s 639.21 F2MRDW 2010 Madison River Drainage Fisheries and Madison River Drainage Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation and Restoration Program 2010 Annual Report to PPL Montana Environmental Division Butte www.pplmontana.com and Turner Enterprises, Inc. Bozeman by Pat Clancey & Travis Lohrenz Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks Ennis May 2011 www.fwp.mt. gov Montana State Library 3 0864 006 2565 9 INTERNET WEB PAGES CITED IN THIS REPORT, OR OF LOCAL INTEREST (in alphabetical order) Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force www.anstaskforce.gov Blue Ribbon Flies www.blueribbonflies.com Madison River Foundation www.madisonriverfoundation.org Lower Madison River Monitoring page .... www.madisondss.com/ppl-madison.php Montana Fish, WUdlife, & Parks www.fwp.mt.gov New Zealand Mudsnail in the Western USA www.esg.montana.edu/aim/moUusca/nzms PPL Montana www.pplmontana.com Protect Your Waters www.protectyourwaters.net or .com Whirling Disease Foundation www.whirling-disease.org FWP persoimel took all photos in this report imless otherwise credited. An electronic version of this and other FWP reports are available at http://fwp.mt.gov/wildthings/fishAndWildlifeLibrarySearch.html FERC Articles addressed in this report FERC Article item report topic page number Methods Results 403 NA River Discharge 7 38 408 (1) Hebgen gillnettuig, disease monitoring - Effect of project operations on fish populations 25 50 (3) Reservoir drawdown effects on fish populations 25 50 (5) Population Estimates - project operations effects 6 33 (V) Enhance upper river tributary spawning 21,25 47,50 (9) Flushing Flow 7 38 409 (1) Aquatic Nuisance Species - Whirling Disease 10,25 39,50 (3) Fish habitat enhancement 21,25 47,50 412 (1) Population Estimates - pulse flow effects 6 33 (5) Species Spec. Concern - Madison Grayling 4 30 Species Spec. Concern -Westslope Cutthroat Trout 13 42 (9) Flushing Flow 7 38 (11) Population Estimates - thermal effects 6 33 413 (1) Temperature Monitoring 9 39 419 NA Flushing Flow 7 38 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Two adult Arctic grayling were captured during electrofishiBg in the Channels section of the Madison River immediately upstream of Ennis Reservoir in April 2010. No young-of-the- year Arctic grayling or whitefish were captured during Ennis Reservoir beach seining in October 2010. Other species captured at index sites were Rocky Mountain (mottled) sculpin, and juvenile brown trout, Utah chub, and long-nose dace. Some beach seining index sites were inaccessible due to a rock slide that damaged Madison (Ennis) Dam. The rock sUde caused PPL Montana to draw the reservoir down approximately five feet for damage inspection. Following inspection the reservoir was refilled to the normal winter elevation of two feet below fiall pool. The reservoir was at winter elevation when beach seining was conducted. Fish distribution may have been altered by this water level manipulation. Numbers of rainbow trout over six inches increased in all three river electrofishing sections from 2009 levels, most notably in the Vamey section where they had suffered a severe decrease fi'om 2007 - 2009. Numbers of brown trout showed little change to a slight decrease in all three sections. Water temperature was monitored at 15 sites and air temperature at 7 sites within the Madison Drainage. Six Madison River Fishing Access Sites were sampled for New Zealand mud snails and selected other aquatic nuisance species by FWP ANS staff in 2010. No New Zealand mud snails, Eurasian Watemulfoil or juvenile or adult Zebra or Qiiagga mussels were detected. Sentinel fish fi-om hatchery rainbow trout stock are still severely infected by whirling disease when placed in cages the river, but the wild rainbow trout population has rebounded to approximately 60 percent of its pre- whirling disease level. Fisheries monitoring was conducted on Jack, O'Dell and Watkins creeks and the South Fork of the Madison River as part of stream channel restoration and habitat improvement projects. Spawning season movements of 27 radio implanted rainbow trout are reported. The Sun Ranch hatchery was used to incubate westslope cutthroat trout eggs for introduction into five stieams in southwestem Montana. All planned non-native fish removals for the Cherry Creek Native Fish Introduction Project were completed in 2010 with a treatment of a portion of Phase 3 and all of Phase 4. Rotenone carried several miles beyond its anticipated decay point on one day, resulting in mortality of non-target fish downstream of the project area. Westslope cutthroat trout eyed egg introductions were continued in Phase 2 and Phase 3. The number of rainbow trout captured during annual Hebgen Reservoir gillnetting decreased from 2009 while average length increased. The proportion of rainbow trout over 14 inches in the Hebgen gillnet catch has increased noticeably since 2005. Juvenile trout emigration trapping from Hebgen Reservoir tributaries was conducted. Zooplankton density in Hebgen Reservoir was monitored. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ......... 1 Methods Madison Grayling _______ 4 Population Estimates ....... 6 Rainbow Trout Radio Telemetry ------ 6 River Discharge ....... 7 Temperature Monitoring .__-.. 9 Aquatic Nuisamce Species . . . . . . 10 Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation and Restoration -------13 Fish Habitat Enhancement. . . . . . . 21 Hebgen Basin --------25 Results and Discussion Madison Grayling -------30 Population Estimates ....... 33 Rainbow Trout Radio Telemetry - - - - - - 33 River Discharge . . . . . . . 38 Temperature Monitoring - - - - - - 39 Aquatic Nuisamce Species . . . . . . 39 Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation and Restoration ....... 42 Fish Habitat Enhancement. ...... 47 Hebgen Basin --------50 Conclusions and Future Plans- ------ 67 Literature Cited ....... 69 Appendix A: MacConnell-Baldwin whirling disease ratings Appendix B: Ennis Reservoir beach seining Appendix C: Madison River population monitoring Appendix D: Madison River temperature recordings Appendix E: Montana Aquatic Nuisance Species Plan summary Appendix F: Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and Yellowstone National Park Native Fish Habitat Restoration Monitoring Appendix G: Sun Ranch Hatchery Production Appendix H: Madison westslope cutthroat trout genetics results INTRODUCTION Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks (FWP) has conducted fisheries studies in the Madison River Drainage since 1990 to address effects of hydropower operations at Hebgen and Ennis dams on fisheries, and to assess the status of the Arctic grayling Thymallus arcticus population of Ennis Reservoir (Byorth and Shepard 1990, Clancey 1995, Clancey 1996, Clancey 1997, Clancey 1998a, Clancey 1999, Clancey 2000, Clancey and Downing 2001, Clancey 2002, Clancey 2003, Clancey 2004, Clancey and Lohrenz 2005, Clancey 2006, Clancey 2007, Clancey 2008, Clancey and Lohrenz 2009, Clancey and Lohrenz 201 0). This work has been fimded through an agreement with the owner and operator of the dams, initially Montana Power Company (MPC), now PPL Montana. The original agreement between FWP and MPC was designed to anticipate reUcensing requirements for MPC's hydropower system on the Madison and Missouri rivers, which includes Hebgen and Ennis dams, as well as seven dams on the Missouri River (Figure 1). PPL Montana has maintained the direction set by MPC, and convened several committees to address fisheries, wildlife, water quality, and recreation issues related to the operation of the hydropower facilities on the Madison and Missouri rivers. These committees are composed of representatives of PPL Montana and several agencies. Each committee has an annual budget and authority to spend PPL Montana mitigation funds address the requirements of PPL Montana's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license for operating the Madison & Missouri dams. The Madison Fisheries Technical Advisory Committee (MadTAC) is composed of personnel of PPL Montana, FWP, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), tiie U.S. Forest Service (USPS), and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Each entity has equal autiiority in decision making within the TAC. Collectively, the nine dams on the Madison and Missouri rivers are called the 2188 Project, which refers to the FERC Ucense number that authorizes their operation. The FERC issued PPL Montana a Ucense to operate tiie 2188 Project for 40 years (FERC 2000). The license details the terms and conditions PPL Montana must meet during the license term, including fish, wildlife, and recreation protection, mitigation, and enhancement measures. During the late 1990's, numerous entities developed the Memorandum of Understanding and Conservation Agreement for Westslope Cutthroat Trout in Montana (WCTA). This agreement, which was formalized in 1999 (Montana FWP 1999), identifies Conservation & Restoration Goals and Objectives for westslope cutthroat trout (WCT) Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi in Montana. The Plan states "The management goal for westslope cutthroat trout in Montana is to ensure the long- term, self-sustaining persistence of the subspecies within each of the five major river drainages they historically inhabited in Montana (Clark Fork, Kootenai, Flathead, upper Missouri, and Saskatchewan), and to maintain the genetic diversity and life history strategies represented by the remaining populations." Objectives are: 1 . Protect all genetically pure WCT populations 2. Protect introgressed (less than 1 0% intiogressed) populations 3 . Ensure the long-term persistence of WCT within their native range 4. Providing technical information, administrative assistance, and financial resources to assure comphance with listed objectives and encourage conservation of WCT <^ s^^^ L ^ #/' Morony Ryan ,' Cochrane _ 1 Rainbow ^^^,^ ^'' Black Eagle f I 1 Hotter Dam Hauser Dam Hebgen Dam Figure 1 . Map showing locations of PPL Montana dams on the Madison and Missouri rivers (FERC Project 2188). 5. Design and implement an effective monitoring program by the year 2002 to document persistence and demonstrate progress towards goal Objective 3 further states "The long-term persistence of westslope cutthroat trout within their native range will be ensured by maintaining at least ten population aggregates throughout the five major river drainages in which they occur, each occupying at least 50 miles of connected habitat. . .". Within the Missouri River Drainage, four geographic areas are identified, including the upper Missouri, which consists of the Big Hole, Gallatin, and Madison subdrainages. In 2007, the WCTA was updated and combined with a similar document for Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri (Montana FWP 2007). Signatories to the 2007 Montana Cutthroat Trout Agreement are American Wildlands, the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the Federation of Fly Fishers, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, the Montana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, the Montana Cutthroat Trout Technical Conmuttee, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, the Montana Farm Bureau, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the Montana Stockgrowers Association, Montana Trout Unlimited, the Montana WildHfe Federation, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Forest Service, and Yellowstone National Park. Additionally, Plum Creek Timber Company provided a letter of support for the 2007 Cutthroat Agreement, citing their 30 year agreement with the U.S. Fish & Wildhfe Service to the Native Fish Habitat Conservation Plan for Plum Creek properties. Late in 1996, FWP initiated an effort is to conserve and restore the native westslope cutthroat trout in the Madison River drainage. Fieldwork for this effort began in 1 997 in tributaries of the Madison River. The agreement between FWP and PPL Montana includes provisions to address issues regarding species of special concem. In recognition of the severity of the situation faced by the westslope cutthroat trout, and in keeping with the philosophy of promoting native species on their properties. Turner Enterprises, Incorporated (TEI) offered access to the Cherry Creek drainage on the Flying D Ranch to assess its suitability for introducing westslope cutthroat. Cherry Creek, a tributary to the Madison River, was identified as an opportune location to introduce genetically pure WCT, and it will provide an opportunity to meet or fulfill WCTA objectives 3, 4, & 5. FWP determined in 1997 that introducing westslope cutthroat to Cherry Creek is feasible, but would require the removal of aU non-native trout presently m that portion of the drainage (Bramblett 1998, Clancey 1998b). FWP, TEI, and the GaUatin National Forest (GNF) subsequentiy entered into an agreement to pursue this efibrt. The agreement outlines the roles and responsibilities of each party, including the GNF, which manages the public land at the upper end of the Cherry Creek drainage. Administrative and legal challenges to the Cherry Creek Project delayed its implementation from 1999 - 2002. The project was successfiiUy initiated in 2003. In 2001, the Sun Ranch entered uito an agreement to assist FWP with westslope cutthroat trout conservation and recovery. The ranch built a small hatchery facility and a rearing pond to facilitate development of a westslope cutthroat trout broodstock for the Madison and Missouri river drainages, and provided personnel to assist with fieldwork and conduct hatchery operations. METHODS Madison Grayling A beach seine (Figures 2 & 3) is used to monitor index sites in Ennis Reservoir (Figure 4) for young-of-the-year grayling and other fish species. Seining is conducted by pulling a 1 25 x 5 foot fme-mesh net along shallow areas in the reservoir. Figure 2. Beach seining in Ennis Reservoir. 