool was gravel and silt-dominated with some cobbles. Geomorphic structures and overhanging banks provided the most habitat in this stream reach. The riparian channel within the reach was vegetated on top, but down-cut and provided minimal shading. The incisement of the outside bend with cottonwoods on the terrace at the top of the reach can be seen in Figure 1 7. The upper terrace and fioodplain of the left bank has a nice stand of cottonwoods (Figure 1 8). Reach Riparian Ranking: BLM= 79% ( 1 9 of 24) EPA RBP= 86% ( 1 72 of 200) Reach Riparian Geomorphology: The geomorphology of this stream reach is a Rosgen F-4 with a gentle-medium slope (<1%), moderate sinuosity, a riffle-pool configuration with substrate dominated by gravel/pebbles and gravel/silt dominated pools. The reach was slightly incised (entrenchment ratio ~1 .5) and averaged ~5 1 cm in depth and average wetted width of the reach was 1 1 .8m. Surrounding bank materials are finer than the channel bed materials. Amphibian Community: No amphibians reported from this site. Fish Community: 14 fish species (1 1 native) were seined in the riffie/run/pool. Dominant species were fathead minnows and sand shiners. Expected dominant fish species for this stream type would have included fiathead chubs, sand shiners, western silvery and plains minnows and fewer fatheads. Although, most fish species expected are present, thus a good O/E score, the presence of non-natives and dominance of fatheads has caused a lowered IBI score and is ranked as slightly impaired. But overall a good fish community. Fish Community Quality: IBI= 65.19 0/E= 10/1 1 or 92% of the expected fish community. Macroinvertebrate Community: This community consists of the Filtering Collector, Prairie Stream and Large Prairie River assemblage of macroinvertebrates (#3, 9, 1 1, 37 Stagliano 2005). Over 80% of the indicator species were present in this sample. Macroinvertebrate Community Quality: MT MMI= 63.4 0/E= >80% 21 Site Description South Fork Moreau Ri\er (site #3) Figure 19. South Fork Moreau River H3 (AES B0Q5) pool hahilal. looking downstream near Hoover, sn Figure 20. South Fork Moreau River U3 (AFS B005) run pool huhiuii. looking upstream near Hoover SD Figure 21. South Fork Moreau River H3 (AES BOOS) Figure 22. South Fork Moreau River U3 (AES BOOS I exposed layer of dense fossils in right hank petrified tree stumps on right hank Location: Accessed from Route 79. Butte County Road at the bridge crossing and proceeded upstream -lOOm to the first pool set designated the bottom of the reach (F'igure 19). Nearest Town: iloo\cr. Butlc CouiU>, SD F.coregion: Northern Great Plains Steppe Aquatic theological System Type: B005-Northwestem Great IMains Medium I'rainc River 22 Key Environmental Factors: Hydrology — upstream dams, incised channel; Grazing — slight impacts Rare or Unique Species: No rare species, but good riparian cottonwood stands in local landscape. Rare Features: Petrified logs and fossil remains in the right stream bank (Figure 21 &22). Introduced/Exotic Species: Green sunfish Overall Ecological Site Condition: Fair/Good Reach Summary: The 250m reach consisted of 3 run/pool complexes with the uppermost pool being ~100m long and containing the most fish holding habitat. This stream reach has moderate aquatic habitat and a diversity of microhabitats, thus leading to high fish species diversity ( 1 2 species, 1 0 native). Pools averaging 10- 15m long and 2.25m wide. The first 2 riffle/pool complexes proceeding upstream were deep enough to allow seining for fish, the last pool was clear and shallow enough to visibly inspect for fish and amphibians. Spacing between the pools was ~20m apart for the bottom 3, and -lOOm from pool 3 to 4. All substrate of the pools was gravel dominated with some silt and cobbles and pools 1 and 2 with surrounding vegetation dominated by Scirpus sp. (rushes) and Eleocharis palustris, common spikerush. Aquatic vegetation and overhanging banks provided the most significant stream habitat in this stream reach. Livestock use index (LUI) was low with ~7 cow pies counted on a 75m walk of the left bank. Pugging and hummocking was absent in the immediate riparian reach. Reach Riparian Ranking: BLM= 62.5% (15 of 24) EPA RBP= 64% (128 of 200) Reach Riparian Geomorphology: The geomorphology of this stream reach is a Rosgen F-4 with a gentle-medium slope (~1 %), moderate sinuosity, and a glide-pool configuration with substrate dominated by silted-cobbles and ranging from silt to gravel-dominated pools. Pools are incised and averaged >40 cm in depth, wetted width of the reach was 6.8 m. Surrounding bank materials are finer than the channel bed materials. Amphibian Community: 1 adult Northern Leopard Frog (NLF) present in the uppermost pool and a garter snake in the riparian zone. Fish Community: 1 1 fish species (9 native) were seined in the 3 run/pools. Dominant species were fathead minnows and sand shiners. Expected dominant fish species for this stream type would have included fiathead chubs, sand shiners, western silvery and plains minnows and fewer fatheads. Although most fish species expected are present, thus a good 0/E score, the presence of non-natives and dominance of fatheads has caused a lowered IBl score and is ranked as slightly impaired. But overall a good fish community. Fish Community Quality: IB1= 65.19 0/E= 9/1 1 or 81.8% of the expected fish community. Macroinvertebrate Community: This community consists of the Filtering Collector, Prairie Stream and Large Prairie River assemblage of macroinvertebrates (#9, 11, 12, 40 Stagliano 2005). This community was devoid of the filtering collector assemblage indicator species and few indicators of the Large Prairie River assemblage indicting that the community of this site is incomplete. Only -60% of the indicator species were present in this sample. Macroinvertebrate Community Quality: MT MMI= 45.6 0/E= 62% 23 Northwestern Great Plains Prairie Stream Ecological Types \onh\\c^tcrn tircat Plains Prairie Stream (Al:S C()05) Ideological Ixpes in order of highest biological integrity to lowest. 1 ) South Fork Grand #2. 2) South Fork (irand #\.3) North Fork Moreau River Ml. 4) Jones Creek #2. 5) Crooked Creek, 6) South Fork Moreau River #2. 7) Bull Creek Management/Threats to this ecological system include: Grazing and livestock use around the riparian areas occurs and can ha\e strong local effects resulting in sedimentation and stream \\ idening at cattle crossings. Introductions of game or forage t1sh in stock ponds anywhere in the watershed can make their way downstream to these perennial prairie rivers and become permanent residents, competing with (green sunfish) or preying upon (northern pike) resident native fish species. Global Rank Comments: Ihe number of viable occurrences is unknown, but probably rare. Although, these systems occur higher in the watershed, and not as rare as a high quality Medium Prairie River. These prairie river ecological types are abundant in terms of river miles across the Northern Great Plains Steppe of North America, but the hydrology (i.e. water permanence) can be easily atTecled b\ upstream dams or diversions in the watershed. Stock ponds that are stocked w ith game fish, and bait bucket introductions can also contribute to the community degradation brought about by the introduced tlsh species. 24 Site Description South Fork Grand River (site #2) (on report cover) w Figure 23. South Fork Grand River #2 (AES COOS) with reference condition landscape and local- reach overview from bridge Figure 24. South Fork Grand River U2 (AES COOS) Figure 2S. South Fork Grand River #2 (AES COOS) bottom of reach looking upstream bottom of reach looking downstream Location: Accessed from Rt. 79 at bridge crossing and proceeded upstream ~100m to the first riffle/ pool set designated the bottom of the reach. Nearest Town: Reva, Harding County, SD Ecoregion: Northern Great Plains Steppe (Typical) Aquatic Ecological System Type: C005-Northwestem Great Plains Prairie Stream Key Environmental Factors: Hydrology — upstream dams or diversions in the watershed; Grazing — slight impacts Rare or Unique Species: No rare species, but excellent fish community 25 Rare Features: Excellent Prairie Stream Habitat Introduced/F.xotic Species: Black bullhead and green sunfish (rare) Overall Ecological Site Condition: Good to Excellent Reach Summar> : The 300 m reach consisted of 3 rifTIe/run/pool complexes with full flowing water connectivit\. I he uppermost pool was -30m long and contained the most fish holding habitat. This stream reach has excellent aquatic habitat and a diversity ofmicrohabitats. thus leading to high Ush species diversity ( 1 1 species, 9 native). Pools averaging 20-25m long and 4.5m wide. The first 2 riffle/pool complexes proceeding upstream were the deeper habitat for fish seining, the last pool shallow enough to visibly inspect for fish and amphibians. Spacing between the pools was -20m apart for the bottom 3. and -lOOm from pool 3 to 4. All substrate of the pools was gravel dominated with some silt and cobbles. Aquatic geomorphic features and overhanging banks provided the most significant stream habitat in this reach. Vegetation coverage along the riparian stream channel was dominated by grasses and fulK intact. Livestock use index (LUl) was low with 10 cow pies counted on a 75m walk of both left and right banks. Reach Riparian Ranking: BLM= 95.8% (23 of 24) EPA RBP= 94.5 % (189 of 200) Reach Riparian Geomorphology: Ihe geomorphology of this stream reach is a Rosgen C-3b with a gentle-medium slope (~l%), moderate sinuosity, a riffle-pool configuration