s

551.483

F2PSS

2004

MONTANA STATE LIBRARY

3 0864 0014 9345 4

Fisheries Division Report
— State Project Numbers: 3412; 34912
Project Title: Prairie streams survey 2003

Teresa R. Frank and Aime E. Tews

Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Region 4 Headquarters

4600 Giant Springs Road

Great Falls, MT 59405

March 2004

ST/iTE DuCUIWENTS COLLECTI[.

MONTANA STATE LIBRAR-
Uir, Ar'}^ ^- ^th AVE.
ilELENA, MONTANA 5962r

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4 • .

Executive summary

A survey of 62 sites on 59 Region 4 streams was conducted as part of a Montana prairie stream inventory.

This was the first time the majority of the streams had been sampled. Most sites were randomly selected,

based on stream length, 4* Code Hydrologic Unit (HUC), and lack of previous sampling. However, 16 sites

were chosen based on professional judgment of local fisheries staff Of the 62 sites surveyed, 33 were dry,

7 held water but no fish, and 22 had fish. At least one site was sampled in nineteen HUCs. Fish were not

found in 7 of the sampled HUCs. Sites were sampled with seines, or a backpack electrofishmg umt and on

the Musselshell River, with experimental gill nets. A backpack electrofishing unit was used to sample 5 of

the 62 sites A total of 11, 799 fish including 3 1 species in 9 famihes were captured. Twenty-two species

were native to Montana and 9 were introduced. The fathead minnow and the longnose dace had the greatest

distribution at 14 sites each. The plains minnow and the fathead minnow were the most abundant with

2 472 and 1 617 individuals captured respectively. Brook stickleback and freshwater drum were the least

common species, with only one specimen captured. Goldeye, emerald shiner, mountain whitefish, brook

stickleback, freshwater drum, Iowa darter and yellow perch were each found at one site. The Teton River

and the Musselshell River had the greatest species diversity with 12 and 13 species. Five streams. Chip

Creek Pike Creek, Lake Creek, Daisy Dean Creek and Little Elk Creek had one species - either fathead

minnows or brook' trout. Most streams had a typical prairie fish assemblage of several minnow and sucker

species However, trout were sampled in 5 streams, Daisy Dean, Little Elk, Smith River, Belt and Hound

Creek. The majority of species in previously sampled streams, including the South Fork McDonald Creek,

Musselshell River, Sacagawea River and the Judith River were similar to previous years. Eight different

reptile species in 4 families including 2 turtles and 6 snakes were observed. All were native to Montana.

The spiny softshell turtle was the most abundant of the turtles. Of the snakes, the racer was the most

abundant and well distributed. Six amphibian species in five famihes, including 3 species of frogs, two

types of toads and one salamander species, were observed. The tiger salamander and the northern leopard ^

frog held the greatest distributions and abundance.

Sampled streams were 8 to 341.9 miles long. Longer streams were more likely to have water. Streams over
38 miles long contained water either at or near the sample site. Of the 48 streams sampled that were less
than 38 miles long, only 15 had water. Habitat data including depth, substrate size, width, temperature and
conductivity were collected at sites with water. Instantaneous water temperature ranged from 46.4°F to
81 8°F Measured conductivity ranged from 183.3 ^S to 14,090 ^iS, with a mean of 3,092 ^S. One site, an
unnamed tributary to Muddy Creek (Sun drainage), had a conductivity exceeding 19,999 ^S; it was out of
range of the conductivity meter. This stream was Ashless, though it was mostly wetted. Mean conductivity
was 2 626 ^iS on streams that contained fish. Fathead minnows were sampled in the stream with a
conductivity of 14,090 |iS. The pH ranged from 7.52 to 9.72 with a mean of 8.42 for all sites surveyed. For
streams with fish, the pH ranged from 7.52 to 9.13 (mean of 8.32). The most common substrate was fines.
We documented fine substrate at every site except the Judith River and Smith River Site 1.

In ftiture years, additional fish identification training for prairie fish crews would be helpful. We also
recommend that crews from different regions spend time sampling together early m the season to assist m
standardization of methods, fish identification and problem solving.

This was the third year of a major drought in northcentral Montana; all counties in Region 4 were in
extreme drought by late summer (Palmer index). It is likely that additional streams would have contained
water and fish during normal precipitation years. Streams with a longer drainage length were more likely to
contain water, so it is appropriate to continue to bias random samples by stream length to maximize tish j

sampling on prairie streams.