5' 1 -®- 125' — ^.. 5'x5'x5* collection bag -®^' Figures. Depiction of a beach seine. i Figure 4. Locations of Ennis Reservoir 2010 beach seining sites. The numbers correspond to locations described in Appendix B2. Mobile anode electrofishing surveys (Figure 5) were conducted in the Channels section of the Madison River (Figure 6) in April to assess the status of the Madison Arctic grayling spawning population. Up to three mobile anode drift boats were operated simultaneously throughout the braided river channels on sample days. The MadTAC provided $15,000 to Big Hole River Arctic grayling recovery efforts in 2010. Figure 5. Mobile anode electrofishing (shocking) in the Norris section of the Madison River. Population Estimates Electrofishing from a driftboat mounted mobile anode system (Figure 5) is the principle method used to capture Madison River trout for population estimates in several sections of the Madison River (Figure 6). Fish captured for population estimates are weighed and measured, marked with a fin clip, add released. A log-likelihood statistical analysis (Montana FWP 2004) is used to estimate trout populations. Aging of Madison fish was ceased in 2000 due to the significant time requirement necessary to continue that activity, though it was continued in the Norris and Pine Butte sections through 2001 and 2003, respectively, to provide information for specific research or management activities. Rainbow Trout Radio Telemetry In September 2009, 35 Madison River rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss were implanted with radio transmitters to compare spawning season movements to a similar study conducted in 1999 (Dovraing et al. 2002) that included identification of rainbow trout spawning JEFFERSON RIVER ENNIS RESERVOIR Standard Creek GALLATIN RIVER WesTFork Madison River N Figure 6. Locations of Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks 2010 Madison River population estimate sections. sites in the Madison River upstream of Ennis Reservoir. The transmitters are designed to be on 13 hours each day, with a rated battery Hfe of two years. Transmitters were implanted in fish captured during routine Fall electrofishing in the Pine Butte, Snoball and Vamey sections. Additionally, rainbow trout between Burnt Tree and Ennis FAS were captured in Fall 2009 for miplantation. Relocations are conducted from a fixed wing au-craft, from a raft, or from roads along the river. Aerial surveys occur more ixequently during the rainbow trout spawning season in April - June and less fi-equently at other times of year. River Discharge Pulse Flows Article 413 of the FERC Ucense mandates PPL Montana to monitor and mitigate thermal effects in the lower river (downstream of Ennis Reservoir). In coordination with agencies, the company has developed and implemented a remote temperature monitoring system and a 'pulsed' flow system to mitigate high water temperatures. Real-time or near real-time meteorological and temperature monitoring is conducted to predict water temperature the following day, which determines the voliime of discharge that will occur. Pulsed flows are triggered when water temperature at the Madison (Ennis) Powerhouse is 68° F or higher and forecast air temperature at Three Forks for the following day is 80° F or higher. The volume of water released in the pulse is determined by how much the water and/or air temperature exceeds the minimum thresholds (Table 1). The increase in water volume in the lower river reduces the peak water temperature that would occur at the 1,100 cfs base flow. Discharge from Ennis Dam is increased in the early morning so that the greatest volume of water is in the area of Black's Ford and downstream during the late afternoon when daily solar radiation is greatest. The mcreased volume of water reduces the peak water temperature in the lower river reducing or eliminating the potential for thermally induced fish kills. Discharge fi-om Hebgen Dam typically does not fluctuate on a daily basis during pulse flows, but is occasionally adjusted to increase or decrease the volume of water going into Ennis Reservoir, where daily fluctuations in the lower river are controUed. The meteorological and temperature data monitored in the lower river may be viewed in real-time or near-real time at http://www.madisondss.com/ppl-river.cfg/ppl-madison.php. Flushing Flows Article 419 of the FERC Hcense requires the company to develop and implement a plan to coordinate and monitor flushing flows in the Madison River downstream of Hebgen Dam. A flushing flow is a flood stage of runoff that mobihzes streambed materials, resulting in scour in some locations and deposition in other locations. This is a natural occurrence in unregulated streams and rivers, and renews spawning, rearing, and food producing areas for fish, as well as providing fi-esh mineral and organic soil for terrestrial vegetation and other wildlife needs. Table 1 . Pulse flow trigger criteria Water temperature at Madison (Ennis) Powerhouse Tomorrow's Maximum Forecast Air Temperature at Three Forks Pulse Flow Rate (McAllister Discharge) No Pulsing Required Less than 68°F No action Pulsing Contingent on Weather Forecast >68°,<70° <80° >80° No action 1400 cfs Pulsing Required, Volume Contingent of Weather Forecast > 90°F > 70°, < 72" <90° > 90°, < 95° >95° 1400 cfs 1600 cfs 2100 cfs Pulsing Required, Volume Contingent of Weather Forecast > 85°F > 72°, < 73° <85° > 85°, < 90° >90° 1400 cfs 1600 cfs 2100 cfs Pulsing Required, Volume Contingent of Weather Forecast > 85°F >73° <85° >85° 1800 cfs 2400 cfs Minimum Flows Fish, Wildlife & Parks and PPL Montana (and PPL Montana's predecessor Montana Power Company) have an agreement established in 1968 to maintain minimum instantaneous river flows at the USGS Kirby and McAllister gauges in the upper and lower river of 600 and 1 100 cfs, respectively. These rnstream flow levels were determined by FWP to provide favorable overwinter habitat for yearling trout, and also protect against summer and fall drought in low water years. These minimum flows were incorporated into Article 403 of the FERC license for the 2188 Project and are required elements of operating Hebgen and Ennis dams. Temperature Monitoring Water temperature was recorded at 15 sites and air temperature at seven sites throughout the Madison River Basin from upstream of Hebgen Reservoir to the mouth of the Madison River at Headwaters State Park (Figure 7). A water temperature recorder was deployed between the Kirby and McAtee sites in 2010 to provide data related to the on-going surface discharge out of Hebgen Reservoir during reconstruction of the control structure. Each of the Tidbit^^ temperature loggers recorded over 43,000 temperature points in Fahrenheit from late April through early October. Air temperature recorders were placed in areas that were shaded 24 hours per day. Aquatic Nuisance Species Highway signs announce FWP's West Yellowstone Traveler Information System (TIS) (Figure 8). The five signs are located near major highway intersections in the West Yellowstone area, notifying drivers entering and leaving the area of the TIS system. The TIS notifies anglers and water recreationists of the presence of New Zealand mud snails in the Madison River and Hebgen Reservoir, and instructs them on methods of reducing the likelihood of transporting New Zealand mud snails and other ANS to other waters. Additional messages broadcast by the system include messages on whirling disease, zebra mussels, weed control, and TEPMont, the FWP hotline to report hunting & fishing violations. The system broadcasts at the AM frequency of 1 600 KHz. Funding for the purchase, installation and signage of the system was provided by a $9,800 grant from the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission as part of an effort to prevent the westward spread of zebra mussels. Fish, Wildlife & Parks hired an Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator in 2004. The position is responsible for developing and coordinating ANS control & management activities among state agencies as well as between state and non-state entities. The ANS Coordinator is responsible for developing and coordinating Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Training to State employees and other groups. The HACCP Program is a method to proactively plan and implement measures to prevent the inadvertent spread of ANS during work activities. In 2010, FWP initiated a public education campaign called "Inspect/Clean/Dry". This campaign uses highway billboards (Figure 9) and vehicle tailgate wraps and posters (Appendix E) to create pubUc awareness of aquatic nuisance species issues. In May 2010, FWP ANS field crews surveyed six fishing access sites on the Madison River. Temperature, GPS coordinates, pH, weather conditions, horizontal plankton tow, notes on substrate, and invertebrate and macrophyte surveys were collected. A minimum of 200 feet is surveyed at each site. Horizontal plankton tows were conducted to sample for Zebra and Quagga mussel veligers. In addition to regular biological monitoring, angler/boater surveys were conducted on the Madison River to educate the public on AIS issues. In 2010, check stations were located at Warm Springs FAS from June 15*- 18* and at Lyons Bridge FAS from August 20*-21'* and September 2"'^-5*. As part of the angler^oater check stations, additional plankton samples were collected. Samples were collected at Warm Springs and Blacks Ford FAS on July 16*-1 8*, at Lyons Bridge FAS on August 22""*, and at Windy Point, Vamey Bridge and Burnt Tree Hole on September 5*. 10 JEFFERSON RIVER GALLATIN RIVER ^HEADWATERS — COBBLESTONE HEBGEN ESERVOIR West Fork Madison River HEBGEN INLET Figure 7. Locations of Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks temperature monitoring sites. Air temperature monitoring sites are blue; water temperature monitoring sites are red. A river site near Wall Creek was added in 2010. 11 ANGLERS - BOATERS TUNE RADIO TO 1600 AM STOP AQUATIC HITCHHIKERS Figure 8. Roadside sign announcing the Traveler Information System near West Yellowstone, Montana. Figure 9. Inspect/Clean/Dry billboard. In 2009 the FWP ANS program conducted monitoring of dissolved calcium concentration in state waters to evaluate risk of zebra and quagga mussel establishment. The calcium level of a water body is a critical characteristic for zebra and quagga mussel establishment. These mussel species do not survive when there is a low calcium concentration in the water, since calcium is an essential element in the composition of the bivalve shell. Calcium concentrations of 15 mg/liter or less are thought to limit the distribution of zebra and quagga mussels. Survival of the larvae and size of an established adult population are both thought to increase with increasing levels of calcium. 12 New Zealand Mud snails New Zealand Mud snails have spread throughout the Madison River since first detected in 1 994. PPL Montana and FWP each maintain monitoring sites at various locations within the Madison Drainage. Whirling Disease Whirling disease monitoring has been conducted in the Madison River since 1996 by using sentinel cage techniques. Each cage holds 50 young-of-the-year rainbow trout for 10 days. At the end of the 10 day period, fish are transferred to whirling disease fi-ee water in a laboratory where they are held until they are 90 days old, at which time they are euthanized and sent to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab (WADDL) for analyses. Juvenile rainbow trout used in the studies are not offspring of Madison River fish, but are from the same captive stock used since studies began in 1996. This stock has been used continuously over the years to allow comparison over time and among various rivers. hi 2010, twelve sites in the Madison below Hebgen were monitored for whirling disease infection rates. Two cages were simultaneously deployed at each site to measure risk at the upper and lower ends of each site. Dave KumUen, Executive Director of the Whirling Disease Foundation, presents two articles regarding whirling disease on the Blue Ribbon Fhes webpage. These articles summarize some of the advances that have been made by whirling disease researchers and additional information that is needed. To view these and other articles, go to www.blueribbonflies . com, cUck on Journal, then on Articles and Essays. Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation and Restoration Efforts to conserve and restore genetically pure westslope cutthroat trout in the Madison Drainage center on maintaining genetically pure populations, high quaUty sti-eam habitat, adequate instream flow, and, where necessary, removal of competing or hybridizing non-native trout. Stream habitat surveys were conducted throughout much of the Madison Drainage fi-om 1997 - 1999 (Clancey 1998a, Sloat et al. 2000). Backpack electrofishing was used to survey fish species. Removal of non-native species will typically require use of the EPA registered piscicides (fish- pesticides) rotenone or antimycirL The Madison Distiict of the U.S. Forest Service and Yellowstone National Park are conducting projects to benefit westslope cutthroat trout and/or to restore stream habitat hi tributaries to the Madison River. Grant money from the PPL Montana reUcensing agreement was granted to each of those federal agencies to assist their efforts. 13 Sun Ranch Westslope Cutthroat Trout Brood Gametes (eggs & milt) for the Sun Ranch Westslope Cutthroat Trout program were collected from six streams and the Sun Ranch brood stock in 2010. All fertilized eggs were transported to the Sun Ranch Hatchery for incubation and hatching (Figure 10). A portion of the resulting fry from one stream and the Sun brood were introduced to the Sun Ranch Brood Pond (Figure 1 1) to contribute to the Sun Ranch brood development. The contributing stream was a new population not previously represented in the brood. Eggs and fry from the Sxrn Ranch Pond broodstock were used for introductions in Cherry Creek and stocked into the pond to maintain the Sun Ranch brood. Occasionally, when project personnel are unavailable to do so, USFWS personnel from the Ennis National Fish Hatchery care-take the eggs or fry at the Sun Ranch Hatchery. Generally, this requires few days each year, but is an important contribution to the program. Cherry Creek Native Fish Introduction Project The Cherry Creek Native Fish Introduction Project was initiated in 2003. The project area is comprised of over 60 miles of stream habitat and the 7-acre, 105 acre-foot Cherry Lake, and includes all of the Cherry Creek Drainage upstream of a 25 -foot waterfall (Figure 12) approximately 8 miles upstream of the Madison River confluence. The only fish species present in the project area in 2003 were brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis, rainbow frout, and Yellowstone cutthroat frout Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri (YCT; Figure 13). The large size of the project area required that the project be completed in phases. Each phase was freated with fish toxicants for at least two consecutive years. In 2010 all of Phase 4 was freated tv^ce. Additionally, the mainstem portion of the Phase 3 was freated to remove fish that leapt the barrier during Spring runoff when water rose high enough to run overland between the two barriers separating Phases 3 and 4 (Figure 14) and caused erosion aroxmd one side of one of the barriers. Preparatory fieldwork consisted of determining sfream flow time, placing application station markers, posting sentinel fish, setting up the detoxification station, and some elecfrofishing to assess thoroughness of the previous year's freatments. Finfrol became unavailable for use at Cherry Creek in 2007 due to a production problem, so a rotenone product called CFT Legumine™^ (CFT) was used beginning that year. Bioassays were conducted in the East Fork Cherry Creek in July 2007 to determine the effective exposure time of the CFT (Table 2). Based on bioassay results, CFT label instructions, and results of the 2007 freatment, CFT was applied to the sfream during the 2008 freatment at no more than 1.0 part-per-million (ppm) for four hours. Treatments were initiated on August 4. 14 Figure 10. Sun Ranch Hatchery rearing troughs. Figure 1 1 . Sun Ranch Brood Pond. 15 Figure 12. Cherry Creek waterfall located at stream mile 8.0. This fails is the downstream extent of the Cherry Creek project area. Stream discharge was measvired foUowuig standard USGS protocols, and a staff gauge was temporarily placed to determine if discharge changed appreciably during or prior to treating a given section of stream. Discharge was measured in a stream section the evening prior to treatment of that section, which allowed calculation and preparation of the piscicide that night or the next morning. Stream treatments were made using trickle application systems (Figure 15). The system consists of a 3i4 gallon plastic bucket & lid, garden hose, a gate valve, and a commercially available automatic dog watering bowl. A plastic elbow is fixed to a hole drilled in the bottom of the bucket, a short section of garden hose and the gate valve are clamped to the elbow (Figure 16), and a longer section of garden hose attach the assembly to the dog watering bowl. The bucket is partially filled with filtered stream water, the CFT is added, and the bucket is topped off with filtered stream water and stirred with a wooden dowel. At a predetermined time the gate valve is opened allowing the mixture to flow into the bowl, where it then trickles uito the stream through a small hole drilled in the bottom of the bowl (Figure 17). Typically, one bucket empties in 3 '/a - 4 hours. Applications of CFT are designed using a 4-hour application period. In previous years, antimycin applications v^^ere designed using a 7-hour application period, but rotenone acts on the fish more quickly than antimycin, so the treatment period is shortened. 16 Cherry Creek Madison River Drainage 2002 Fish Distribution Bureau of Land Management US Forest Service Montana State Trust Lands Waterfall Barrier Brook Trout Rainbow Trout Yelbwstone Cutthroat Trout Rainbow & Brook Trout Rainbow, Brook, & Brown Trout Fishless •Pole Creek not part of project SPDS- ISR 10478 - EDO 5/16/2011 Figure 13. Map of the Cherry Creek Dramage showing the 2002 non-native fish distribution. 17 Figure 14. Two barriers, indicated by arrows, separating Cherry Creek phases 3 and 4 dxiring Spring runoff 2010. At the height of runoff and prior to sandbagging, water flowed overland between the two barriers. A retired irrigation ditch is adjacent to the road. Turner Enterprises photo. Stations were placed at selected points along the stream and started at predetermined times to coordinate application of the mixture with other stations along the stream. Backpack sprayers were used each day to treat off-channel water and larger pools. Table 2. CFT Legumine^^ rotenone bioassay results of in the East Fork of Cherry Creek designed to determine effective exposure time, July 2007. Run time of the application station was 7 hours 52 minutes. CFT application was initiated at 09:33. Sentinel fish station^' Time of initial exposure Time of 100% mortality Hours of exposure til 100% mortality 30 10:03 10:50 0:47 60 10:33 12:55 2:22 90 11:03 12:55 1:52 120 11:33 14:00 2:27 150 12:03 14:55 2:52 180 12:33 16:15 3:42^' 210 13:03 16:15 2:48 240 13:33 NA^' '' Minutes of stream flow time downstream of CFT application station '^' 2 fish dead, 1 nearly dead at 1455 hrs (2:22 hours of exposure) ^^ 100% mortality of sentinel fish was confirmed the following morning at 1 1:45 18 Westslope cutthroat eggs from three wild donor streams, the Sun Ranch brood, and the Washoe Park Hatchery were reared to the eyed stage then placed in remote streamside incubators (RSI; Figure 18) in the Cherry Lake fork of Phase 1 and in Phase 2. Eggs completed incubation in the RSI, hatched, and fry swam out of the RSI into the sfream. The RSI is plumbed to allow sfream water to flow into the bottom of the bucket, percolate up through an artificial substrate where the eggs are placed, and out the RSI near the top of the bucket. When ready to enter the stream, fry follow the water out the hole near the top of the bucket. A capture bucket was placed on the outflow of the RSI to capture and enumerate departing fry to allow estimation of survival in the RSI. Figure 15. Trickle system and sentinel fish bag on Cherry Lake Creek. The sentinel fish bag is upsfream of the CFT application point to monitor the effectiveness of the station upsfream of the one shown here. 19 I Pat Qiancey photo Figure 16. Elbow & gate valve assembly. ^ jSiu in^S^lKiieSds ^ f- O Figure 17. Close-up view of the dog watering bowl trickling CFT/streamwater mixture into the stream during the Cherry Creek Project. 20 Figure 18. Remote streamside incubator (round bucket) and capture bucket (square bucket) in Cherry Creek. Fish Habitat Enhancement Smith Lake Smith Lake Dam on Lake Creek, a tributary to the West Fork of the Madison River, is a four foot high cobble and earthen dam believed to have been constructed in the 1920s. The purpose of the structure was to divert water for operation of a sluice box and water wheel pump (Figure 1 9) to pump water 500 vertical feet to an offsite Uvestock water trough. Brown trout Salmo trutta migrate up Lake Creek for spawning, but in some years, fish passage around the dam is blocked by tarps that are used to reduce leakage through the dam and the bypass charmel. Several alternative methods were explored to provide stockwater and reduce or eliminate the need for the water wheel pump. 21 Figure 19. Photograph showing the water wheel at Smith Lake Dam on Lake Creek. FWP photo by Travis Lohrenz. O'Dell Creek O'Dell Creek is a spring creek that originates south of Ennis, flowing north approximately 12 miles to its confluence with the mainstem Madison River. In 1955 a ditch was excavated to intercept groundwater flow and portions of O'Dell Creek were channelized to dewater a wetland complex. These projects were intended to maximize available rangeland for cattle and simpKfy irrigation. In 2005, DJP Consulting and the Granger Ranches received funding from MadTAC, PPL Montana's Wildlife Technical Advisory Committee and other sources to restore stream form and fimction to portions of O'Dell Creek and associated wetlands on Granger Ranch property (Table 3, Figure 20). Backfilling of the East Ditch resulted in groundwater resuming its original flow pattern into the wetland and also resulted in increased streamflow and improved water temperature regime in other stream channels. Fisheries monitoring is conducted at six sites in the project area (Figure 21). Five surplus radio transmitters were implanted in brown and rainbow trout in the O'Dell Old Middle section in 2010 to ascertain fish movement. Upstream and downstream fish traps were constructed in O'Dell Creek approximately 10 stream miles below the restored stream segments to investigate fish movement in O'Dell Creek. The traps were operated September 24 through November 5. 22 Table 3. Summary of stream restoration actions at O'Dell Creek on the O'Dell and Longhom ranches, 2005 -2010. Fish Monitoring Site Result of Stream Channel Modification O'Dell (East) Ditch Backfilled - 2005 O'Dell Spring North Increase in stream discharge, no physical modifications Old Middle Historic channel reconnected and reconstructed - 2006 O'Dell West Stream channel narrowed & meandered, increased stream discharge, improved water temperature regime - 2008 Above Falls Stream channel narrowed & meandered, increased stream discharge, improved water temperature regime - 2009 Below Falls Stream channel narrowed & meandered, increased stream discharge, improved water temperature regime - 2010 Longhom Ranch Ditch backfilled, stream channel narrowed & meandered - 2007 East Diidi f omjiU'icd 2!MI5 & 200f( Madison River inOmtupi Miiiii C'liannel l^iiiiliom Ranch Completed 20('r < Caineron Bend) Loncliorn Rancli ('omplpletl 2IMI" WcM Lateral I ,on!il)orn Ranrli Completed 2ir(>7 Vamev Bridae Road Coogic Figure 20. Photograph showing location and chronology of stream improvement activities on O'Dell Creek, Granger and Longhom ranches, from Peters 2009. 23 O'Dell below Fall* O'DcIl Spring Creek O'Dell above Falls O'Dell Wc^ Old Middle Channel O'Dell Ditch ° Ctx>ok Figure 21. Photograph depicting approximate locations of FWP fish sampling sites on O'Dell Creek, from Peters 2009. Jack Creek Jack Creek is a tributary to the Madison River approximately two miles upstream of Ennis Reservoir. The MadTAC has contributed funding for habitat enhancement projects on Jack Creek and one of its tributaries, McKee Spring Creek. FWP established two fish monitoring sections on Jack Creek to evaluate the effects of the habitat improvements. The Madison Valley Ranch section serves as a control where no habitat improvement is occurring. The Jack Creek Ranch section is being converted from a straightened and channelized section to a sinuous channel with pools, point bars, and other fish habitat improvements. Electrofishing was conducted in April 2008 and April 2010 to establish a pre-project fisheries baseline for comparison with the post project fish population. Habitat improvement construction was conducted in 20 1 0. 