with substrate dominated by cobbles and ranging to gravel-dominated pools. Pools are slightly incised and averaged >40 cm in depth, wetted width of the reach was 8.2. Surrounding bank materials are finer than the channel bed materials. Amphibian Community: I adult Woodhouse's toad present along the uppermost pool. Fish Community: 12 fish species were seined in the 3 riffle/run/pools. Dominant species were the flathead chubs, plains minnows and sand shiners. Expected fish for this stream type would have been fathead minnows and brook sticklebacks, so the brassy minnows were a nice surprise. Fish Community Quality: !BI= 103.6 0/E= 9/7.75 or 116% of the expected fish community. Macroinvcrtebratc Community: This community consists of the Filtering Collector. Prairie Stream and Large Prairie River assemblage of macroinvertebrates (#9, 11.37 Stagliano 2005). Over 80% of the indicator species were present in this sample. Macroinvcrtebratc Community Quality: MT MMI= 79.7 0/E= >80% 26 Site Description South Fork Grand River (site #1) Figure 26. South Fork Grand River #1 (AES COOS) looking downstream towards county bridge Figure 27. South Fork Grand River #1 (AES COOS) bottom riffle of reach looking upstream Figure 28. South Fork Grand River #1 (AES COOS) Figure 29. South Fork Grand River #1 (AES COOS) top 1 50m long pool catfish seined in the top pool Location: Accessed from County Road (Old Route 20) 12.5 miles northeast from at the bridge crossing (Figure 26) and proceeded upstream above vehicle ford to the first riffle/pool set designated the bottom of the reach (Figure 27). Nearest Town: Buffalo, Harding County, SD Ecoregion: Northern Great Plains Steppe Aquatic Ecological System Type: C005-Northwestem Great Plains Perennial Stream 27 Key Environmental Factors: H\drology — upstream dams or diversions in tributaries of the watershed; Grazing — slight impacts Rare or I'nique Species: No rare species, but an excellent fish commiinit> Rare Features: No rare features documented Introduced/Exotic Species: Black bullhead and green suntlsh (rare) Overall Ecological Site Condition: Good to Excellent Reach Summary: The 300 m reach consisted of 3 riffle/run/pool complexes (full How ing connccti\ it\ ) u iih the uppermost pool being - 1 00m long and containing the most fish holding habitat, fhis stream reach has excellent aquatic habitat and a diversity of microhabitats, thus leading to high fish species diversity ( 1 2 species, 10 native). Pools averaging 10-1 5m long and 2.25m wide. The first 2 riftle/pool complexes proceeding upstream were deep enough to allow seining for t'lsh, the last pool was clear and shallow enough to visibly inspect for fish and amphibians. All substrate of the pools was gravel dominated with some silt and cobbles and pools I and 2 w ith surrounding vegetation dominated by Scirpus sp. (rushes) and Eleocfhiris paliisiris. common spikerush. Aquatic vegetation and overhanging banks provided the most significant stream habitat in this stream reach. Grasses, although sparse in places (Figure 26). comprised a large percentage of vegetation coverage along the riparian stream channel. Livestock use index (LLM) was moderate with -20 cow pies counted on a 75m walk of the left bank. Pugging and hummocking was minimal. Reach Riparian Ranking: BLM= 95.8% (23 of 24) EPA RBP= 93.5 % (188 of 200) Reach Riparian Geomorphology: The geomorphology of this stream reach is a Rosgen C-3b witli a gentle-medium slope (~ 1 .5%). moderate sinuosity, a riffle-pool configuration w ith substrate dominated by cobbles and ranging to gravel-dominated pools. Pools are slightly incised and averaged >40 cm in depth, wetted width of the reach was . Surrounding bank materials are finer than the channel bed materials. Amphibian Community : 1 Adult Northern Leopard Frog (NLF) observed in the uppermost pool. Fish Community: 1 2 fish species (9 native) were seined in the 3 rifnc/run/pools. Dominant species were the tlathead chubs, plains minnows and sand shiners. Expected fish fi>r this stream tspc ha\c been met, although a couple of introduced species were present (black bullhead and green sunfish). These probably originated from the Jones Creek stock pond reservoirs that can contribute introduced species during higli How events. Fish Community Quality: IBl" 99.8 0/E= 9/7.75 or 1 16% of the expected fish community. Macroinvcrtebrate Community: Ihis communit> consists otlhc I iltcruig Collector. Prairie Stream and Large Prairie River assemblage of macroin vertebrates («9. 11.37 Stagliano 2005). The expected community indicator species are present :iiul liiis siic i;mkcd high with the MI MMI. Over 80% of the indicator species were present in ihis sample. Macroinvcrtebrate (ommunity Quality: MT MM1= 69.8 0/E= >80% 28 Site Description North Fork Moreau River (site #2) Figure 30. North Fork Moreau River (AES COOS) Marty Bridge site not sampled '40 cm in depth, wetted width of the reach was 4.4m. Surrounding bank materials are tlner than the channel bed materials and the bluff bank upstream (Figure 32) probably contributes sediments in high flow events. Amphibian Community: I adult Northern leopard Frog(NLF) observed in the uppermost pool. Fish Community: 1 1 fish species (8 native) were seined in the 2 riffle/run/pools. Dominant species were the plains minnows, sand shiners and llathead chubs, which are the expected llsh for this stream type. Although a few introduced species were present (black bullhead, golden shiners and green sunllsh), they were not abundant and did not have a large detrimental elTect on the 1131, which was an excellent score. Fish Community (Quality: IBI= 90.3 0/E= 8/7.5 or 103% ol the expected fish community. 30 Macroinvertebrate Community: This community consists of the Filtering Collector, Prairie Stream and Large Prairie River assemblage of macroinvertebrates (#9, 11,37 Stagliano 2005). Over 80% of the indicator species were present in this sample. Macroinvertebrate Community Quality: MT MMI= 57.1 0/E= >80% 31 Site Description Figure 33. Jones Creek U2 (AES COOS) pool upstream from road crossing Figure 34. Jones Creek #2 (AES COOS) pools below the road crossing ligure 35. Jones Creek U2 (AES CU05) typical green sunfish. an introduced species Figure 36. Jones Creek U2 (AES COOS) riffle downstream from road crossing Location: Accessed from County Road ((^Id Route 20) 12.5 miles northeast from RiifTalo. SD. approxnnately '/: mile betbre tlie old S.\ . (irand Bridge crossing. Then heading north a tenth ol'a mile o\\ a 2-track to a stream crossing and proceeded upstream ~IOm to the first pool and downstream 1 00m for the bottom series of pools of the reach. Nearest Town: Buttalo. Ilarduig Lount\, SD Ecorcgion: Northern (ireat Plains Steppe 32 Aquatic Ecological System Type: C005-Northwestem Great Plains Perennial Stream, but due to reduced hydrology from upstream dams, trending towards a D005 Northwestern Great Plains Intermittent Stream Key Environmental Factors: Hydrology — upstream dams or diversions in the watershed; Grazing — moderate impacts Rare or Unique Species: No rare species or communities documented Rare Features: No rare features documented Introduced/Exotic Species: Black & yellow bullhead, green sunfish Overall Ecological Site Condition: Good-with high restoration potential Reach Summary: The 1 50 m reach consisted of a 50m run/pool complex above the road crossing and a 100m series of riffle/run/pools below the crossing. This road crossing could really use a culvert, as the dirt fill road is causing hvdrologic modifications and accumulating silt in the upper pool. The upper pool being ~30m long and 5m wide contained the deepest fish habitat, albeit silted (Figure 33). This stream reach has moderate-quality aquatic habitat and good fish species diversity (8 fish species, 5 natives). Pools below the road averaged 5-lOm long and 2.25m wide (Figure 34). Spacing between the pools was fully connected. All substrate of the pools was silt dominated with some gravel/pebble in the runs between them; the lower pools contain pebble/cobble riffle areas between them (Figure 36), which provided the highest habitat diversity for macroinvertebrates. The surrounding vegetation dominated by Scirpus sp. (rushes) and Eleocharis palustris, common spikerush. Aquatic vegetation and overhanging banks provided the most significant stream habitat in this stream reach. Livestock use index (LUl) was moderate with -15 cow pies counted on a 75 m walk of the left bank. Pugging and hummocking was minimal. Reach Riparian RanUng: BLM= 80% (20 of 24) EPA RBP= 87.5% (175 of 200) Reach Riparian Geomorphology: The geomorphology of this stream reach is a Rosgen E-4 with a gentle-medium slope (-1%), moderate sinuosity, a riffle-pool configuration with substrate dominated by gravels and silted-embedded pools. Pools are slightly incised and averaged >30 cm in depth, wetted width of the reach was 3.4. Surrounding bank materials are similar to the channel bed materials indicating a balance of sediment accumulation locally and upstream in the reach, except for the hydrologic change caused by the road crossing. Amphibian Community: 1 Adult Northern Leopard Frog (NLF) present in the uppermost pool. Fish Community: 8 fish species (5 natives) were seined in the 2 riffie/run/pool sequences. Dominant species were the sand shiners, fathead minnows and flathead chubs. Expected fish for this stream type have almost been met, although a few introduced species were present (BlackA'ellow Bullhead and green sunfish (Figure 35)). These probably originated from the upstream Jones Creek stock ponds that can contribute introduced species during high flow events. Only the one introduced species (green sunfish) was seined below the road, possibly indicating the road may be a barrier to bullhead from getting downstream. Fish Community Quality: IBI= 88.25 0/E= 5/7.5 or 66.7% of the expected fish community. 