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

Table of Contents

Page Number

Executive summary ii

Introduction 1

Methods 1

Site generation 1

Site sampling 3

Fish survey 3

Reptile/ Amphibian survey --t: 3

Water Quality/Habitat survey 3

Results/ Discussion 4

Fish survey 4

Reptile/ Amphibian survey 4

Water quality survey 4

Habitat survey 6

Major Findings by HUC 7

Upper Dearborn (HUC 10030102) 7

Smith River (HUC 10030103) 7

Sun (HUC 10030104) 7

Belt (HUC 10030105) 7

Marias(HUC 10030203) 7

Willow(HUC 10030204) 7

Teton(HUC 10030205) 7

Bullwhacker/Dog (10040101) 7

ArTow(HUC 10040102) 7

Judith (10040103) 8

Fort Peck Reservoir (10040104) 8

Upper Musselshell (10040201) 8

Middle Musselshell (10040202) 8

Flatwillow (10040202) 9

BoxElder (10040204) 9

Lower Musselshell (10040205) 9

Upper Milk (10050002) 9

Big Sandy (10050005) 9

Sage Creek (10050006) 10

Recommendations 10

Acknowledgements 11

Water codes 11

References 25

111

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

List of Tables
Table Page number

1 Fish species captured during Region 4 prairie fish survey, May- August 2003 .... 12

2 Statistics of fish captured per stream, May- August 2003 by HUC 13

3 Reptile and amphibian observations, May - August 2003 in northcentral MT 17

4 Water quality data collected during prairie stream surveys, May - August 2003 by HUC. 1 8

5 Percent substrate composition for wetted stream reaches, from Region 4 prairie fish survey
May - August 2003 by HUC 23

List of Figures
pigure Page number

1 Sites sampled during prairie fish survey in Region 4, 2003 2

2 Reptile and amphibian observations during prairie fish survey May - September 2003 ... 5

List of Appendices
Appendix Appendices

Page number

A Name and location of prairie stream sample sites in Region 4 by HUC 1

B Procedure to determine eastem Montana prairie streams to sample 3

C Fish and habitat sampling protocol for prairie streams. 4

D Habitat sampling sheet used in 2003 "7

E Fish data sampling sheet used in 2003 8

F Amphibian and reptile observations from Region 4 prairie fish sampling sites in 2003.

Does not include observations while driving to the sites 9

IV

^

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

Introduction

A survey of 59 streams, including 62 sites was conducted in 2003 in Region 4 (Figure 1 and Appendix A).
This survey was part of an inventory to document the occurrence and distribution offish species in the prairie
streams of Regions 4, 5, 6, and 7. Most streams were randomly selected and had not been previously
surveyed. Habitat surveys and visual assessments of the amphibians and reptiles were conducted on site.

Methods

Site generation and access. - Steve Cafson, Programmer/Analyst for Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks
(MFWP), randomly generated 164 survey sites for streams that had not previously been sampled in Region 4,
based on stream length and 4"^ code Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs). See Appendix B for the procedure
used. In Region 4 these 164 sites were in 21 HUCs and were described by latitude and longitude. We visited
at least one site in 19 of the HUCs. Two of the HUCs were not sampled this year, due to access issues on
Blackfeet Tribal land. Random site selection was based on stream length to increase the probability of finding
water in the stream. Both dry and wet sites were visited. Wetted sites underwent the full survey described
below, while dry sites were photographed and interesting features noted such as human development or recent
moisture (muddy channels).

Non-random, longitudinal, and seasonal sites were sampled. Sites were chosen based on access and
professional judgment of local fisheries staff. The Montana Natural Resource Information System (NRIS)
Topofinder (http://nris.state.mt.us,0 was used to locate sample sites. The Montana GIS Cadastral web site
(http://gis.doa.state.mt.us/) was used to determine land ownership. The random sites sampled were based on
HUC, landowner permission, logistics and judgment of fisheries staff Generally two sites less than 30 miles
apart were sampled each field day. Sites were chosen in the same area to minimize driving distance. To
fiirther reduce travel time, sites that had a road within 2 miles were preferentially selected. Of the 62 sites
visited (Figure 1), 46 were from randomly chosen sites. Only 16 sites were non-random and chosen by the
local fisheries staff. The streams sampled longitudinally, Arrow Creek, Musselshell River and the Smith
River, were not random. Five streams were re-sampled one month after the initial visit. Three of these
seasonal sites were non-random. Arrow Creek Site 1, Arrow Creek Site 2 and the Sacagawea River (Crooked
Creek) and two sites, Blake Creek and Coffee Creek were originally chosen as random sites. Revisits were
done near the same site as the original sample.