24 Hebgen Basin Hebgen Reservoir and its tributaries are shown in Figure 22. Hebgen Reservoir Gillnetting Gilbietting has been conducted annually on Hebgen Reservoir by FWP for over thirty years to monitor trends in reservoir fish populations, including species assemblage, age structure, and the contribution of hatchery reared rainbow trout to the Hebgen fishery. Variable mesh 125 foot long experimental gillnets were deployed overnight at index sites on Hebgen Reservoir (Figure 23) over a three-day period during the new moon phase in late May or early June. Twenty-five nets (14 floating and 1 1 sinking nets) were fished during this period, with a maximum of nine nets fished per night. Samples were sorted by net and processed systematically by species with total length and weight recorded. Rainbow trout were also visually examined for physical anomalies seen in hatchery-reared stocks, and for external and internal tags applied to wild juvenile and adult rainbow trout at tributary traps in previous years. Vertebrae were extracted from rainbow trout specimens and examined for the presence of tetracycline marks, a biological stain that appears in ossified structures. Tetracycline can be added to hatchery pellets to put a mark in the vertebrae, creating a positive identification feature for hatchery raised fish. Hebgen Reservoir Tributary Habitat Improvement Monitoring South Fork Madison Large Woody Debris Project FWP personnel conducted fish population monitoring for changes in fish assemblages and abundance in Phase I of a large woody debris habitat enhancement project implemented in 2006 by the Gallatui National Forest. Monitoring was conducted using mobile anode electrofishing equipment. Fish captured were identified to species, enumerated and measured for total length. Watkins Creek Large Woody Debris Project Watkins Creek is a tributary to Hebgen Reservoir's west side. Its course is north easterly from Coffin Lakes. Use of Watkins Creek for spawning by reservoir rainbow trout is limited. In an effort to increase the quantity and quality of spawning habitat and recruitment of rainbow trout to Hebgen, the Gallatin National Forest conducted a project to add large woody debris to a quarter mile section of Watkins Creek to promote the trapping and sorting of spawning gravels (Appendix F). FWP 21 88 project personnel are monitoring the fish population response to the project. Three fisheries monitoring sites were established - one within the project reach and control reaches upstream and downstream to evaluate the effectiveness of the habitat enhancement project on fish assemblage, relative abundance and spawning use by Hebgen rainbow trout. 25 Figure 22. Map of Hebgen Reservoir and sxirrounding area. Hebgen Basin Whirling Disease Monitoring Whirling disease sentinel fish cages containing young-of-the-year rainbow trout were deployed at two South Fork Madison locations for a 10-day exposure from May 15-25. Sentinel fish were reared in isolation tanks for an additional 80 days at the FWP Whirling Disease Laboratory in Pony, Montana. At the conclusion of the 90-day period fish were sacrificed and sent to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab (WADDL) at Washington State University where they underwent histological examination to rate the severity of the infection using the MacConnell-Baldwin scale (Appendix A). The MacConnell-Baldwin scale grades infection from 0-5 with 0 being no infection and 5 being severe infection. 26 ? = zooplmkton site Q " gLUnetdng sits ^j = bdack seining siis Figure 23. Map showing monitoring site locations of Hebgen Reservoir zooplankton, gillnetting, and beach seining. Hebgen Basin Juvenile Fish Sampling Rotary screw traps (Figure 24) were operated at Duck Creek and the South Fork Madison River in 2010 to evaluate juvenile rainbow trout escapement and to investigate production of juvenile rainbow trout in the presence of whirling disease in the South Fork Madison River. 27 Figure 24. Rotary screw trap used to sample juvenile fish on Duck Creek and the South Fork Madison River. Captured fish were enumerated, identified to species and measured (total length). Fish with a total length greater than one inch were fin clipped (Figure 25) and released 1 50 to 200 yards upstream of the trap to estimate trap efficiency. Trap efficiency was calculated from the proportion of marked fish to unmarked fish captured during a trapping event. The total number of emigrants was estimated by dividing the number of unmarked fish captured by trap efficiency. Figure 25. Tiger trout (brown trout x brook trout hybrid) with a lower caudal fin clip (red oval) administered to discern between recaptured and new fish during rotary screw trap efficiency trials. 28 Hebgen Basin Tributary Spawner Trapping Hebgen tributaries were not trapped for spawning adults in 2010. Hebgen Reservoir Shoreline Juvenile Fish Sampling Beach seining was not conducted at Hebgen index sites (Figure 23) in 2010. Hebgen Reservoir ZooplanJcton Monitoring Monthly zooplankton tows were conducted at seven established sites on Hebgen Reservoir to evaluate plankton community densities and composition (Figure 23). Plankton were collected with a Wisconsin plankton net towed vertically through the entire water column at one meter per second. Tows were taken at locations with a minimum depth of 10 meters. Samples were rinsed and preserved in a 95% ethyl alcohol solution for enumeration. Zooplankton were identified to order Cladocera (daphnia) or Eucopepoda (copepods), and densities from each sample were calculated. Carapace length was measured on six individuals of each Cladocera and Eucopopoda from each aliquot. Length adjustments were made to convert from micrometers to millimeters, and individual lengths were recorded in millimeters. Mean length was calculated for each sample and each site to determine if spatial and temporal variation existed. A Secchi disk was used to measure light penefration (in meters) into the Hebgen Reservoir water column. Depths were taken in conjunction with zooplankton tows to establish a Trophic State Index number (TSI) for determination of reservoir productivity (Carlson 1977). Secchi depths were recorded as the distance from the water surface to the point in the water column where the disk colors became indiscernible. 29 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Madison Grayling No young-of-the-year Arctic grayling were captured during beach seining in Ennis Reservoir in 2010 (Appendix B). A major rock slide on August 28 destroyed several control gates on Madison Dam (Figiire 26), causing uncontrolled discharge over the dam and requiring a reservoir drawdown to inspect damage to the dam. Reservoir elevation dropped to nearly five feet below^ flill pool, but had recovered three feet by early October when seining was conducted. Despite this recovered reservoir pool, some routine seining sites could not be accessed even at two feet below full pool. Normal reservoir elevation in October is flill pool (4841 feet mean sea level (msl). Note - U.S. Geological Survey 1 :24000 quad maps show Ennis Reservoir elevation of 4815 msl, but actual elevation is 4841 msl). Two adult Arctic grayling were captured during electrofishing in April 2010 with 45 worker-days of effort. A 16.6 inch male was captured on April 9, and a 15.6-inch female was captured on April 23. Arctic grayling require loose, recently scoured gravels and cobbles to broadcast their eggs over during spawning each spring (Byorth and Shepard 1990). Generally, normal spring runoff creates these conditions, but it is possible that winter and spring ice scour creates similar conditions. The duration and severity of the Madison River ice gorge (Figure 27) may affect the spawning success of the Ennis Reservoir grayling. In April 2007, the USFWS determined that fluvial Arctic grayling in the Big Hole River did not qualify as a Distinct Population Segment (DPS), and therefore were not warranted for hsting as a Threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This decision was challenged in court. As part of a settlement agreement the USFWS agreed to re-evaluate the status of Arctic grayling in the Missouri River Basin. In May 2009, the USFWS concluded that all life forms (fluvial and adfluvial) of Arctic grayling in the upper Missoxiri River Basin were genetically and geographically distinct from other Arctic grayling populations and comprised a significant segment of the global Arctic grayling population, therefore qualified for designation as a DPS and warranted for hsting; however, hstmg of the Upper Missouri River Arctic grayling DPS under the ESA was precluded due to higher priority species. The Madison River population of Arctic grayling is included in the 2009 DPS designation, therefore may be listed under ESA if the DPS's hsting priority is elevated. Madison grayling exhibit adfluvial behavior. They reside in Ennis Reservoir all year except when they enter the Channels area of the Madison River in April to spawn, though periodically FWP receives reports of grayling in the Madison River as far as 30 miles upstream of Ennis Reservoir into the Fall. 30 Figure 26. Photos of Madison (Ennis) Dam August 28, 2010, boulder impact. Photos by Brent Mabbott, PPL Montana. 31 Figure 27, Photos illustrating ice-fee (top) and ice-gorged (bottom) conditions of the Madison River at the U.S. ffighway 287 Bridge at Ennis. 32 MadTAC funds are used to assist with Arctic grayling recovery efforts in the Big Hole, Ruby, and Elk Lake drainages. These funds have helped FWP develop a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurance (CCAA) for fluvial Arctic grayling in the Big Hole Drainage. Landowners who sign onto the CCAA must develop and implement pro-active site-specific land management conservation measures in cooperation with agencies that will reduce or eliminate detrimental habitat conditions for the grayling. Despite the USFWS ruling that Hsting grayling is 'warranted but precluded', landowners and irrigators continue to enroll in the program. Currently 33 landowners have enrolled 158,242 acres, with an additional 5,390 acres of State land enrolled. Additionally, MadTAC funds have been used to assist with monitoring the development of a self- sustaining Arctic grayling population in the upper Ruby River and developing and implementing stream-flow restoration plan for Narrows Creek, a grayling spawning tributary to Elk lake. Population Estimates Population estimates were conducted in the Norris section of the Madison River in March and in the Pine Butte and Vamey sections in September (Figure 6). Figures 28 - 30 illustrate population levels of six inch and larger rainbow trout per mile. The rainbow population in Pine Butte and Vamey exhibited increases firom 2009. The significant increase in the Vamey section is due to a strong yearling cohort (Appendix CI). In the Norris section rainbows increased shghtly over tiie 2009 level. Figures 31-33 illustrate numbers of six inch and larger brown trout. Brown trout populations decreased in all three sections compared to 2009, and in Norris are at the lowest level seen in the past 1 6 years. In 2005, FWP Regional Management personnel began reporting population numbers greater than six inches rather than using fish length to designate fish as yearling or two year old & older. Appendix CI contains charts illustrating fish numbers as yearling and two year old & older fish per mile as reported in previous years of this report (Clancey 1995 - 2010). Appendix C2 contains historic total population levels of two year old & older rainbow and brown trout (+ 80% C.I.) for each section. Rainbow Trout Radio Telemetry Five fixed wing aircraft flights, two river floats, and four on-the-ground surveys were conducted from March through July 2010 to relocate rainbow ti-out implanted with transmitters m September and October 2009. Figure 34 illustrates documented rainbow trout movement greater than 0.2 miles of 27 Madison River mainstem spawning radio tagged rainbow trout March through July 2010 versus 13 mainstem spawning radio tagged rainbows the same months in 1999. Four of the 2010 rainbows exhibited initial upstream movements of 7.4, 9.1, 12.0 and 31.7 miles, tiien descended downstream for respective net movements of 5.4, -1 .7, -1 1 .5 and 3.7 miles. These fish are designated in Figure 34. 33 4000 1995 1997 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 Figure 28. Figure showing the estimated number of rainbow trout (> 6") in the Pine Butte section of the Madison River during fall, 1995-2010. 2000 1 1 1 li 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 Figure 29. Figure showing the estimated number of rainbow trout (> 6") in the Vamey section of the Madison River during fall, 1995-2010. 