33 Macroinvertebrate Communit>': This cominunit\ oi' intermittent prairie stream invertebrates consisted olthe Prairie Pool assemblage (#12. Stagliano 2005) and the Prairie Stream assemblage found in the cobble riffle areas (#9. Stagliano 2005). Over 80% of the indicator species were present in this sample. .Macroinvertebrate Communit> Quality: MT MMi= 58.9 0/E= >80% of the expected community. 34 Site Description Crooked Creek (tributary to the North Fork Grand) Figure 37. Crooked Creek (AES COOS) looking upstream near Cox Church Location: Accessed from County Rd. 733 @ Cox Church, 7 miles west of Rt 85, -20 miles north of Buffalo. Nearest Town: Buffalo, Harding County, SD Ecoregion: Northern Great Plains Steppe Aquatic Ecological System Type: C005-Northwestem Great Plains Perennial Stream, but due to reduced hydrology from upstream dams, trending towards a D005 Northwestern Great Plains Intermittent Stream Key Environmental Factors: Hydrology — upstream and downstream dams in the watershed; Oil and gas drilling in the watershed; Grazing — slight impacts Rare or Unique Species: No rare species documented Rare Features: No rare features documented Introduced/Exotic Species: Black bullhead & green sunfish (rare, not abundant) Overall Ecological Site Condition: Fair/Good Reach Summary: The 1 00 m reach consisted of 1 run/pool complex with the pool being ~90m long and fairly incised (Figure 37). This site contains no riffle or erosional areas decreasing the ability to provide habitat for other C005 fish species. The stream reach has decent aquatic habitat and is set in a quality 35 local landscape. But the water quality or some other factor is definitely affecting the fish community's low integrity ratings. All substrate of the reach was silt dominated with some cobble associated with the bridge. Adjacent riparian vegetation was dominated by Eleocharis palnstris. the common spikerush and grasses which provided excellent bank stabilitN (Figure 37). Aquatic submerged vegetation provided the most significant stream habitat in this reach contributing to the abundant brook sticklebacks. Livestock use index (LUI) was low here with zero cow pies counted on a 50 m walk of the left & right banks. Pugging and hummocking was absent. Reach Riparian Ranking: BLM= 66.7% (16 of 24) EPA RBP= 67.5% (135 of 200) Reach Riparian Geomorphology: The geomorphology of this stream reach is a Rosgen F6 with a gentle slope (< 1 %), low sinuosity, a run-pool configuration w ith sill-dominated runs and pools. Pools are slightly incised and averaged -30 cm in depth, wetted width of the reach averaged 5m. Surrounding bank materials are similar to the channel bed materials indicating a balance of accumulation locally and upstream in the reach. Amphibian Community: 20 Adult Northern Leopard Frog (NLF) present. Undetermined toad, Bufo sp., tadpoles (prob. Woodhouse's) also present in pool. Fish Community: 5 fish species (3 natives) were seined in the pools. Dominant species are the fathead minnow and brook stickleback and the white sucker was also present. Expected fish for this stream type have not been met. and the fish IBI is showing moderate impairment. This indicates that habitat quality or water quality are definitely affecting the fish community. Fish Community Quality: IBI= 49.5 0/E= 2/2.4 or 83% of the expected indicator fish species. Macroinvertebrate Community: This community of prairie stream invertebrates consists of the Prairie Pool assemblage (#12. Stagliano 2005). The community indicator species are characterized by tolerant, damselfiy taxa, Coenagrion/Enalla^ma sp. Enallagma civile, testes ami Ishnnra. the crustaceans (Hyalella and (hinimarus). many genera and species of the water boatman (Corixidae: Sifiara allcrnale. Irichocorixa nais. arid C'oriselUi). the snails (f'hvM'llii, iiyruiiliis. and Slui^nicola), mayflies (Caenis and Callibaelis). and beetles (Oreodytes. Laccophilus, Hydroporus and Hygrotus). As the complexity of the pool habitat decreases the dinger habitat species are lost, such as the damselfiies and man\ of the water boatman taxa. Over 80% of the indicator species were present in this sample. Macroinvertebrate Community Quality: MT MMI= 39.5 0/E= 80% 36 Site Description South Fork Moreau River (site #2) Figure 38. South Fork Moreau River #2 (AES COOS) pool habitat, looking upstream near Rte. 85 bridge Figure 39. South Fork Moreau River #2 (AES C005) pool habitat, top of reach Figure 40. South Fork Moreau River #2 (AES COOS) pool habitat, cottorrwood trees top of reach Location: Accessed from Rt 85,-10 miles south of Redig at the bridge crossing and proceeded upstream (west) ~50m to the first pool set designated the bottom of the reach (Figure 38). Nearest Town: Redig, Harding County, SD 37 Ecorcgion: Nonlicm Great Plains Steppe Aquatic Ecological System Type: C005-Northwestem Great Plains Perennial Stream Key Environmental Factors: Hydrology — upstream beaver dams; Grazing — slight impacts; Geomorphology — incised channel, unconsolidated substrate Rare or I niquc Species: Iowa darters were documented at the downstream end of reach. Rare Features: Dead sheep hanging in a tree near top of reach, shows hydrologic extremes (Figure 40) Introduced/Exotic Species: Dominated by Black bullhead and green sunfish Overall Ecological Site Condition: Poor/Fair Reach Summary : The 300 m reach consisted of 1 long pool complex with the uppermost 1 00m of the pool being deepest and most incised (Figure 39). There were some areas of submerged aquatic vegetation that provided most of the Hsh holding habitat, but unconsolidated knee-deep silt and chest-deep ( I -1 .5m) channel depths made seining difficult. This stream reach has been overtaken by introduced species and the aquatic habitat is not conducive to a typical C005 fish community (e.g.. no stable substrate). All substrate of the pools was silt dominated with some clay. Riparian vegetation was dominated by shrubs & grasses, but there were a few dying cottonwoods on (he right bank (Figure 39, 40). Aquatic vegetation and overhanging banks provided the most significant stream habitat in this stream reach. Livestock use index (LUI) was moderate with -20 cow pies counted on a 75m walk of the left bank. Pugging and hummocking was especially noticeable in the lower pool area where the cows have a stream crossing. Reach Riparian Ranking: BLM= 50% (12 of 24) EPA RBP= 47.5 % (97 of 200) Reach Riparian Geomorphology: The geomorphology of this stream reach is a Rosgen G-6 with a gentle slope (-0.5%), moderate sinuosity, an unstable, degrading run-pool configuration w iih unconsolidated, erodible substrate dominated silts and clays. Pools are moderately incised and averaged >75 cm in depth, wetted width of the reach was 4.5m. Surrounding fine bank materials are similar to the channel bed materials and riparian \egetation needs to be den.se to pro\ ide bank stabilization (I- igure 39). .Amphibian Community: 1 adult Northern Leopard Frog (NLF) present in the uppermost pool. Fish Community: 5 fish species (3 native) were seined in the 300m pool complex. Dominant species were fathead minnows and black bullheads. Expected fish for this stream type would be fiathead chubs, plains minnows and sand shiners so the expected community was not met. Fish Community Quality: IBN 34.9 0/E= 38.7% of expected fish community. Macroinvertebratc Community: This community was dominated b\ the intermittent prairie stream invertebrates ot the i'rairie Pool assemblage (« 12. Stagliano 2005). liie comnuinil> indicator species should have contained members oflhe Prairie Stream macroinvertebrates (^9 Stagliano 2005). Only 40% of the indicator species were present in this sample. Miuroinvertebrate ( ommunit> Quality: M I MMN22.3 O/E=40% of expected macro community. 38 Site Description Bull Creek (tributary to the South Fork Grand) Figure 41. Bull Creek (AES COOS) a silt-impaired Great Plains stream near Brown Rd. Location: Accessed from County Rd. 733, 7 miles west of Rt 85, -20 miles northwest of Buffalo. Nearest Town: BuflFalo, Harding County, SD Ecoregion: Northern Great Plains Steppe Aquatic Ecological System Type: COOS -Northwestern Great Plains Perennial Stream, but due to reduced hydrology from upstream dams, trending towards a D005 Northwestern Great Plains Intermittent Stream Key Environmental Factors: Hydrology — upstream and downstream dams in the watershed; cattle grazing in the watershed Rare or Unique Species: No rare species documented Rare Features: No rare features documented Introduced/Exotic Species: None Overall Ecological Site Condition: Poor/Fair Reach Summary: The 1 00 m reach consisted of 1 run/pool complex with the pool being ~90m long and fairly incised (Figure 4 1 ). This site contains no riffle or erosional areas decreasing the ability to provide habitat for other COOS fish species. The stream reach has intact riparian habitat and is set in a quality local landscape. But the channel condition and accumulation of silt is definitely affecting the fish and macroinvertebrate community's low integrity ratings. Bottom substrate of the reach was O.Sm deep, unconsolidated silt, which made sampling difficult. The immediate surrounding vegetation was dominated by Scirpus sp. (rushes) and Eleocharis palustris, common spikerush. Riparian zone consisted entirely of grasses. Livestock use index (LUl) was low with S cow pies counted on a 50 m walk of the left & right banks. Pugging and hummocking was minimal. 