34 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 Figure 30. Figure showing the estimated number of rainbow trout (> 6") in the Norris section of the Madison River during spring, 1995-2010. 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 Figure 3 1 . Figure showing the estimated number of brown trout (> 6") in the Pine Butte section of the Madison River during fall, 1995-2010. 35 19S7 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 Figure 32. Figure showing the estimated number of brown trout (> 6") in the Vamey section of the Madison River during fall, 1995-2010. 199S 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 Figure 33. Figure showing the estimated number of brown trout (> 6") in the Norris section of the Madison River during spring, 1995-2010. 36 ■D > O V es re V 1 c o 40 30 20 10 -10 -20 mtm ■ 1010 River Mile Where Implanted Figure 34. Known mileage moved from tagging location by radio tagged rainbow trout March through July, 1999 vs. 2010. Negative values indicate downstream movements, positive values indicate upstream movement. Fish that initially moved upstream then descended are designated with an arrow and the upstream mileage moved. From March through July 1999, Downing (2000) documented rainbow trout spawning in the Madison River between river mile 45.3 (south shore of Ennis Reservoir) and river mile 109.1 (Hebgen Dam). He found that 17 of his radio unplanted rainbow trout spawned in the mainstem river during that period, 13 upstream of Lyons Bridge (river mile 88.3). One of those ascended above Quake Lake to the vicinity of Cabin Creek. Nine of the 13 were captured, implanted and released upstream of Lyons Bridge. The other four moved upstream from locations 2.5 (near Moose Ck) - 34.2 (near Vamey Bridge) miles below Lyons Bridge. He docvmiented four other implanted rainbow trout spawning in the mainstem within 0 - 7.4 miles of their release locations near Moose Creek, 1 ¥2 miles upstream of McAtee Bridge, just below Vamey Bridge, and V2 mile upstream of 8-Mile Fishing Access Site. He also documented four fish that moved into tributaries to spawn. Two of those fish made significant upsfream movements from their September 1998 capture and release site just below Vamey Bridge into Gazelle and Freezeout creeks in the West Fork Madison drainage, movements of 31.1 and 40.3 miles, respectively. One moved 5.8 miles downstream from its capture and release site, then ascended Squaw Creek 2.6 miles to spawn. The fourth rainbow moved 1 mile downstream then ascended 6 miles up the West Fork Madison to spawn. Downing (2000) found only one of the 17 mainstem river spawning radio implanted rainbow trout showed downstream movement of more than one mile during the 1999 spawning season (March - July), six showed movements of less than one mile either up or downstream, and 10 showed upstream movements of more than one mile (Figure 34). None of the rainbow trout involved in the 2010 monitoring effort were documented to have ascended higher than river mile 95.0. The one fish that did ascend to river mile 95 was 37 captured and implanted in September 2009 at river mile 85.9. This fish ultimately exhibited a net downstream movement of 1.7 miles (Figure 34). The telemetry study vvdll continue through 20 1 1 . River Discharge Pulse Flows In 1994 PPL Montana implemented a pulse flow system on the Madison River downstream of Ennis Reservoir in years of high water temperature to prevent thermally induced fish kills. Despite being developed as a stop-gap measure for extremely warm and dry years, pulse flows were necessary every year fi"om 2000 - 2007. Pulse flows were not necessary in 2008 or 2009. Table 4, adapted from PPL Montana data, summarizes statistics regarding pulse flows in the Madison in years pulsing was conducted. Table 4. Summary statistics for years in which pulse flows were conducted on the Madison River. Year Hebgen October 1 pool elevation^^ Feet below full pool Feet of Hebgen draft due to pulsing Number of days pulsing occurred 2000 6531.21 3.66 0.61 29 2001 6530.53 4.34 0.05 13 2002 6530.46 4.41 0.70 18 2003 6528.59 6.28 2.68 39 2004 6532.07 2.8 0.28 12 2005 6531.52 3.35 0.30 17 2006 6530.86 4.01 1.74 15 2007 6526.05 8.82 2.12 43 'tebgen full pool is 6534.87 msl. The FERC license requires PPL Montana to mamtain Hebgen pool elevation between 6530.26 and 6534.87 fi-om June 20 through October 1. Flushing Flows Flushing flows were not conducted in the Madison River in 20 1 0. Minimum Flows Minimum and maximum instream flows in various sections of the Madison River are mandated in Article 403 and in Condition No. 6 of the FERC license to PPL Montana. Specifically, Condition 6 in its entirety states: ^''During the operation of the facilities authorized by this license, the Licensee shall maintain each year a continuous minimum flow of at least 150 cfs in the Madison River below Hebgen Dam (gage no. 6-385), 600 cfs on the Madison River at 38 Kirby Ranch (USGS gage no. 6-388), and 1,110 cfs on the Madison River at gage no. 6-410 below the Madison development Flows at USGS gage no. 6-388 (Kirby Ranch) are limited to a maximum of 3,500 cfs under normal conditions excepting catastrophic conditions to minimize erosion of the Quake Lake spillway. Establish a permanent flow gauge on the Madison River at Kirby Ranch (USGS Gauge No. 6-388). Include a telephone signal at the gauge for link to Hebgen Dam operators and the Butte-based System Operation Control Center." Temperature Monitoring Onset Tidbit™^ temperature recorders were deployed throughout the Madison River to document air and water temperatures (Figure 7). Table 5 summarizes the data collected at each location in 2010. Appendix D contains thermographs for each location. Aquatic Nuisance Species The annual economic cost of invasive species management and control in the United States is estimated to be nearly $120 billion (Pimentel et al 2005). The Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force estimates that 42% of the species on the Threatened or Endangered species lists are significantly affected by alien-invasive species (www.anstaskforce.gov/impacts.php). In 1994, two uivasive species were detected in the Madison Drainage - New Zealand mud snails Potamopyrgus antipodarum and whirling disease Myxobolus cerebralis. Montana has an active multi-agency ANS program coordinated through FWP (Appendix E). Within FWP Region 3 dissolved calcium levels varied from 1 lmg/1 at the Big Hole River Fish Trap FAS to 62 mg/1 at Clark Canyon Reservoir. The sole site sampled in the Madison Drainage was Ennis Reservoir, which showed a calcivim concentration between 20 - 24 mg/1. Calcium concentrations of 15 mg/liter or less are thought to limit the distribution of zebra/ and quagga mussels. FWP ANS field crews found no Zebra or Quagga mussel veligers or adults. New Zealand Mud snails, or Eurasian Watermilfoil in samples collected fi:om Madison River sites in 2010. A total of 167 watercraft were inspected by the FWP ANS crew. Most water users were fi-om Montana, but there were also boaters from California, Missouri, Texas, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Minnesota, Utah and Washington. Of the 167 watercraft inspected, 14 % were recreationists, 40 % were guides with cUents, and 46 % were unguided anglers. 39 Table 5. Table showing maximum and minimum temperatures C^) recorded at selected locations in the Madison River Drainage, 2010. Air and water temperature data were recorded from April 20 -October 2 (43,456 data points). Thermographs for each location are in Appendix D. Site Max Min Water Hebgen inlet" NA NA Hebgen discharge 68.0 37.2 Quake Lake inlet 68.8 34.9 Quake Lake outlet 66.5 37.8 Kirby Bridge 71.3 34.7 Wall Ck Bridge 71.4 33.1 McAtee Bridge 70.6 32.9 Ennis Bridge 72.4 33.8 Ennis Reservoir Inlet 74.9 33.3 Ennis Dam 72.7 41.7 Bear Trap Mouth 77.2 38.0 Norris 77.7 37.8 Blacks Ford 79.0 34.3 Cobblestone 79.9 34.8 Headwaters S.P. (Madison mouth) 78.6 37.5 Air Kirkwood 87.0 15.7 SUde 87.3 17.7 WaU Creek HQ 92.3 21.1 Ennis'^ 93.8 21.4 Ennis Dam 89.5 24.1 Norris 88.8 31.5 V T^ _,_ Cobblestone 91.4 22.7 Recorder at Hebgen Inlet was not recovered. Maximum temperature at Ennis air was 123.2, but liie recorder had been moved by an unknown party from its shaded position to a point in the fuU sun. The maximum temp outside that period is listed in this table. 40 New Zealand Mud snails The Montana Aquatic Species Coordinator has developed a plan to address New Zealand mud snails. Specifically, these actions include: 1) Listing New Zealand mud snails as a Prohibited species in Montana. 2) Assisting in development of a regional management plan for New Zealand mud snails, an important portion of which will describe actions to be undertaken when New Zealand mud snails are found in or near a hatchery. 3) Establishing statewide monitoring efforts. 4) Conducting boat inspections at popular FAS, many of which are on the Madison River. This effort assists with public education/outreach and also ensures boats are not spreading New Zealand mud snails or other ANS. 5) Purchasing portable power washing systems for cleaning boats and trailers at fishing access sites. The FWP Fisheries office in Ennis uses a power washer to clean project equipment to reduce the chance of spreading ANS through work activities. NZMS have not been found in any state or federal hatcheries. Strategies have been implemented to prevent the spread of NZMS from the sole private hatchery in which they were discovered. The spread of New Zealand mud snails has slowed and appears to be confined in Montana to east of the Continental Divide. Additional information on Aquatic Nxusance Species is on the web at www. anstaskforce . gov and www.protectyom-waters.net, and for New Zealand mud snails specifically, is available at www-.esg.montana.edu/ainVmoUusca^nzms. Whirling Disease Caged young-of-the-year rainbow trout in the Madison River continue to exhibit high infection rates & severity (Table 6) and still exceed the infection rate & severity level postulated by researchers to reduce rainbow trout population numbers. For rainbow trout, average histology scores above 2.5 are associated with high mortality of young-of-the-year and significant decreases in population. The juvenile rainbow trout used in the sentinel cage studies are not offspring of Madison River rainbow trout, but are from the captive stock that has been used in sentinel cages since studies began in 1996. The high infection rate exhibited by this captive stock shows that whirling disease remains at high levels in the Madison, but offspring of Madison River rainbow trout appear to be developing a resistance to whirling disease as evidenced by rainbow front population estimates in the upper river (Figures 28-30). In 1998, and again in 2004, eggs were collected from spawning rainbow front near the Slide Inn below Quake Lake and the resulting fry exposed to a confrolled number of TAMs in the Wild Trout Laboratory in Bozeman. Fry produced from the 2004 spawners exhibited a lower proportion offish in the highly iirfective categories compared to those from 1998 spawners (Figure 35). In Figure 35, the average histology score of the 1998 test fish is 4.13, while tiiat of the 2004 test fish is 2.42. 41 Table 6. Sentinel rainbow trout whirling disease infection rates, Madison River, May 14/15 24/25, 2010, unless otherwise noted. Site Average infection score Percent offish infected Upper cage Lower cage Upper Cage Lower cage ] Vladison River mainstem Slide Inn 0.36 0.56 27 37 Green Island (Fiy Fishers Club @ Big Bend) 2.21 2.38 94 97 Pine Butte 3.11 4.26 100 100 Eagles Nest 3.50 3.54 100 100 Kirby 3.64 3.23 100 100 West Fork 4.38 4.26 100 100 Lyons 4.46 4.81 96 100 Sun West 4.07 4.85 100 100 Palisades 4.18 3.91 100 100 Vamey 4.32 4.74 96 100 Madison River tributaries $3 Spring Ck 0 0 0 0 Papoose Ck 0 0 0 0 WolfCk May 15-25 0 ~ 0 — Jmi30-JullO 0 0 0 0 Ruby Ck May 15-25 ~ 0.12 — 4 Jun30-Jull0 0 0 0 0 Blaine Spr Ck 0.05 3.10 4 97 Information on whirling disease, including numerous links, is available online at www.whirling-disease.org. 42 CO ■a Y~»«=--{=r»«.»j,„™«^„....~.^^.™--^»..-«,.j.. S" <^ <# (^^"^ > < - 1.0 ^ 0.0 Figure 48. Figure showing the relative abundance and average size of rainbow (Rb), brown (LL) and brook (Eb) trout in a section of the South Fork Madison River following a large woody debris habitat improvement project in 2005. Watkins Creek FWP personnel conducted two fish population surveys prior to implementation of a large woody debris project m Watkins Creek in 2010 (Table 9; Appendix F). Only the project and dowTistream control reach were sampled during the as first sampling event on May 28 as ice cover made the upstream control inaccessible. A second survey of all monitoring reaches was conducted on July 21^*. 55 Table 9. Summary of eiectrofishing monitoring conducted in Watkins Creek prior to LWD project implementation. Section Sample Date Number of Salmonids Captured Effort (seconds) Catch-per-Unit- Effort (fish/hour) Upstream Control 7/21/10 7 1060 24 Project Section 5/28/10 17 1018 60 7/21/10 7 2372 11 Downstream Control 5/28/10 47 1193 142 7/21/10 33 2366 50 Rainbow trout, rainbow x Yellowstone cuttliroat trout hybrids and Rocky Mountain (mottled) sculpin were the only fish species sampled in the Watkins Creek project area. The downstream control reach yielded slightly higher numbers of sahnonids in May than in July. This variance is likely due to fish holdmg in winter habitat i.e. deep pools and being less dispersed through the reach. Additionally, water temperatures were 12 degrees cooler, making fish more susceptible to capture. Hebgen Basin Juvenile Fish Sampling In 2005, upstream fish passage through the Duck Creek culvert on US Highway 191 was improved by constructing a boulder cascade at the outlet. Prior to construction, adult fish were delayed and possibly prevented fi-om passing at this culvert due to the vertical height of the culvert outlet above the streambed. Juvenile fish trapping results show a subsequent increase in outmigrant juvenile brovm trout in 2006 and 2007, and an increase in outmigrant juvenile whitefish in 2006. hi 2009 and 2010, rotary screw trap capture of juveniles of both species declined to pre-construction levels (Figure 50). Rotary screw trap catches of juvenile fish in Duck Creek and the South Fork of the Madison River show two different life histories of rambow trout. Significantly more rainbow trout yearlings emigrated fi-om Duck Creek than did young-of-the-year, while the opposite was true of the South Fork of the Madison River (Table 10). Higher spring flows in recent years have reduced the efficiency of the rotary screw traps, but it appears that Duck Creek is now providing more rainbow trout to Hebgen Reservok than is the South Fork of the Madison (Table 11). Duck Creek Rainbow trout emigration fi-om Duck Creek peaked in mid-May while brown trout emigration peaked 2-3 weeks earlier in late April (Figure 49). 56 Table 10. Numbers of young-of-the-year and juvenile trout, and numbers of other fish species captured in the Duck Creek and South Fork Madison rotary screw traps, 2010. Duck Creek S.F. Madison Species Yearling Y-O-Y Yearling Y-O-Y Rainbow trout 587 102 227 2,226 Brown trout 148 1,153 1,776 16,459 Brook trout 35 2 1 0 Whitefish 0 0 0 0 Longnose dace 45 0 0 0 Mottled sculpin 177 0 12 13 Utah chub 18 0 0 0 Table 1 1 . Actual and estimated number of captured yearling & older rainbow trout in the Duck Creek and South Fork Madison River rotary screw traps, and actual number captured of young-of-the-year rainbow trout for the South Fork Madison, 2004 - 2010. Duck SF Madison Year actual estimated actual estimated v-o-v 2004 1,070 4,313 455 1,481 11,027 2005 1,338 3,552 1,162 2,942 18,306 2006 656 3,561 — — — 2007 317 4,467 — — — 2009 683 2,421 402 608 256 2010 587 12,489 227 2,270 2,226 57 250 200 150 100 i 50 - IRainbow i Brown LA 4/19 4/29 5/9 L 5/19 5/29 6/8 6/18 6/28 Figure 49. Number of juvenile rainbow and brown trout captured by date in Duck Creek rotary screw trap, 2010. South Fork Madison Emigration timing of yearling rainbow and brown trout from the South Fork Madison rotary screw trap is shown in Figure 5 1 . While the armual production of yearling rainbow emigrants is consistent with previous years, the number of young-of-the-year rainbow emigrants has decreased significantly. Only 2,226 young-of-the-year rainbow trout were captured in 2010 compared to 18,306 in 2005 and 1 1,027 ui 2004 (Table 1 1). Additionally, the number of young- of-the-year whitefish decreased from 54 and 37 in 2004 and 2005 respectively, to 4 in 2009 and 1 in 2010. Brown front emigration was peaking when trapping began m late April 2010. Studies of lake versus tributary rearing Bonneville Cutthroat front Oncorhynchus clarki Utah in Strawberry Reservofr, Utah (Knight et al 1999) and rainbow trout in Lake Alexandria, New Zealand (Hayes 1995) show the recruitment of young-of-the-year migrants to the lake or reservofr populations is significantly less than that offish that rear in natal sfreams until at least age 1 before emigrating. Factors that may be limiting the recruitment of young-of-the-year migrant rainbow trout are susceptibility to predation, habitat and forage availability due to reservofr storage conditions, and competition with other fishes. Availability of littoral cover can greatly increase juvenile fish survival by reducing the probability of an encounter with a predator. Additionally, both intra and interspecific competition for forage and other resources is amplified when habitat availability is condensed (Walls et al. 1990). A study of brown trout in Lake Eucumbene, New South Wales, New Zealand showed higher lake levels to be positively linked to year class survival (Tilzey 1999). By rearing in the natal stream for 2-3 years. Duck Creek juveniles likely experience less forage and habitat competition and posses greater predator avoidance and forage capabilities when they enter the reservoir than do the South Fork Madison young-of-the-year emigrants. 58 1200 1000 ; Rainbow 0 4- 600 , 500 : 400 I 300 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 200 100 I ■ Brown Trout ■ Whitefish ■ I 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 Figure 50. Number of yearling rainbow trout (top) and brown trout and whitefish (bottom) captured in the Duck Creek rotary screw trap, 2004 - 2010. Whirling Disease Hebgen Basin Disease Monitoring Laboratory analyses of 2010 South Fork Madison whirling disease samples shows infection scores at two sites to be 0.61 and 1.09, both lower than seen in several previous years. Monitoring in previous years indicates a moderate to high infection on the MacConnell-Baldwin scale (Appendix A) in the South Fork Madison but little or no infection in other Hebgen tributaries (Table 12). Some rainbow trout spavmers ascending Duck Creek in previous years exhibit external characteristics of whirling disease. 59 350 -, I i 300 I 250 4 jRainbow trout Brown trout 200 150 100 "t SO -| 0 .V-"" ^>Cf ^<^ <^^ .,^ ^ •oX* ^ ,\<> ^ i »- i 36 34 32 2009 ■♦-McaiiTSl ♦-MeanCladi/iite * MeanCopcs/silo /•* '" - 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 a o o DAM M. WTKS SFC LNTR NRW5 JliN.C Sample Site 2010 Mojn TSi Mean Clads/SiLe Mean Copes/Site 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 a o o DAM M.L WTKS SFC LNTR NRWS JHN.C Sample Site Figure 57. Hebgen Reservoir mean TSI score and densities of zooplankton by site, 2009 and 2010. Site names are Dam, Moonlight Bay, Watkins Creek, South Fork Cabin, Lone Tree (Horse Butte), Narrows, and Johnson Creek. Sites are listed in a counterclockwise fashion from the dam (Figure 21). 65 Tj h-l> OQ CO M tVl T (/> 00 ft 0 00 ^g^^ 0 nj f1 ° B ^- n 06/04 t^cte Pu d- 3 06/06 hSep Dako 06/20 06/23 B n *T3 Hi 0 06/27 mbe Stat 1 * 0) 07/04 07/06 a o g 07/17 07/22 07/26 (top), 200 ersity Clim 08/01 08/05 13 08/10 08/16 a 08/26 8 (mi ateO 3 0 0 «* 08/29 03/29 ddle) ffice g- a 0 09/06 09/08 , and2 Data CD n 09/09 09/12 09/15 ►A o 2 o s 09/16 -s VO ^ 09/19 (bott 2010 CD 1— * 09/21 09/22 %g 0 09/24 09/26 o • rt- W o ^ 0 09/27 r* U g a 10/01 P 0 ^tp ii p 3 2: 3 Hind Sp/Gust (nph) 12 06 05 16 06 14 14 14 16 03 07 07 07 14 16 07 14 09 09 07 10 15 15 15 12 15 09 09 08 11 E ^- n a. Oi fl) U) lo 0 T 3 H 1 E m tn H ni n ^ ft ft 0 A 06/10 06/18 06/21 06/25 06/29 06/30 07/05 07/07 07/11 07/13 07/16 07/19 07/22 07/26 07/31 08/02 08/03 08/05 08/16 08/21 08/24 08/26 08/29 08/31 09/03 09/07 09/10 09/18 09/22 09/27 Hind Sp/Gust (nph) Hind Sp/Gust Direction Direction Direction CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE PLANS The Madison (Eimis) Reservoir grayling population continues to persist at low levels. While the Madison population is very similar genetically to the Big Hole population, it exhibits an adfluvial life history pattern versus the fluvial behavior of the Big Hole River population. Fish population monitoring will continue aimually in the Madison River. These data are necessary for setting and reviewing angling regulations, and to monitor environmental and biological impacts on the populations. New Zealand Mudsnail populations will contmue to be monitored through the 2188 Biological and Biocontaminant monitoring program and through the FWP Aquatic Nuisance Species Program. Rainbow trout captive stock used in sentinel cage studies in the Madison River have continued to show high infection rates and severity. In laboratory studies, progeny of Madison River rainbow trout exhibited lower infection severity to whirling diseasewhen compared to hatchery stock rainbow trout. FWP has unplemented a program and provided equipment to clean sampling gear to reduce the chance of moving ANS among waters. hi 2010, WCT from the Sun Ranch Brood provided eggs and fry for the Cherry Creek project and introduction back into the Sun Ranch Brood. Additionally, fertilized eggs from six wild donor populations were reared in the Sim Ranch Hatchery and introduced into recipient sfreams as eyed eggs or fry, and resulting fry from one of those wild donor populations was also infroduced into the Sun Ranch Brood. In 2010, eradication of normative front was completed for the Cherry Creek Native Fish Infroduction Project and introductions of WCT continued in Phase 3 and Cherry Lake. Infroductions will continue in 201 1 and beyond, and monitoring will document the development of the WCT population. Activation of the well and delivery system allows permanent removal of tarps and a portion of a hand-built rock dam in Lake Creek, providing year-round passage for spawning brown frout and other aquatic species. Installation of the waterline from the well drilled in 2009 to stock tanks was completed in 2010. The proportion of the Hebgen Reservoir rainbow trout gilLnet catch larger than 14 inches has increased since 2003. The South Fork of the Madison River, where juvenile rainbow trout emigrate to the reservoir as young-of-the-year, is the only tributary of Hebgen Reservoir to show high whfrling disease infection of sentinel fish. Sentinel rainbow frout in Duck Creek and Black Sand Springs have exhibited infection rates less than 0.20 in previous years, and in most cases showed no infection. 67 Cladoceran and copepod zooplanklon densities in Hebgen Reservoir showed diverse abundance patterns. Cladoceran density tends to be at its highest in June while copepod density peaks in July. 68 LITERATURE CITED Bramblett, R.G. 1998. Environmental Assessment. Madison River Drainage Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation and Restoration Program: Cherry Creek Native Fish Introduction. Prepared for Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, April 15, 1998. 70 pages. Byorth, P. and B. Shepard. 1990. Ennis Reservoir/Madison River Fisheries Investigations. Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks Final Report to Montana Power Company. 90 pages. Carlson, R.E. 1977. A Trophic State Index for Lakes. Limnology and Oceanography 22(2): 361-369. Clancey, P. 1995. Madison River/Ennis Reservoir Fisheries. 1994 Annual Report to Montana Power Company, Environmental Division, Butte, from Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, Ennis. May 1995. Clancey, P. 1996. Madison River/Ennis Reservoir Fisheries. 1995 Annual Report to Montana Power Company, Environmental Division, Butte, from Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, Ennis. February 1996. Clancey, P. 1997. Madison River/Ennis Reservoir Fisheries. 1996 Annual Report to Montana Power Company, Environmental Division, Butte, from Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, Ennis. March 1997. Clancey, P. 1998a- Madison River/Ennis Reservoir Fisheries. 1997 Annual Report to Montana Power Company, Environmental Division, Butte, from Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, Ennis. June 1998. Clancey, P. 1998b. Decision Notice: Cherry Creek Native Fish Introduction Project. Region 3, July 6, 1998. 30 pages. Clancey, P. 1999. Madison River/Ennis Reservoir Fisheries and Madison River Drainage Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation and Restoration Program. 1998 Annual Report to Montana Power Company, Environmental Division, Butte, and Turner Enterprises, Inc., Gallatin Gateway, from Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, Ennis. April 1999. Clancey, P. 2000. Madison River/Ennis Reservoir Fisheries and Madison River Drainage Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation and Restoration Program. 1999 Aimual Report to PPL Montana (formerly Montana Power Company), Enviroimiental Division, Butte, and Turner Enterprises, Inc., Gallatin Gateway, from Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, Eimis. April 2000. 69 Clancey, P. and D. Downing. 2001. Madison River/Ennis Reservoir Fisheries and Madison River Drainage Westslope Cuttbiroat Trout Conservation and Restoration Program. 2000 Annual Report to PPL Montana, Environmental Division, Butte, and Turner Enterprises, Inc., Gallatin Gateway, from Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, Ennis. April 2001. Clancey, P. 2002. Madison River/Ennis Reservoir Fisheries and Madison River Drainage Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation and Restoration Program. 