39 Reach Riparian Ranking: BLM= 50% (12 of 24) EPA RBP= 55% (1 10 of 200) Reach Riparian CeomorphoIog>: The geomorphology of this stream reach is a Rosgen F-6 vsith a gentle slope(< l"o). lo\s sinuosit\. a run-pool configuration with silt-dominated runs and pools. Pools are slightly incised and averaged -40 cm in depth, wetted width of the reach averaged 5m. Surrounding bank materials are coarser than the channel bed materials indicating an accumulation of sediments locally and upstream in the reach. .\mphibian Community: 2 adult Northern Leopard Frog (NLF) were recorded. Fish Community: 2 f1sh species ( I native) were seined in the pool. Dominant species was the fathead minnow. I Apccted fish for this stream type have not been met. and the fish 1131 is showing moderate impairment. This indicates that habitat quality or water quality are definitely affecting the fish community. Fish Community Quality: IB1= 43.6 0/E= 50% of the expected indicator tlsh species. Macroinvcrtebratc Community: This community of prairie stream invertebrates consists of the impaired Prairie Pool assemblage (#12. Stagliano 2005). Thecommunit> indicator species are characterized by tolerant, damseltly taxa. Coenagrion Emillagnui sp. Eiicillunma civile. Lestes mid Islmura, the crustaceans (Hyalella and Gammarus), many genera of the water boatman (Corixidae: Sigara alternate. Trichocorixa nais. and Corisella), the snails (Physella. Gyraulus. and Stagnicola), nia\ flies (Caenis and Callihuelis). and beetles (Oreodytes. I.accophilus. Hydroporus and Hygrottis). .As the complexity of the pool habitat decreases the dinger habitat species are lost, such as the damselflies and many of the water boatman taxa. Only 50% of the indicator species were present in this sample. Macroinvertcbrate Community Quality: MT MM1= 24.8 0/E= 50% 40 Intermittent Prairie Stream Ecological Types Intermittent Prairie Stream Ecological Types (AES code D005) in order of highest biological integrity to lowest. 1 ) North Fork Moreau site #1,2) South Fork Moreau site # 1 ; 3) Campbell Creek, 4) Spur Creek, 5) Hay Creek, 6) Jones Creek # 1 Management/Threats: Grazing and livestock use around the riparian areas occurs and can have strong local effects resulting in sedimentation and stream widening at cattle crossings. This can be especially detrimental during the non-connective, drying period when intensive riparian cattle usage can trample banks, and hummock saturated soils having implications for downstream connectivity the following year. Hydrology can be easily affected in this ecological system by upstream dams or diversions in the watershed because it is on such a tenuous edge of existence. Global Rank Comments: The number of viable occurrences is unknown, but probably abundant. These prairie stream ecosystems are abundant across the Northern Great Plains Steppe of North America, but the hydrology (i.e. water permanence) can be easily affected by upstream dams or diversions in the watershed. Stock ponds that are stocked with game fish can also contribute to the community degradation of introduced fish species. 41 Site Description North Fork Moreau Ri\er (site #1) Figure 42. North Fork Moreau River Ul (AES D005) pool U3 looking upstream Figure 43. Sorth Fork Moreau River Ul (AES D005) pool n: looking upstream Location: Accessed from Rt 85 bridge and proceeded upstream to the first set of pools. Nearest Town: Redig, Harding County, SD Ecoregion: Northwestern Great Plains Aquatic Rcological System Type: D005-Northwestern Great Plains Intermittent Stream Key Environmental Factors: Hydrology — upstream dams or diversions in the watershed: Clra/ing — moderate impacts Rare or Unique Species: No rare species or communities documented Rare Features: No rare features documented Introduced/F.xotic Species: Smooth brome was documented Overall F-cologicai Site (onditicm: I air Reach Summary: The .M)() m reach contained 4 pools averaging l()-15in long and 2.25m wide and lacked connccti\ it\. I he first ?> proceednig upstream were deep enough to allow seining for fish, the last pool was clear and shallow enough to visibly inspect for fish and amphibians. Spacing between the pools was ~2()m apart fi>r the botti>m y. and - iOOm from pool ^ \o 4. All substrate of the pools was silt and fine sediments (■ 2niin) and pools I and 2 contained Tvpha hitifoliu stands with surrounding vegetation 42 dominated by Scirpus sp. (rushes) and Eleocharis palustris, common spikerush. Aquatic vegetation and overhanging banks provided the most significant stream habitat in this stream reach. Equisetum sp. (Horsetails) also comprised a large percentage of vegetation coverage along the riparian stream channel between pools 2-4. Livestock use index (LUI) was moderate with ~20 cow pies counted on a 75m walk of the left bank. Pugging and hummocking was especially noticeable in the first pool area where the cows have a stream crossing, and upstream at the 275m mark just below pool 4. Reach Habitat Ranking: BLM= 7 1 % ( 1 7 of 24) EPA RBP= 80 % ( i 60 of 200) Reach Riparian Geomorphology: The geomorphoiogy of this stream reach is roughly a Rosgen E-6 with a gentle slope (<2%), moderate sinuosity, a glide-pool configuration and substrate ranging from silt- dominated pools and sand to pebbles in the dried connecting glides. Pools are quite incised and averaged >50 cm in depth. Amphibian Community: I adult Northern Leopard Frog, Rana pipiens (NLF) present. Evidence of breeding amphibians was present in NLF and Great Plains Toad, Bufo cognatus tadpoles. Fish Community: 2 fish species (Fathead and brassy minnows) were seined in the 3 pools. Expected dominant fish for this stream type would have been fathead minnows and brook sticklebacks, so the brassy minnows were a nice surprise. Fish Community Quality: IBI= 51.5 0/E= 2/2.4 or 75% complete. Macroinvertebrate Community: This community of prairie stream invertebrates consists of the impaired Prairie Pool assemblage (# 1 2, Stagliano 2005). The community indicator species are characterized by tolerant, damselfly taxa, Coenagrion/Enallagma sp. Enallagma civile, Lestes and Ishnura, the crustaceans {Hyalella and Gammarus), many genera of the water boatman (Corixidae: Sigara alternate, Trichocorixa nais, and Corisella), the snails (Physella, Gyraulus, and Stagnicola), mayflies (Caenis and Callibaetis), and beetles {Oreodytes, Laccophilus, Hydroporus and Hygrotus). As the complexity of the pool habitat decreases the dinger habitat species are lost, such as the damselflies and many of the water boatman taxa. Only 60% of the indicator species were present in this sample. Macroinvertebrate Community Quality: MT MMI= 28 0/E= 60% 43 Site Description South Fork Moreau River (site Ul) Figure 44. South Fork Moreau River Ul (AES D005) vegelalive pool hahiial. looking from bridge 3£L 'i^'*^\^ 1 4- Figure 46. South Fork Moreau River HI (AES D005) pool habitat looking up Location: Accessed from Butte County Road at the bridge crossing ~3 miles west of Rlc. 85 and proceeded upstream to the first pool set designated the bottom of the reach. Figure 45. South Fork Moreau River HI {AES D()()5) beaxer Jam pool habitat Nearest Town: Kcdig. Harding C"ounl\. SI) 44 Ecoregion: Northern Great Plains Steppe Aquatic Ecological System Type: D005-Northwestem Great Plains Intermittent Stream trending towards a Great Plains prairie stream if downstream connectivity is maintained. Key Environmental Factors: Hydrology — upstream beaver dams; Grazing — moderate impacts Rare or Unique Species: Iowa Darter Rare Features: No rare features documented Introduced/Exotic Species: Yellow bullhead, golden shiner and green sunfish Overall Ecological Site Condition: Fair Reach Summary: The 250m reach consisted of 3 run/pool complexes with the uppermost pool being ~1 00m long and containing the most fish holding habitat. This stream reach has moderate aquatic habitat with extensive beds of macrophytes, beaver dam complexes in the reach, without which, the pool would have been smaller and disconnected. Pools averaging 10-1 5m long and 2.25m wide. The first 2 riffle/pool complexes proceeding upstream were deep enough to allow seining for fish, the last pool was clear and shallow enough to visibly inspect for fish and amphibians. Spacing between the pools was ~20m apart for the bottom 3, and ~ 1 00m from pool 3 to 4. All substrate of the pools was silt dominated with surrounding vegetation dominated by Scirpus sp. (rushes) and Eleocharis palustris, common spikerush. Aquatic vegetation and overhanging banks provided the most significant stream habitat in this stream reach. Livestock use index (LUI) was moderate with -20 cow pies counted on a 75m walk of the left bank. Pugging and hummocking was especially noticeable in the first pool area where the cows have a stream crossing near the beaver dam. Reach Riparian Ranking: BLM= 66.7% (16 of 24) EPA RBP= 69.5 % (139 of 200) Reach Riparian Geomorphology: The geomorphology of this stream reach is a Rosgen F-6 with a gentle-medium slope (~1%), moderate sinuosity, a run-pool configuration with substrate dominated by cobbles and ranging to gravel-dominated pools. Pools are slightly incised and averaged >40 cm in depth, wetted width of the reach was . Surrounding bank materials are finer than the channel bed materials. Amphibian Community: 20-30 adult Northern Leopard Frogs (NLF) were collected throughout the reach. Fish Community: 7 fish species (4 natives) were seined in the 3 pools. Dominant fish species was the fathead minnow. Expected fish for this stream type would have been fathead minnows, brassy minnows and brook sticklebacks, so the additional species were a surprise, especially the Iowa darter, unfortunately 3 non-native species were collected reducing the quality of the fish community and the IBI. Fish Community Quality: 181= 56.65 0/E= 51.6% Macroinvertebrate Community: Macroinvertebrate Community: This community of intermittent prairie stream invertebrates consists of the Prairie Pool assemblage (#12, Stagliano 2005). The community indicator species are characterized by tolerant, damselfiy taxa, Coenagrion/Enallagma sp. Enallagma civile, testes and Ishnura, the crustaceans {Hyalella and Gammarus), many genera and 45 species of the water boatman (Corixidae; Sigara alternate. Trichocorixa nais. and Corisella), the snails {PhyseHa. Gyraulm. and Stagnicola), mayflies {Caenis and Callihaetis). and beetles (Oreodyles. Laccophilus. Hydroporus and Hygrotus). As the complexit\ of the pool habitat decreases the dinger habitat species are lost, such as the damselllies and many of the water boatman taxa. Only 65% of the indicator species were present in this sample. Macroinvertebrate Community Quality: MT MMI= 35.6 0/E= 65% 46 Site Description Campbell Creek (tributary to BuH Creek, South Fork Grand) Figure 47. Campbell Creek (AES D005J pool looking Figure 48. Campbell Creek (AES D005) pool looking downstream towards Brown's Pond upstream towards inlet Location: Accessed from Johnson Rd. 4.5 miles NW of Rt 85. Follow until you reach the National Forest section and drop in upstream of Brown's Pond. Nearest Town: Buffalo, Harding County, SD Ecoregion: Northern Great Plains Steppe Aquatic Ecological System Type: D005-Northwestem Great Plains Intermittent Stream Key Environmental Factors: Hydrology — upstream and downstream dams in the watershed; Grazing — slight impacts Rare or Unique Species: No rare species documented Rare Features: No rare features documented Introduced/Exotic Species: None Overall Ecological Site Condition: Good Reach Summary: The 50 m reach consisted of 1 run/pool complex with the pool being ~45m long and backed up as the top of Brown's Pond goes from lotic to lentic. This site is fully on National Forest ownership. The stream reach has decent aquatic habitat and low species diversity (2 fish species), but the brook sticklebacks were abundant. All substrate of the reach was silt dominated with some embedded gravel in the run upstream. The surrounding vegetation was dominated by Scirpus sp. (rushes) and Eleocharis palustris, common spikerush. Aquatic vegetation provided the most significant stream habitat in this reach. Livestock use index (LUI) was low here with 10 cow pies counted on a 50 m walk of the left & right banks. Pugging and hummocking was especially noticeable upstream of the fence separating the lower pool area from the actual stream inflow. 47 Reach Habitat Ranking: BLM= 71% (17 of 24) EPA RBP= 74% (148 of 200) Reach Riparian (ieomorphology: The geomorpholog\ of this stream reach is a Rosgen F6 with a gentle slope (-^l^o). low siiuiosit\. a run-pool configuration with silt-dominated runs and pools. Pools are slightly incised and averaged -30 cm in depth, wetted width of the reach averaged 5m. Surrounding bank materials are similar to the channel bed materials indicating a balance of accumulation locally and upstream in the reach. .Amphibian Community: 20 adult Northern Leopard Frog (MLF) present. Undetermined toad. Bufo sp.. tadpoles (prob. Woodhouse's) also present in pool. Fish Community: 2 fish species were seined in the pool. Dominant species was the brook stickleback and the fathead minnow was also present. Expected fish for this stream type have almost been met. although the fish IBl is still showing slight impairment. Fish Community Quality: 181= 62.05 0/E= 2/2.4 or 83% of the expected indicator fish species. Macroinvertebrate Community: This community of intermittent prairie stream invertebrates consists of the Prairie Pool assemblage (#12. Stagliano 2005). The communitv indicator species are characterized by tolerant, damselfiy taxa. Coetwgrion/Enallagma sp. Emillagma civile, testes and Ishnura, the crustaceans (Hyalella ami Clummcinis). many genera and species of the water boatman (Corixidae: Sifiara alternate. Trichocori.xa nais. ami Corisella), the snails (I'/iysella. Uyraiilii.s. and Sta^nicola), ma\nies (Caenis ami Callihaetis). and beetles (Oreodytes. Laccophilus. Ilydroporus and llygrotus). As the complexity of the pool habitat decreases the dinger habitat species are lost, such as the damselfiies and many of the water boatman taxa. Over 80% of the indicator species were present in this sample. Macroinvertebrate Community Quality: MT MMI= 35.6 0/E= 80% 48 Site Description Spur Creek (tributary to the South Fork Moreau) Figure 49. Spur Creek (AES D005) a tributary to South Fork Moreau River looking upstream Figure 50. Spur Creek (AES D005) a backed up section behind a culvert Location: Accessed from County Rd. 3 miles west of Rt. 85 at bridge crossing and proceeded upstream ~50m to the first pool area away from the culvert effects in the reach. Nearest Town: Redig, Butte County, SD Ecoregion: Typical Northern Great Plains Steppe Aquatic Ecological System Type: D005-Northwestem Great Plains Intermittent Stream Key Environmental Factors: Hydrology — upstream dams or diversions in the watershed; Grazing — moderate impacts Rare or Unique Species: Marbled Godwit nesting pair Rare Features: No rare features documented Introduced/Exotic Species: None Overall Ecological Site Condition: Fair Reach Summary: The 1 00 m reach consisted of 1 run/pool complex with the lower pool being ~70m long and produced by an earthen uprising near the road culvert and containing the deepest fish holding habitat This stream reach has sparse aquatic habitat and low species diversity ( 1 fish species). The first run proceeding upstream was shallow (~25cm). but deep enough to allow seining for fish (Figure 49) and 49 abundant fathead minnows were captured. All substrate of the pools was silt dominated with some embedded gravel in the run upstream. The surrounding vegetation was dominated bv Scirpus sp. (rushes) and Ek'ocharis palusiris. common spikerush. Aquatic vegetation and overhanging banks pro\ ided the most significant stream habitat in this stream reach, livestock use index (LAI) was moderate uith -12 cow pies counted on a 50 m walk of the left & right banks. Pugging and hummocking was especially noticeable below the lower pool area where the cows have a stream crossing. Reach Riparian Ranking: BLM= 75% (18 of 24) EPA RBP= 75% (150 of 200) Reach Riparian (;comorpholog>': The geomorphology of this stream reach is a Rosgcn F-6 with a gentle slope (-- 1 " o). nuidcrate sinuosity, a ritllc-pool conllguration \\ ith silt-dominated runs and pools. Pools are slightly incised and averaged -25 cm in depth, wetted width of the reach averaged Im. Surrounding bank materials are coarser tlian the channel bed materials indicating an accumulation of sediments in the reach. .\mphibian Community : 5 adult Northern Leopard Frog (NLF) present. Fish Community : I fish species was seined in the pool, none in the run. Only species was the fathead minnow, lixpected fish for this stream type (D005 trending toward L005) have been met. Fish Community Quality: IBI= 48.08 0/E= 1/1 .4 or 71% of the expected reference fish. Macroinvertebrate Community: This community of intemiittent prairie stream invertebrates consists of the Prairie Pool assemblage (#12, Stagliano 2005). The community indicator species are characterized b\ tolerant, damselflv taxa, Coemigrion tjuillasima sp. Eiuilla^imi civile. LcMcs ami Ishnura. the crustaceans (HyalelUi ami Gummunis). many genera and species of the water boatman (Corixidae; Sinani alternate. Trichocorixa nais. ami Corisella). the snails (Phv.sella. (Jyraulus. ami Slagnicola). maytlies (Caenis and Callibaelis). and beetles (Oreodytes. Laccophilus. Hydroporus and Hygrolus). As the complexity of the pool habitat decreases the dinger habitat species are lost, such as the damseinies and many of the water boatman taxa. Only 60% of the indicator species were present in this sample for a D005 stream type indicating slight impairment. The Montana MMI ranks the community as slightly impaired as well. .Macroinvertebrate Community Quality: MT MMI= 34.9 0/E= 60% of expected macroinvertebrates 50 Site Description Hay Creek (tributary to the South Fork Moreau) Figure 51. Hay Creek (AES D005) a tributary to South Figure 52. Hay Creek (AES D005) aquatic water- Fork Moreau River looking upstream plantain (Alisma trrviale) Location: Accessed from County Rd. 2 miles west of Rt. 85 at bridge crossing and proceeded upstream ~25m to the first pool designated the bottom of the reach. Nearest Town: Redig, Butte County, SD Ecoregion: Typical Northern Great Plains Steppe Aquatic Ecological System Type: D005-Northwestem Great Plains Intermittent Stream Key Environmental Factors: Hydrology — upstream dams or diversions in the watershed; Grazing — moderate impacts Rare or Unique Species: Aquatic water-plantain, Alisma triviale (Figure 52). Rare Features: No rare features documented Introduced/Exotic Species: None Overall Ecological Site Condition: Fair Reach Summary: The 1 00 m reach consisted of 1 run/pool complex with the lower pool being ~80m long and produced by an earthen uprising near the road culvert. This contained the deepest fish holding habitat. This stream reach has sparse aquatic habitat and low species diversity ( 1 fish species, low numbers). Only 8 fathead