2001 Annual Report to PPL Montana, Environmental Division, Butte, and Turner Enterprises, Inc., Gallatin Gateway, from Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, Ennis. June 2002. Clancey, P. 2003. Madison River/Ennis Reservoir Fisheries and Madison River Drainage Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation and Restoration Program. 2002 Annual Report to PPL Montana, Environmental Division, Butte, and Turner Enterprises, Inc., Gallatin Gateway, from Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, Ennis. March 2003. Clancey, P. 2004. Madison River/Ennis Reservoir Fisheries and Madison River Drainage Westslope Cutfliroat Trout Conservation and Restoration Program. 2003 Annual Report to PPL Montana, Environmental Division, Butte, and Turner Enterprises, Inc., Gallatin Gateway, from Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, Ennis. May 2004. Clancey, P. and T. Lohrenz. 2005. Madison River/Ennis Reservoir Fisheries and Madison River Drainage Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation and Restoration Program. 2004 Annual Report to PPL Montana, Environmental Division, Butte, and Tumer Enterprises, Inc., Gallatin Gateway, from Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, Ennis. April 2005. Clancey, P. 2006. Madison River/Ennis Reservoir Fisheries and Madison River Draiaage Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation and Restoration Program. 2005 Annual Report to PPL Montana, Environmental Division, Butte, and Tumer Enterprises, Inc., Gallatin Gateway, from Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, Eimis. June 2006. Clancey, P. 2007. Madison River/Ennis Reservoir Fisheries and Madison River Drainage Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation and Restoration Program. 2006 Annual Report to PPL Montana, Environmental Division, Butte, and Tumer Enterprises, Inc., Gallatin Gateway, from Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, Ennis. June 2007. Clancey, P. 2008. Madison River/Ennis Reservoir Fisheries and Madison River Drainage Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation and Restoration Program. 2007 Annual Report to PPL Montana, Environmental Division, Butte, and Tumer Enterprises, Inc., Gallatin Gateway, from Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, Ennis. July 2008. Clancey, P. and T. Lohrenz. 2009. Madison River/Ennis Reservoir Fisheries and Madison River Drainage Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation and Restoration Program. 2008 Annual Report to PPL Montana, Environmental Division, Butte, and Tumer Enterprises, Inc., Gallatin Gateway, from Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, Ennis. August 2009. 70 Clancey, P. and T. Lohrenz. 2010. Madison River/Ennis Reservoir Fisheries and Madison River Drainage Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation and Restoration Program. 2008 Annual Report to PPL Montana, Environmental Division, Butte, and Turner Enterprises, Inc., Gallatin Gateway, from Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, Eimis. June 2010. Downing, D. 2000. Spawning and rearing ecology of Madison River rainbow trout in relation to whirling disease infection risk. MS thesis, Montana State University. 65 pages. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 2000. Order Issuing New License, Project No. 2188- 030. Issued September 27, 2000. Hall, D.J. and S.T. Threlkeld. 1976. The size -efficiency hypothesis and the size structure of zooplankton communities. AnnualReviewof Ecological Systems. 7:177-208. wvv-w.amiuaireviev/s.org/aroniine. Hayes, J.W. 1995. Importance of stream versus early lake rearing for rainbow trout fry in Lake Alexandria, South Island, New Zealand, determined from otolith daily growth patterns. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 29:409-420. Johnson, B. and P. Martinez. 2000. Trophic economics of lake frout management in reservoirs of differing productivity. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 20: 127- 143. Johnson, J. 1988. Environmental assessment of plans to restore Strawberry Reservoir fishery. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources No 87-14. Sah Lake City, Utah. Knight, C.A., R.W. Orme and D.A. Beauchamp. 1999. Growth, survival, and migration patterns of juvenile adfluvial Bonneville cutthroat trout in tributaries of Strawberry Reservoir. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 128:553-563. Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks. 1999. Memorandum of Understanding and Conservation Agreement for Westslope Cutthroat Trout in Montana. May 1999. Montana Fish, Wildhfe, & Parks. 2004. FA+. Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, Information Services Unit, Bozeman. Montana Fish, Wildhfe, & Parks. 2007. Memorandum of Understanding and Conservation Agreement for Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout in Montana. July 2007. Pimentel, D., R. Zuniga, and D. Morrison. 2005. Update on the environmental and economic costs associated vwth alien-species in the United States. Ecological Economics, 2005 (Vol. 52) (No. 3) 273-288. 71 Sipher, C. R. and E. P. Bergersen. 2001. The effects of whirling disease on growth and survival of snake river cutthroat and Colorado River rainbow trout fingerlings. 7^ Annual Whirling Diseases Symposium abstracts. Whirling Disease Foxandation, Bozeman MT, and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Logan, UT. Sloat, M.R., B.B. Shepard, and P. Clancey. 2000. Survey of tributaries to the Madison River from Hebgen Dam to Eimis, Montana with an emphasis on distribution and status of westslope cutthroat trout. Report to Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, Helena, Montana. 165 pages. Tilzey, R.D.J. 1999. Environmental cues in the reproductive migrations of brown trout (Salmo trutta) in Lake Eucumbene, New South Wales. Australian Society for Fish Biology. BCingston ACT. Teuscher D. and C. Luecke. 1996. Competition between kokanees and Utah chub in Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Utah- Wyoming. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 125:505-511. Walls, M., I. Kortelainen and J. Sarvala. 1990. Prey responses to fish predation in freshwater communities. Ann. Zool. 27:183-199. 72 Appendix A The MacConnell-Baldwin whirling disease grade-of-severity scale and definitions. Grade 0: No abnormalities noted. Myxobolus cerebralis is not seen. Grade 1 : Small, discrete focus or foci of cartilage degeneration. No or few associated leukocytes. Grade 2: Siogle, locally extensive focus or several smaller foci of cartilage degeneration and necrosis. Inflammation is localized, few to moderate numbers of leukocytes infiltrate or border lytic cartilage. Grade 3: Multiple foci (usually 3 -^^ ) of cartilage degeneration and necrosis. Moderate number of levikocytes are associated with lytic cartilage. Inflammatory cells extend minimally into surrounding tissue. Grade 4: Multifocal (usually 4 or more sites^^) to coalescing areas of cartilage necrosis. Moderate to large numbers of leukocytes border and/or infiltrate lytic cartilage. Locally extensive leukocyte infiltrates extend into surrounding tissue. Grade 5: Multifocal (usually 6 or more^ ) to coalescing areas of cartilage necrosis. Moderate to large numbers of leukocytes border and/or infiltrate necrotic cartilage. The inflammatory response is extensive and leukocytes infiltrate deeply into surrounding tissue. This classification is characterized by loss of normal architecture and is reserved for the most severely infected fish. '^ lesion numbers typical for head, not whole body sections. Appendix Bl Summary of Emiis Reservoir beach seining 1995 - 2010 Species abbreviations: AG Arctic grayling MWF mountain whitefish LL brown trout Rb rainbow trout Date AG MWF LL Rb 7/27/95 12 177 4 0 9/1/95 23 89 4 0 6/18/96 0 6 1 2 7/22/96 0 0 0 0 8/22/96 0 0 1 0 8/20/97 1 0 3 0 10/27/97 0 5 0 0 9/4/98 0 0 0 0 9/22/99 2 34 0 0 11/2/00 0 14 3 0 8/29/01 0 0 0 0 10/2/02 1 2 4 0 10/6/03 0 2 3 1 9/28/04 1 9 96 0 9/27/05 0 11 19 5 11/5/07 0 0 0 0 9/29/08 0 0 3 1 10/1/09 10/22/09 0 1 0 5 139 0 30 0 10/6/10 0 0 1 0 Appendix B2 Description of young-of-the-year Arctic grayling beach seining locations in Ennis Reservoir, and catch at each site. See Figure 4 for site locations. Species abbreviations: AG Arctic grayling MWF mountain whitefish Rb rainbow trout LL brown trout WSu white sucker uc Utah chub LND long-nose dace Sc Rocky Mountain (mottled) sculpin Site AG MWF Note Southeast shore west Small pockets of macrophytes of Bailey's mouth 0 0 10/6/10 1 6 juvenile UC Fig 4 site 1 One 3 -inch LL Southeast shore west Small pockets of macrophytes of Bailey's mouth 0 0 10/6/10 1 0 juvenile UC Fig 4 site 2 1 mottled Sc Meadow Ck FAS Few macrophytes North shore & west 0 0 shore willows Dozens of y-o-y UC 10/6/10 ILND Fig 4 site 3 Several Sc Appendix CI Historic population estimates of aged rainbow and brown trout per mile in the Pine Butte, Vamey, and Norris sections of the Madison River CD 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 □Yearlings MAge 2 & older WSm 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 Year Figure CI - 1. Figure showing fall rainbow trout population estimates in the Pine Butte section of the Madison River, 1977-2010. Estimates for 2004 - 2010 are not aged. 3,000 2,500 2,000 1 1,500 d z 1,000 500 0 n ma □Yearlings per mile HAge 2 & older per mile Id i9s n nn n-. n- Q n I y 67 69 71 73 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 Year Figure CI - 2. Figure showing fall rainbow trout population estimates in the Vamey section of the Madison River, 1967-2010. Estimates for 2000 - 2010 are not aged. Estimates were not conducted in Vamey in 2008. 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 j3 a B 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 Year Figure CI - 3. Figure showing spring rainbow trout population (two-year old & older) estimates in the Noixis section of the Madison River, 1986-2010. Estimates for 2001-2010 are not aged. 3,000 2,500 2,000 1 1,500 d z 1,000 500 0 □Yearlings SAge 2 & older 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 Year Figure CI - 4. Figure showing fall brown trout population estimates in the Pine Butte section of the Madison River, 1977-2010. Estimates for 2004 - 2010 are not aged. □Yearlings per mile Age 2 & older per mile 67 69 71 73 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 Year Figure CI - 5. Figure showing fall brown trout population estimates in the Vamey section of the Madison River, 1967-2010. Estimates for 2000 - 2010 are not aged. Estimates were not conducted in Vamey in 2008. 5,000 It 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 Year Figure CI - 6. Figure showing spring brown trout population (two-year old & older) estimates in the Norris section of the Madison River, 1986-2010. Estimates for 2001 - 2010 are not aged. Appendix C2 Population estimates (total number in section+ 80 percent Confidence Intervals) of age 2 & older rainbow and brown trout in the Madison River See Figure 5 for section locations section lengths Pine Butte - 3 miles Vamey - 4 miles Norris - 4 rmles Pine Butte Rainbow Trout Age 2 & older 7,000 6,000 c o ■g 5,000 0 w . ^ 4,000 " 3,000 I 2,000 1,000 0 ¥^^*- *f 'ii '*¥■ ii? 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 Year Vamey Rainbow Trout Age 2 & older 3,500 3,000 c ■■§ 2,500 o I 2,000 E c 1,500 3 1,000 h- 500 0 f ii i*i. ****** .f.. 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 Year Norris Rainbow Trout Age 2 & older 12,000 10,000 .o I 8,000 m -= £ 6,000 I 4,000 o 2,000 0 ,i ■ i -i ^ i i^i 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 Year 6,000 5,000 c o ^ 4,000 w -= E 3,000 CO I 2,000 o I- .¥^ Pine Butte Brown Trout Age 2 & older ! fj f i h i. & 1,000 0 *^* *^ 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 Year Vamey Brown Trout Age 2 & older 6,000 , 5,000 0) 4,000 U) 0 E 3,000 ■^ r Til 2,000 o 1 1,000 0 **i i **. if ^^. * . * ^i* 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 Year 20,000 o 15,000 E 10,000 c o 5,000 0 i Norris Brown Trout Age 2 & older ./ ^h^ i**^. 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 Year NOTES: Appendix D Temperature recordings from monitoring sites on the Madison River See Figure 7 for locations Recorder at Hebgen Inlet was not recovered Maximum temperature at Ennis air was 123.2, but the recorder had been moved by an unknown party from its shaded position to a point in the full sun Hebgen discharge -T 1 1 1 1 1 — I 1 1 1 T— 06/01/10 04/15/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 1 — I 1 1 1 1 1 1 -] — T 1— 07/01/10 08/01/10 -1 1 1 p 1 1 r- 09/01/10 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 90- 80- 70- 80- 80- 30- ao- Quake Inlet 05/01/10 04/15/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:0D 07/01/10 08/01/10 09/01/10 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-OB:00 90- 70- Quake Lake outlet 60- JA 20- — I 1 q r 06/01/10 04/15/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 —I 1 ; 1 1 T — I 1 1 1 — 1 r- —I 1 rt— -1 1 1 p r~ 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 «h 80- 70- »- 30- Kirby — I 1 r| 1 r r- 05/01/10 04/16/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 — 1 1 1 1 1 [ T 07/01/10 —I 1 1 1 1 — ! 