minnows were captured after multiple seine hauls. All substrate of the pools was silt dominated with abundant growth of the water-plantain. Alisma gramineum (Figure 52). This was the only site of all site visits that contained this wetland obligate plant. The riparian vegetation was dominated by Scirpus sp. (rushes) and Eleocharis palustris, common spikerush. Aquatic vegetation and overhanging banks provided the most significant stream habitat in this stream reach. Livestock use index (LUl) was moderate with ~I5 cow pies counted on a 50 m walk of the left & right banks. Pugging and 51 hummiKking was especially noticeable below the lower pool area where the cows have a stream crossing. Reach Riparian Ranking: BLM= 66.7% (16 or24) EPA RBP= 63% (126 of 200) Reach Riparian (Jcomorphology: Hie geomorphology of this stream reach is a Rosgen F-6 with a gentle slope (<1%), moderate sinuosity, a run-pool contluuration with silt-dominated pools. Pools are slightly incised and averaged -25 cm in depth, wetted width of the reach averaged 4.5 ni. Surrounding bank materials are coarser than the channel bed materials indicating an accumulation of sediments in the reach. Amphibian C ommunity: 1 5-20 adult Northern Leopard Frogs (NLF) were present. No tadpoles were present in pool. Fish Community: i fish species was seined in the pool, none in the run. Only species was the fathead minnow. Lxpected Ush for this stream type (D005 trending toward H005) have been met. Fish Community Quality: 1B1= 44.77 0/E= 1/1.4 or 71% of the expected reference fish. .Vlacroinvertcbrate Community: This community of intermittent prairie stream invertebrates consists of the Prairie Pool assemblage (#12. Stagliano 2005). The community indicator species are characterized bv tolerant, damsel flv taxa. Cocncii^rion Ftnillcii^md sp. Eiuilluiinm civile. Lcslcs ami Ishmira. the crustaceans (Uyatclla ami Gamnuirus), many genera and species of the water boatman (Corixidae: Sij^ara alternate. Trichocorixa nais. and Corisetla\ the snails (Physella. Gyraulus. and Stagnicola), mayflies (Caenis and Callihaclis). and beetles (Oreodytes. l.accophilus. Hydroporns and Hygrotus). As the complexity of the pool habitat decreases the dinger habitat species are lost, such as the damseltlies and many of the water boatman taxa. Only 50% of the indicator species were present in this sample for a D005 stream type indicating slight impairment. The Montana MMl ranks the community as slightly impaired as well. Macruinvertcbratc Cummunity Quality: MT MMI= 30.5 0/E= 50 Site Description Jones Creek (site #1) \ Figure 53. Jones Creek #1 (AES D005) small remaining pool in reach Figure 54. Jones Creek #1 (AES DUU5} dead snapping turtle found on side ofRte. 85 bridge Location: Accessed from Rt 85 at bridge crossing and proceeded upstream ~25m to the first pool designated the bottom of the reach. Nearest Town: Buffalo, Harding County, SD Ecoregion: Typical Northern Great Plains Steppe Aquatic Ecological System Type: D005-Northwestem Great Plains Intermittent Stream trending toward E005 with a loss of connectivity to downstream fish colonization Key Environmental Factors: Hydrology — upstream dams or diversions in the watershed; Grazing — moderate impacts Rare or Unique Species: Snapping turtle was found dead on road near bridge (Figure 54). Rare Features: No rare features documented Introduced/Exotic Species: None Overall Ecological Site Condition: Fair Reach Summary: The 50 m reach consisted of 1 run/pool complex with the lower pool being ~1 5m long and produced by an earthen uprising (probably old cattle hummocking) and containing the only fish holding habitat except for an artificially produced bridge pool not in the reach. This stream reach has sparse aquatic habitat and low species diversity (1 fish species). The first run/pool complex proceeding 53 upstream was barely deep enough to allow seining for fish (Figure 53), but fathead minnows were captured. All substrate of the pools was silt dominated with some embedded grave! in the run upstream. The surrounding vegetation was dominated b> Scirpus sp. (rushes) and Elcocluiris paliislris. common spikerush. Aquatic vegetation and overhanging banks provided the most significant stream habitat in this stream reach. Livestock use index (LUI) was moderate with -25 cow pies counted on a 50 m walk of the left & right banks. Pugging and hummocking was especially noticeable below the lower pool area where the cows have a stream crossing. Reach Riparian Ranking: BLM= 66.7% (16 of 24) EPA RBP= 64% (125 of 200) Reach Riparian Geomorphology: The geomorphologv of this stream reach is a Rosgen F-6 with a gentle slope (tlies (Caenis ami Callihaells). and beetles (OreoJvles. Laccophilus. Ihilroporus ami llviiroius). As the complexity of the pool habitat decreases the dinger habitat species are lost, such as the damselflies and many of the water boatman taxa. Over 60% of the indicator species were present in this sample for a 1)005 stream type indicating slight impairment. The Montana MMl ranks the comnuinit> as slightK impaired as well. Macroinvcrtebrate Community Quality: MT MMI= 35.6 0/E=6I.5 54 Intermittent Fishless Prairie Stream Ecological Type Intermittent Fishless Prairie Stream (AES code E005). 1 ) Pine Spring Creek Site Description Pine Spring Creek (tributary to the South Fork Grand) Figure 55. Pine Spring Creek (AES E005) a Great Plains Fishless Intermittent Stream with moderate landscape integrity and degraded local conditions Location: Accessed from dirt road south of Rt 20, 1 .2 miles east of Jump-Off Divide. Site was located in a state-owned section at the culvert road-crossing then proceeded downstream ~50m to the first bend area. Nearest Town: Buffalo, Harding County, SD Ecoregion: Typical Northern Great Plains Steppe Aquatic Ecological System Type: EOO 5 -Northwestern Great Plains Fishless Intermittent Stream Key Environmental Factors: Hydrology — upstream dams or diversions in the watershed; Grazing — moderate to severe impacts Rare or Unique Species: No rare features documented Rare Features: No rare features documented Introduced/Exotic Species: None 55 Overall Ecological Site Condition: Poor/Kair Reach Summarj: The 100 m reach consisted of 1 run/pool complex with the run having been recently refilled and the pool (-1 5iti long) containing no fish and the onl\ macroin\ertebrates in the reach. This stream reach has sparse aquatic habitat and severely trampled riparian area. All substrate of the run was silt dominated with some embedded gravel in the run upstream. The surrounding vegetation was dominated bv C'urex iwhrnscensis (a hea\y-grazing indicator), Scirpm sp. (rushes) and Eleocharis palustris. common spikerush. Riparian vegetation and grassy banks were heavily grazed. Livestock use index (LL'i) was high -45 cow pies counted on a 50 m walk of the left & right banks. Pugging and hummocking was especially noticeable at the top of the run where the cows have a stream crossing. This sediment Reach Habitat Ranking: BLM= 66.7% (16 of 24) EPA RBP= 63% (126 of 200) Reach Riparian CJeomorpholog>': The geomorphology of this stream reach is a Rosgen F-6 with a gentle slope (~ 1 "o). moderate sinuosity, a rifile-pool configuration u ith silt-dominated runs and pools. Pools are slightly incised and averaged -25 cm in depth, wetted width of the reach averaged Im. Surrounding bank materials are coarser than the channel bed materials indicating an accumulation of sediments in the reach. .Amphibian Cctmmunity: No amphibians reported from this site. Fish Community: None Macroinvertebrate Community: This community of intermittent prairie stream invertebrates consists of the Prairie Pool assemblage (#12. Stagliano 2005). The community indicator species are characterized bv tolerant, damsellly taxa. Coenui^rion Enallagma sp. Kmillii^inui civile. Lcilcs and /.shnitru. the crustaceans (Hyalella and Gammarus), many genera and species of the water boatman (Corixidae: Sigara alternate. Trichocorixa nais. and Corisella). the snails (Pliysella. (;it Quality: MT MMI= 32.5 0/E=61% 56 Conclusions Diverse fish and macroinvertebrate communities were identified at many aquatic sites of the Slim Buttes region, but the overall highest integrity sites were in the South Fork Grand River basin. Most stream sites visited in the Grand River basin had higher than average landscape integrity reflected at the local reach-scale with high biological integrity. At this scale conservation work in the South Fork Grand basin seems a logical choice, with excellent restoration potential of the Jones Creek site upstream from South Fork Grand # 1 . With the exception of North Fork Moreau #2, the Moreau basin sites exhibited less habitat integrity, more disturbance and subsequently lower ranking fish and macroinvertebrate communities. For a Medium-Large Prairie River, the Little Missouri River exhibits high quality fish and macroinvertebrate communities. Diverse communities with high biological integrity are highly correlated with good riparian condition and high habitat quality. Thus, effective riparian zone management in the grazing of cattle will contribute to intact vegetation buffers and less sediment in the aquatic environment. Macroinvertebrate communities ranked fewer sites as moderately impaired, but the effectiveness of macroinvertebrates in assessing prairie streams is still under debate in Montana and has not been addressed in South Dakota yet. Community results from the habitat, fish and macroinvertebrate surveys combined to rank the following sites from highest biological integrity to lowest within their aquatic ecological classification codes: Medium Prairie River (AES 8005): 1 ) Little Missouri Montana site, 2) Little Missouri #2, 3) Little Missouri@ Camp Crook, 4) South Fork Moreau #3 Northwestern Great Plains Prairie Stream (AES COOS): 1 ) South Fork Grand #2, 2) South Fork Grand #1, 3) North Fork Moreau #2, 4) Jones Creek #2, 5) Crooked Creek, 6) South Fork Moreau #2, 7) Bull Creek Intermittent Prairie Stream (AES code D005): 1) North Fork Moreau #1,2) South Fork Moreau #1; 3) Campbell Creek, 4) Spur Creek, 5) Hay Creek, 6) Jones Creek # 1 Intermittent Fishless Prairie Stream (AES code E005): 1 ) Pine Spring Creek Northwestern Great Plains Perennial Spring (AES code S005): 1) Picnic Spring Jones Creek site #2, near the confluence with the S. Fork Grand River, has high ecological potential for recovery if hydrologic restoration occurs. 57 LlTERATlRE CiTED Allan. J.D.. D.L. Erickson and J. Fay. 1997. The influence of catchment land use on stream integrirs across multiple spatial scales. Freshwa- ter Biolog> 37:149-162. Angermeier. P.L.. and I.J. Schlosser. 1989. Spe- cies-area relationships for stream fishes. Ecol- og> 70:1450-1462. Barbour. M.. J. (ierritsen, B.D. Snyder, and J.B. Stribling. 1999. Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in Streams and Wadablc Rivers: Per- iphylon. Benthic Macroinvertebratesand Fish. Second Edition. EPA 841-B-99-002. United States Environmental Protection Agency; Office of Water: Washington. D.C. Bramblett. RQ. and K.D. Fausch. 1991. Variable tlsh communities and the index of biotic integrity in a western Great Plains river. Transactions of the American Fisheries Societv 120:752-769. Bramblett. R.G, T.R. Johnson. A.V. Zaie, A.V.. and D. Heggem. 2005. Development and Evaluation of a Fish Assemblage Index of Biotic Integrity for North\sesteni (ireat Plains. Irans- actions of the American Fisheries Society 134:624-640. Dodds. W.K.. K. Gido. MR. W hiles. K.M. Fritz, and W.J. Matthews. 2004. Life on the edge: The ecology of Great Plains prairie streams. BioScience 54:205 216. I eldman. I). 2006. Interpretation of New Macro- in\ertcbratc Models by WQPB. Draft Report. Mt>ntana Department of F^nvironmental (Quality. Planning Prevention and Assistance Division. Water Quality Planning Bureau. Water Quality Standards Section. 1 520 E. 6"' Avenue, Helena. MI 5%20. 14 pp. Hawkins. C.P. and R.II. Norris. 2000. Perfor- mance of different landscape classificaliiMis for aquatic bioassessments: Introduction to the series. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 1 9:3 (367-369). Holton. GD.. and HE. Johnson. 2003. A field guide to Montana flshes. 3rd edition. Montana Fish. Wildlife and Parks. Helena. Jessup, B. 2006. Ecological Data Application System (EDAS). Version MT 3.3.2k. A User's Guide. Tetra Tech. Inc. Jessup. B.. J. Stribling; and C. Hawkins. 2005. Biological Indicators of Stream Condition in Montana Using Macroinvertebrates. Tetra Tech. Inc. November 2005 (draft). Lazorchak. J.M.. Klemm. D.J., and D.V. Peck (editors). 1998. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program - Surface Waters: field Operations and Methods for Measuring the Ecological Condition of Wadeable Streams. EPA/620/R-94/004F. U.S. Km ironmental Protection Agency. Washington. D.C. Loomis. T.M. 1997. Survev of the fishes and habitat in the Upper Moreau River, Perkins County, South Dakota. South Dakota State University. Brookings, SD. M.S. Thesis, 99pp+appendicies. Matthews. W.J. and H.W. Robison. 1998. Influ- ence of drainage connectivity, drainage area, and regional species richness on flshes of the Interior Highlands in .Arkansas. American Midland Naturalist 139:1-19. Montana Department of Environmental Qualilv (DEQ). 2005. SampieCollection. Sorting, and Taxonomic Identiflcation of Benthic Macroinver- tebrates. Water OnalilN Planninu BiircMu Standard Operation Procedure (WQl'BWQM- 009). Montana Fish. Wildlife and Parks. 20().v Montana Fish. \\ ildlife, and Parks I ish Sampling Protocols for Prairie Streams. Written in Collaboration with R.G. Bramblett, 2003. Helena, Ml. 58 Omernik, J.M. 1995. Ecoregions: A Spatial Framework for Environmental Management. Chapter 5. Davis, W. and T. Simon, eds. Pages 49-64 in Biological Assessment and Criteria: tools for water resource planning and decision making. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, London. Stagliano, David, M. 2005. Aquatic Community Classification and Ecosystem Diversity in Montana's Missouri River Watershed. Report to the Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, Montana. 65 pp. plus appendices, http://www.mtnhp.org/ reports.asp#Ecology The Nature Conservancy. 1999. Seeing the forest and the trees: Ecological Classification for Conservation. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia. 25pp. Werdon, S.J. 1992. Population status and charac- teristics of Macrhybopsis gelida. Platygobio gracilis and Rhinichthys cataractae in the Missouri River Basin. South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD. M.S. Thesis, 55pp. 59 Appendix A. Raw fish data and IBI metric calculations COLLECTED FROM SlIM BuTTES SiTES. INTRODUCED SPECIES ARE SHADED. fOa *aa '^«>. '^"(/C ■'o //a '9a '^f. ^O ««j '^'o„ "^o ^*v. '///;, '^ %, '/^> ^'7 O/j, ^/-((z- ?# *ooofMCN'^^tno^coor^-^rMcoo (D T- CM h- to CO T- ^-ooOt— ooo^-oocoocDOco-^oi^oiooro (NO'<-OfOOcO O) CO CSJ CD OJCDOOT-oooooooou^ooooocnoooo CM fO Tj- T- ■<- T- oooooooooo-^ooooooooooo tooooioooocotDcooooonor^ocom^ f- CO CM CO T- IT) CO CM OOOOOC7>00000-^OOCNOOO-T-0000 N. O ^ CO COOOtO^OOinOOCDOOT-OOOOOOCDO CM T- T- T- r- T- — X) — - o o ^ i:; - o c ^ ^ — rnoOOOOOrs o o o S H mcO'O— ■ — O^fNO — OfNOrn CM T- — OC — °/v. '■^-v OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ooooooo — 2 o d 2 o ^CM'^I^ ir-, 'rii/-)r*-|'/^sCOr--00 ^ CM W' r- r- r^ ^^•ir, r^ -r"'>sDT^r-^sOO " ^* Oy ^ nO ^ O) •r, •V «r^. __ ■^ ■^ u^ vD — " s OO fM at ir; M v^ OO ■*T r- «-i — — " r*-i 1/-. 00 lO - 'I- f^l O 00 r^ ^ — - - - - o o o o o O o o i^cr-T — -Tj- — ooo^ rj I/-, I/-; ^' — ■^ <-*-) m Tt OO U> CO rO .. r-j -i- — . rN — r^ >o O r'l ON o o ON O r«- ^ -T ^ r^ f^J o C'l o ^ — -r 9C ro s o o r-i On ^ 00 'n NO ^ £ £ S 2 S 'E ^ "2 ^ a^ g > ■■^ -^ if -5 5 •= \= '3 c w ra o H it Z i- ^ c3 a. S f- = i/i S i> > I/-, ^- i "2 1 = !/-. _ -- fe 5 § + > 1 1 ^ s ^ H- 3 c ^ o ^ ~ «; o~ tt o-^ > a £ a > ^ -5 -^ ^ J ti ^^ •E ^ u £ =0 m -J n- ^ Jj tt o^ o^ 6^ «: Appendix A - I Appendix B. Macroewertebrate taxa and abundance for the Medium Prairie Rtver sites Taxa Little Mo Little Little SF Moreau MT Mo#1 Mo #2 #3 Agabus 0 0 0 2 Acarina 0 0 2 0 Ablabesmyia 4 0 13 19 Ambrysus 1 4 1 5 Baetis intercalaris 18 81 4 0 Baetis tricaudatus 69 20 12 0 Caenis sp. 0 0 0 10 Caenis latipennis 4 8 77 26 Callibaetis 0 0 0 1 Centroptilum 4 0 1 0 Cercobrachys 1 0 1 0 Ceratopogoninae 0 0 17 4 Cheumatopsyche 43 147 3 5 Chironomus 1 0 5 0 Cladotanytarsus 0 0 2 2 Corixidae 4 2 44 46 Cricotopus 2 1 0 6 Cricotopus bicinctus 1 2 2 16 Cricotopus 0 0 1 0 (Isodadius) Cryptochironomus 0 0 6 0 Cryptotendipes 0 0 0 1 Dicranota 2 1 0 0 Dicrotendipes 5 1 54 0 Dubiraphia 3 2 17 115 Dytiscidae 0 0 0 2 Enallagma 0 0 3 6 Ephoron 1 0 0 0 Fallceon quilleri 4 2 2 10 Gomphidae 4 0 0 0 Gomphus externus 1 0 0 0 Hyalella 2 0 2 10 Hydropsyche 12 46 0 4 Hydropsychidae 2 7 0 0 Hydroptila 2 0 3 1 Hygrobates 3 0 0 13 Isonychia 1 11 0 0 Ithytrichia 11 14 0 8 Labrundinia 0 0 0 15 Larsia 0 0 3 0 Leptophlebiidae 1 0 0 0 Leucrocuta 44 12 3 0 Mayatrichia 1 0 0 0 Microcylloepus 1 2 2 0 Nanocladius 4 0 0 0 Nectopsyche 2 0 0 0 Nematoda 5 7 0 0 Appendix B-l Taxa Little Mo Little Little SF Moreau MT Mo#1 Mo #2 #3 Neotrichia 7 2 0 0 Ochthebius 0 0 0 1 Oligochaeta 33 38 0 1 Ophiogomphus 1 4 0 0 severus Ostracoda 0 0 1 0 Palmaconxa 0 0 18 0 Paracloeodes minutus 4 0 0 0 Paratanytarsus 1 2 0 16 Parakiefferiella 0 0 0 113 Physella 0 0 3 5 Polypedilum 22 31 2 0 Procladius 0 0 5 0 Pseudocloeon 1 0 0 0 Psectrocladius 0 0 0 4 Pseudochironomus 0 0 0 24 Rheotanytarsus 0 0 0 3 Saetheria tylus 23 2 0 0 Sialis 2 1 1 0 Sigara 0 0 4 0 Simulium 3 13 0 13 Sperchon 6 3 0 1 Stenelmis 2 4 3 0 Stenonema 12 3 0 0 Tanytarsus 3 0 7 0 Thienemanniella 8 3 0 0 Thienemannimyia 2 0 7 0 Tricorythodes 5 2 1 0 Tropisternus 0 0 0 1 Total Taxa Richness 50 32 36 34 Appendix B - 2 Appendix C. Significant indicator species (p<0.05) of the MACROEWERTEBRATE COMMUNITY GROUPS. OI V=ObSERVED Indicator Value of that taxon Taxon Group OIV Average Std Dev p-value Transitional Prairie River Cricotopus sp. 3 40.6 11.8 3.83 0.001 Rheotanytarsus 3 31.7 8.8 3.6 0.002 Tricorythodes 3 26.5 10 3.47 0.003 Cricotopus trifascia grp 3 31.5 7.9 3.79 0.003 Naididae 3 24.2 7.3 3.61 0.004 Oecetis avara grp 3 19 5.5 3.53 0.009 Monodiamesa sp. 3 14.1 4.8 3.04 0.015 Camelobatidius 3 15.5 5.3 3.16 0.015 Stenelmis sp. 3 21.4 7.8 4.3 0.016 Leucotrichia pictipes 3 13.9 4.6 2.91 0.017 Neotrichia sp. 3 13.9 5 3.19 0.022 Psychomyia sp. 3 11.2 4.7 2.93 0.039 Fallceon quilleri 3 13.7 6.8 3.34 0.041 Acentrella insignificans 3 15 7.1 3.62 0.043 Ephoron album 3 13.7 6.1 3.61 0.044 Travarella albertana 3 10.1 5.3 3.08 0.051 Prairie Stream Assemblage Caenis latipennis 9 66.5 7.7 3.37 0.001 Ceratopogon sp. 9 37.1 8.5 3.94 0.001 Coenagrion 9 52.3 6.3 3.37 0.001 Labrundinia 9 26.2 3.9 2.51 0.001 Dubiraphia 9 21.1 3.8 2.48 0.002 Enallagma civile 9 17.6 3.8 2.35 0.003 Physella 9 27.7 11.1 3.52 0.005 Enallagma sp. 9 16.6 3.9 2.42 0.005 Sigara alternata 9 16.4 4.5 3.16 0.011 Psectrocladius 9 13.5 4.6 2.95 0.024 Sigara grosslineata 9 11.8 4.2 2.89 0.029 Trichocorixa 9 9.1 3.9 2.36 0.046 Large Prairie River Assemblage Cheumatopsyche 54.7 9.9 3.18 0.001 Chironomidae 23.3 5.9 3.37 0.003 Neochoroterpes Oklahoma 16.6 4.2 2.7 0.005 Choroterpes 23.5 7.3 4.14 0.009 Ambrysus mormom 19.9 7.1 3.72 0.011 Hemerodromia 18.4 6.1 3.69 0.015 Microcylloepus 13.6 5.5 3.08 0.026 Hydropsyche morosa grp 12.2 5.8 3.16 0.044 Hydrochus 8.8 4.1 2.77 0.048 Prairie Stream Pool Assemblage Hyalella 12 62.2 9.5 3.24 0.001 Coenagrion/Enallagma 12 32.7 4.8 2.67 0.001 Appendix C - I Taxon Group OIV Average Std Dev p-value Prairie Stream Pool Assemblage Gammarus sp. i: 27.8 7 3.79 0.004 Callibaetis 12 30.4 7.4 4.02 0.005 Glyptotcndipes 12 18.7 6 3.37 0.005 Trichocorixa nais 12 15 3.9 2.58 0.005 Gyraulus 12 22.4 7.2 3.79 0.008 Endochironomus 12 18.5 5.8 3.7 0.008 Haliplus 12 17 5.7 3.03 0.009 Paratan\ tarsus sp. 12 20.2 5.6 3.54 0.011 Mystacides sp. 12 13.2 4.2 2.76 0.015 Molanna 12 10 4 2.64 0.033 Hygrotus 12 9.8 4.1 2.72 0.044 Caenis youngi 12 9.1 4.1 2.63 0.049 Erpobdella 12 11. 