08/01/10 —! 1 1 1 n <- 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 70- 40- — I 1 rj 1— 05/01/10 04/15/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 Wall Ck Bridge — 1 1 1 1 — I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 — I r— 07/01/10 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 McAtee 90- BO- 70- 60- 40- 30- a>- -1 1 T) r 06/01/10 04/15/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 ' I ' 08/01/10 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 80- 70- Ennis Bridge 05/01/10 04/15/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-Oa:00 07/01/10 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 so- so- 70- 60- »■ 20- Ennis Reservoir Inlet 06/01/10 04/16/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-Oa:00 -" — r' — 08/01/10 n 1 r- 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 Ennis Dam 70- 60- 05/01/10 04/15/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:0D 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 80- ao- 70- eo- so- «- ah 20- Beartrap Mouth 06/01/10 04/01/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 11/01/10 11/01/10 12:0000 AM GMT-O6:00 Norris 05/01/10 04/15/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 08/01/10 1 p r 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 m- «>- 70- 60- 40- 30- a(h Black's Ford 06/01/10 04/15/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 07/01/10 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 Cobblestone 90- 50- 30- — I 1 r| 1 1 r- 05/01/10 04/15/10 12.00:00 AM GMT-06:00 1 — I 1 1 1 1 1 1 — [ 1 r- 06/01/10 07/01/10 T p 1 r- 09/01/10 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 Headwaters SP (Madison River mouth) ao- 80- 7&- 50- 40- 30- 20- — I 1 1 ) I 1 1 1— 06/01/10 04/15/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 — 1 1 1— — I — I 1 1 1 r- 07/01/10 —1 — [ — I — ■ — I 1 r 1 1 p 1 1 1 1 1 p r- 08/01/10 09/01/10 10/01/10 10/08/1 0 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 Kirkwood air 70- 20- —I 1 1 r- -1 1 1— -T r — r 1 r- — I — I — I 1 1 1 1 1 rr— 03/01/10 04/15/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 06/01/10 — 1 1 p r 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 80r 70- 60- Slide air 40- 30- 05/01/10 04/15/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 — n — r- 05/01/10 I— I I 1 1 1 1 1 — I — i-^ r— — I — — T 1 1 p 07/01/10 08/01/10 09/01/10 — -I p 1- 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-Oe:00 t 4 Wall Creek HQ air 90- 05/01/10 04/15/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 07/01/10 -1 p 1- 09/01/10 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 80- 30- Ennis air -. 1 r, 1 1 r- 05/01/10 04/16/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 — T-l r- 07/01/10 -1 r— pn 08/01/10 "T 1 1 rr- 09/01/10 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 Ennis Dam air 80- 60- 50- aa- 20- 05/01/10 04/15/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 07/01/10 09/01/10 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:0000 AM GMT-06:00 90- 60- 40- ao- 20- Norris air -1 1 n r 06/01/10 04/15/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 09/01/10 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 Cobblestone air 9&- 80- 70- ao- — I 1 ri 1 1 1 T" 06/01/10 04/15/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 —\ 1 r- 06/01/10 — T-, ■ T- 07/01/10 -1 1 r-T-i — 08/01/10 10/01/10 10/08/10 12:00:00 AM GMT-06:00 Appendix E The Montana Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan was finalized in October of 2002 and a full time Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Program Coordinator was hired by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in February of 2004. The emphasis of the Montana ANS Program is on coordination, education, control and prevention of spread, monitoring and detection, and rapid response. The species of emphasis are New Zealand mud snails, whirling disease, and Eurasian milfoil (all of which are established in Montana), and zebra mussels (which is yet to be documented hi the state). Strategies to prevent the further spread and introduction of these species are outlined below. 1 . Statewide distribution survey for New Zealand Mud snails has been completed. All state, federal and private hatcheries have been inspected for New Zealand Mud snails. One private hatchery contams New Zealand mud snails, strategies have been implemented to prevent the spread of this invasive through hatchery operations. The spread of New Zealand mud snails has slowed and appears to be confined to east of the divide. 2. Zebra Mussel veliger samplmg has been completed for all major reservoirs on the Missouri River, and on other high priority lakes and reservoirs. To date no zebra mussels have been found within the state. 3. Legislation and Rule making: In 2005 a rule making system was developed to classify exotic wildlife (terrestrial and aquatic) as either non controlled, controlled or prohibited. The following ANS have been since added to the prohibited list: snakehead fish (29 species), grass carp, silver carp, black carp, bighead carp, zebra mussels, rusty crayfish, nutria, African clawed frogs. North American bullfrogs, and New Zealand mud snails. Legislation was also passed during the 2005 session to provide exceptions for the possession of prohibited species, primarily for the purposes of research, in addition to providing for tougher enforcement authority including the ability to confiscate illegally possessed exotic wildlife. 4. Montana continues to actively participate in the 100* Meridian angler survey program and during 2005 submitted more than 1,700 entries to the angler survey database. The angler surveys are conducted as part of the Montana boat inspection program, which was greatly expanded in 2005. Boat inspections have occurred on all major lakes, reservoirs and popular cold-water trout rivers. The first boat with zebra mussels was found m Montana m March 2005. 5. Training: a one day workshop was provided during the Annual Meeting of the Montana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society on ANS identification, 2 day HACCP workshops have been provided for Montana hatchery personnel and field workers, a half day training was provided for Montana Firefighters on the prevention of spread of ANS, and a half day training was provided on ANS identification and prevention of spread as part offish health training for fisheries and hatchery personnel within FWS Region 6. 6. Public outreach: presentations on ANS have been made to several special interest groups including Walleyes Unlimited, Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana and I-ake Associations. ANS informational booths were present at five Montana outdoor shows: Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Missoula and Kalispell. Informational packets have been developed and are being distributed for private pond owners to encourage responsible pond ownership. 7. Illegal introductions: to date over 500 illegal fish introductions have been recorded in Montana. Illegal introductions have been identified as a major source of ANS introductions into Montana waters. An aggressive public outreach campaign was launched during summer of 2005 with an increase in law enforcement to discourage the activity of "bucket biology". ■ -**i'«i .DRY. With [ust three «asy steps, you can do your part to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species like plants, mussels and whirling disease: gjja ^gsjss^ g-jj-jj^^ gjjj~--~-| m m^^ ^Mi^ ^3 #• ^'iillii '■'M':M ff-, J' ,i. DRY , .>^^^'^ ■"' ■ A .; . .', i j«*f • ■**»4 1. INSPECT. 2. CLEAN. After leaving a lake or stream, inspect your boat, engine: trailer, anctior, waders, and other fishing and boating gear for mud, water, and vegetation that could carry aquatic hivasive species. Completety remove all mud, water, and vegetation you find, Boaters should use a pressurized power sprayer, found at most do-rt-yoursetf car washes. The hot water helps kill organisms and the pressure removes mud and vegetation. No need to use soap Of chemicals. 5. DRY. Aquatic irrvaders can survive only in water and wet areas. By draining and drying your boat and Ashing equipment thoroughly , you wilt l-MO^fr STOP AQUATIC HITCHHIKERS! Appendix F 2010 Monitoring Reports Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Madison Ranger District: Tepee Creek Wigwam Creek Gallatin National Forest Hebgen Ranger District: Watkins Creek Stream Habitat Restoration Tepee Creek, Madison Ranger District Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest 2010 MAD TAC Project Completion Report Summary: Tepee Basin in the Gravelly Mountains has been the focus of stream habitat restoration efforts by the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest since 2005. Historic impacts to the stream channel in this basin include beaver extirpation and historic over-grazmg. Efforts to restore the charmel in this basin have been focused mainly on sediment deposition, water storage, and the regeneration of riparian vegetation. Given the hydrograph and soil composition m this basin, restoration techniques consist mainly of weirs and point bars constructed of one or all of the following materials: woven willows, wooden stakes, log sills, and rock. The USPS, Madison Ranger District, and the Madison River Foundation received funding from PPL MT (MAD TAC) to complete the stream restoration activities m Tepee Basin. The Madison Ranger District fisheries biologist, FS fisheries technicians, and Northwest Envirormiental Services LLC completed the project. Project Goals: The goal of restoration in Tepee Creek was to influence natural stream processes, particularly fine sediment deposition, to restore channel morphology. The primary focus was on several severely incised sections that displayed limited evidence of natural recovery. A secondary objective was to improve watershed function by reducing fine sediment loads transported to the Madison River. Tepee Creek in the project area is fishless due to a natural cascade barrier located just downstream of the treatment area. Molecular analysis of westslope cutthroat trout (WCT) downstream in Horse Creek indicates that this population is greater than 90% pure. Once habitat has been restored to acceptable levels in Tepee Creek, there is an opportunity to introduce pure WCT into this headwater tributary. Techniques: Hand tools and natural bio-degradable materials such as logs, wooden stakes, natural fiber burlap fabric, rock, and vegetation mats were used in the construction of weirs and point bars. The structures were strategically placed to accelerate natural restorative forces. i^HH^I^^B^S^^SI^f^^^^^StiS^^^^^^^^^H ^^^^^ @^^i[Smw^ ■piAv m 1 md i * *"' ^^1.*.., fl ^ 4 -^^ m H in-stream Staictures, ^B Year Constructed 1 • • 1 H • 299%W IR? allele Cherry Lake numerous dates 2009 50 100% W McClure 10/7/2009 49 100% W Brays Canyon 10/1/2009 50 100% w Prickly Pear 10/1/2009 50 100% w Little Tepee of Tepee of Grayling 10/1/2009 10 92.3%Wxl.9%Yx5.8%R Hyde 8/5/2009 25 88.5%W X 7.3%Y x 4.2%R English George 8/4/2009 25 93.4%Wx4.3%Yx2.3%R Upper Fox 9/18/2008 18 97% W X 3% R Tepee Ck of Grayling Ck 8/25/2008 8 51.5%Wx26.6%Yx 21.9%R. Wild Horse 7/17/2008 30 100% W Last Chance 7/2/2008 21 100% W Ray 6/19/2008 60 100% w Muskrat 6/18/2008 52 100% W Whites Gulch 6/11/2008 54 100% W Halfway 9/26/2007 50 99.9% Wx 0.1% R Hall 9/20/2007 50 100% W Ray 6/21/2007 45 100% W Muskrat 6/20/2007 38 100% W Last Chance 6/18/2007 20 100% W Whites Gulch 6/12/2007 24 100% W Bear Ck 9/19/2006 25 100% W Bean Ck 9/18/2006 25 100% W Browns 6/22/2006 25 100% W Muskrat 6/21/2006 24 100% W Ray 6/20/2006 35 100% w Whites Gulch 6/12/2006 31 100% w Last Chance 6/5/2006 30 100% w Cabin Ck - mainstem 10/17/2005 15 97%Wx3%Rswarm Cabin Ck- Middle Fork 10/11/2005 8 mixture of pure W & hybrid WxR Cabin Ck- Middle Fork 10/11/2005 17 mixture of pure W & hybrid WxR Whites Gulch 9/8/2005 50 100% w HellroaringCk 7/26/2005 10 27%Wxl7%Yx56%R swarm Little Elk River 7/19/2005 10 100% Y Arasta 7/14/2005 25 87%Wx8%Rx5%Y Browns 6/28/2005 15 100% W SoapCk 6/8/2005 10 94% Wx3% R swarm Cottonwood Ck - Blacktail 6/1/2005 19 swarm - 1 fish had 3 Rb alleles; 18 fish no R alleles detected Stone 2005 30 100% WCT Stone 2004 50 100% WCT Hall 7/9/2004 2 100% W McClure 7/1/2004 8 100% W Ray 7/1/2004 5 100% W Muskrat 6/30/2004 22 100% W Cottonwood Ck - Blacktail 6/1/2004 33 100% W Jones Ck 10/30/2001 25 WxYxR; some individuals exhibited Y alleles, one exhibited R alleles Bean Ck 10/29/2001 54 98% W X 2% R; only 1 fish displayed R alleles BearCk 10/29/2001 53 100% W WalICk 10/19/2001 25 99% W X 1% R NF English George 10/18/2001 9 WxRxY, too few fish to discern percentages SF English George Ck 10/18/2001 23 80.4%Wxl9.6%Y swarm WF Wilson 10/1/2001 48 100% W