1 5.3 3.07 0.05 Corisclla 12 9.4 4.2 2.87 0.05 Stagnicola 12 12 5.4 3.6 0.051 Collector-Filterer Assemblage Simulium sp. 37 67.6 13.2 3.78 0.001 Isonychia sp. 37 21.4 6.6 3.87 0.01 Stylurus sp. 37 10.7 4 2.6 0.02 EukiefTerella claripennis grp 37 12.1 4.7 3.07 0.029 Pseudocloeon 37 9.4 4.4 2.85 0.049 Hydropsyche confusa 37 10.8 5 3.32 0.05 Medium River Side-Channel Cori.xidae 40 71.1 8.4 3.26 0.001 Crypt otendipes 40 21.7 6.2 3.45 0.004 Placobdella 40 14.3 4.3 2.61 0.004 Tubifex 40 16.4 4.3 2.68 0.007 Procladius 40 20.4 6.9 3.31 0.008 Cryptochironomus 40 15.7 6.7 2.46 0.009 Stempelinella 40 IX. 8 5.5 3.36 0.013 Tanypus 40 14.5 6.2 3.54 0.041 Centroptiliim 40 1 1 4.8 2.84 0.047 (Jompus sp. 40 9.4 4.2 2.85 0.052 Palmacorixa gillctti 40 11.6 5.4 3.44 0.053 Probczzia 40 11.1 5.5 3.61 0.053 Appendix C - 2 Appendix D. Macroinvertebrate community descriptions (SPA-SPECIES assemblage) (from Stagliano 2005). Group 3 - Transitional Prairie River Assemblage. This widespread community type occurred in the Little Missouri River (4* -7* order medium to large warmwater rivers). The habitat quality of these systems was rated medium to high with grazing and agriculture dominant land uses in these systems, so sediment could be a problem. Genera associated with this group are moderately tolerant to sediment and nutrients. Representative indicator taxa: Camelobatidius, Stemlmis, Leucotrichia pictipes, Tricorythodes. Group 9 - Prairie Stream Assemblage. This ubiquitous prairie stream community type is found in all basins and is associated with small to medium (2nd-5th order) prairie streams with the lowest elevation and gradient. Although this group is found in small to large stream systems, it typically occurs in slow current areas with silted, sand /gravel /cobble substrates, often with aquatic vegetation. The riffle areas of these may have clean mixed cobble substrates similar to Group 3 habitats, but with less flow. Prairie streams examples: S F Grand River, Jones Creek #2. Indicator taxa are typical of low-gradient streams and are tolerant to disturbance: Caenis latipennis, Ceratopogon. Coenagrion. Enallagma civile, Physella, Dubiraphia. Group 11 - Large Prairie River Assemblage. This group occurred in downstream confluence areas and is associated with warm-water medium and large rivers (4*-7"' order) of lower elevation and moderate gradient. Although this group is a large stream system community similar to Group 1 , it is found in areas with more agricultural land use and sediment deposition than Group 1 . Indicator taxa are relatively tolerant to disturbance and typical of low gradient streams with stable substrates and a slow- moderate current velocity. Example rivers: Frenchman Creek, Missouri River, and Powder Rivers. Indicator taxa consist of genera from many insect orders tolerant of sedimentation and moderate pollution: Cheumatopsyche, Neochoroterpes Oklahoma. Choroterpes, Ambrysus mormom, Hemerodromia, Microcylloepus, Hydropsyche morosa grp. Group 12 - Prairie Pool Assemblage. This group is associated with slow-moving small to medium warm-water prairie streams (2"'' -5* order) of low-mid elevation, low gradient, typically with heavy aquatic vegetation and low current or stagnant pool areas. Group 1 2 is a highly tolerant group of invertebrates that can withstand low oxygen, high temperatures and siltation. Even though this group can be found in large warmwater prairie systems, similar to Groups 9 and 1 1, it is found in areas with less current and higher sediment influences. Stream examples: Hanging Woman, Sarpy, Coffee, O' Fallon Creek, Thompson, Otter Creeks. Indicator taxa: Hyalella. Coenagrion/Enallagma, Gammarus sp., Callibaetis, Glyptotendipes. Trichocorixa nais. Gyraulus, Erpobdella, Corisella. Stagnicola Group 37 - Filtering-Collector Assemblage. This moderately tolerant macroinvertebrate group is associated with warm-water medium and large rivers (4*-6'*' order) of low elevation (2000-3500 ft), high nutrient/turbidity and slow-moderate current velocity with stablea shifting substrates. This community occurs in sand/gravel substrates of large rivers (A003, B005) or smaller (COOS) degraded streams with sediment and nutrient problems. Two indicator taxa, Simulium and Hydropsyche confusa. can quickly colonize newly exposed substrates, so shifting sediments will not disturb this community. Most indicator taxa are filterer-col lectors or predators and can tolerate streams with higher sediment influences than most other large stream/ river communities. Stream and river examples: Little Missouri River, SF Grand, NF Moreau. Indicator taxa: Simulium, Isonychia, Stylurus, Eukiefferella claripennis grp., Pseudocloeon, Hydropsyche confusa Appendix D - I Group 4U- Medium River Side-Channel Community. This community group consisting of modcrateK tolerant niacroin\crtebrates is associated witii medium to large (3"^-6'^ order) warmwater rivers, medium turbidity, moderate gradients, low elevation (2500-4000 ft.) gravel/cobble dominated with silted side channels. Slim Butte River examples: Little Missouri. SF Moreau and Jones Creek #2. Indicator ta.\a include; Corixidae. Cryplutcndipes. PlacohJella. Tubi/e.x. PruclaJius. Cryptochirunomu.s. Slcmpelinella Appendix D - 2 Appendix E. Fish community descriptions (SPA-species assemblage) (from Stagliano 2005). Group SPA #1-Large Warmwater River Assemblage. This community was dominated by larger, warmwater river fisiies. including many of our natives, such as the sauger (Stizosledium canadanse), big (Ictiobus cyprinellus) and smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus) and the emerald shiner {Notropis atherinoides), but also included fish species introduced to the Missouri and Yellowstone drainages: smallmouth bass (Microplerus dolomieuX perch {Perca flavesceris), walleye {Slizosledium vitreum) and northern pike i^Esox lucius). Warmwater generalists such as sunfish, bass and golden shiners are also closely associated with this group in the Yellowstone drainages. As a general rule this assemblage is found in larger, low gradient, glide-pool main branch streams (4* -6* order) with an average summer temperature of 20-25°C. The 2 native ictalurid species, the stonecat {Noturus Jlavus) and the channel catfish {Ictalurus punctatus), also cluster in this assemblage. This community can be found over a wide range of low-elevation landscapes within all three ecoregions of the study area. Group SPA #2- Medium Warmwater River Assemblage. Most of the medium to large warmwater river cyprinid species occur in this species assemblage (flathead chub, Platygobio gracilis; sand shiner, Notropis stramineus; plains minnow, Hybognathus placitus: western silvery minnow, Hybognathus argyritis\ as well as the shorthead redhorse {Moxostoma macrolepidotum), river carpsucker {Carpiodes carpio), the exotic carp (Cyprinus carpio\ the introduced green sunfish {Lepomis cyanelhis) and black bullhead (Ameiurus melas). This species assemblage occurs in most of the Medium Prairie Rivers of Montana. The channel catfish & stonecat could co-occur within SPA 1 or 2 if proper habitat requirements are met, such as deep, side channel pools and large structures for hiding (large cobbles and woody debris). Group SPA #18-Brook Stickleback Assemblage. Includes the brook stickleback {Culaea incomlans), brassy minnow {Hybognathus hankinsoni) and Iowa Darter (Etheostoma exile). This species assemblage is found most commonly associated with small Northwestern Great Plains prairie streams (AES C006 and D006) with relatively clear water, large pools and vegetative cover. Group SPA # 20-Core Prairie Stream Assemblage. Includes an assemblage of small native prairie fish that form the core community for perennial prairie streams (AES code COOS in the Northwestern Great Plains and C006 in the Northern Glaciated ecoregions. Included in this assemblage are the longnose dace {Rhinichthys cataractae), lake chub {Couesius plumheus), fathead minnow (Piniephales notatus) and the white sucker {Catostomus commersoni). The lake chub and fathead minnow (Piniephales notatus) are species that occur in similar habitats of intermittent prairie stream systems D005 and D006. although we found no lake chubs in any of the Slim Butte streams. As the small prairie streams dominated by this core species assemblage proceed downstream and increase stream order and linkages, they develop into the Medium Prairie River Community including the plains and western silvery minnows (plains minnow is more tolerant of current, while the western silvery will be found in the protected silted side channels out of the current), and the sand shiner (in slower pools of 8005 or larger streams with gravelly/sandy bottoms), and the exotic carp and introduced black bullhead. Appendix E- 1