For random sites a primary site and an alternate site were generated. If access was denied at the primary site
we attempted to access the alternate site. If neither landowner allowed access the closest public land was
sampled where applicable. If a site was dry, we followed the criteria in Dr. Bramblett's protocol (Appendix
C) to locate a wetted reach; we searched for water one mile up and downstream at both the primarily and
alternate sites. If we located water we found the closest residential location and inquired about access and
landownership. Appendix A lists survey site location informafion. Site descriptions used in this document
often use river miles from DNRC (1979).

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

1

O

PWER 7 Musselshell
HELL

Cal Creek

Springs
Creek

FLATWILLOW

Figure 1 . Sites sampled during prairie fish survey in Region 4, 2003.

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

to^

Site sampling - We followed the protocol (Appendix C) and used data sheets (Appendices D and E)
devised by Dr. Robert Bramblett for prairie stream surveys. A Garmin® eTrexVista'^^ GPS unit was
used on-site to find the randomly selected latitude/ longitude which was used as the center (Flag F) of the
328 yard reach. Flags A-E were located at 33-yard intervals upstream and flags G-K were located at the
same intervals downstream from F. On non-random sites, F was established as the A-K intervals were
paced out. For streams that were partially wetted we often adjusted the survey site to include the most
wetted portion of the stream. Sites were moved 33 yards from bridge crossings or diversion dams to
reduce the possibility of human influence on habitat unless the wettest reach of the stream fell within the
man made habitat.

Fish survey- Sites were sampled with seines, a backpack electrofishing unit and on the Musselshell River,
with experimental gill nets. A backpack electrofishing unit was used to sample 5 of the 62 sites. It was
used at the sites that were ineffective to sample with seines, due to characteristics such as heavy brush,
very shallow water, or rocky streambeds. Seining or electrofishing began at the A-flag and proceeded
downstream to the K-flag. Block nets were not used. We used 3 sizes of seines; 20 ft x 6 ft x 0.25 inch
heavy delta, 15 ft x 4 ft x 0.25 inch heavy delta or 30 ft x 6 ft x 0.25 inch heavy delta with 6 ft x 6 ft x 6 ft
bag. Stream morphology determined the seine selected. The backpack electrofishing unit was a battery
operated Smith Root Model 12B. All fish captured during a single pass were sorted by species. On the
Musselshell River, experimental gill nets were set at six locations over about a 20-mile stream reach.
Total length of 20 specimens was measured in millimeters. In this report all measurements have been
converted to English units. Ten fish were typically kept as voucher specimens and preserved in 10%
formalin. Voucher specimens were used to validate field idenfification with the assistance of Dr. Robert
Bramblett, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT. If validation determined that some individuals were
incorrectly identified in the field, total numbers were adjusted on a percentage basis. Fish less than 2
inches long were often identified only to family, since small size precluded identification to species.

Reptile/ Amphibian survey- All reptiles and amphibian sightings were recorded during each site visit and
en-route to the site. Ryan Rauscher, wildlife biologist with MFWP, provided training and identified
tadpoles. Reichel and Flath (1995) was used for identification.

Water quality/Habitat survey- Habitat surveys were completed at most wetted or partially wetted sites.
Channel width, depth of water, substrate composition and water quality data were collected. Each flag (A-
K) represented a separate transect of the 328 yard reach. Stream widths (meters) were taken at each flag.
Five depth (centimeters) and substrate measurements were taken across each transect. Between each
transect (A-B, B-C, etc.) 10 thalweg measurements of depth and substrate were taken. The percent wetted
reach was determined by counting the depths >0 and dividing by the total number of depths taken and
rounding to the nearest percent. Conductivity (^iS, mS), pH, and temperature (°C) were measured on each
reach with an Oakton® Portable pH/CON 10 waterproof meter. Conductivity measurements were
temperature compensated to 25° C. Due to startup costs, turbidity data was not taken as described in the
protocol (Appendix C).

Substrate was classified into 10 generic types, including bedrock, boulder, cobble, course gravel, fine
gravel, sand, fines, hardpan, woody debris, and other (Appendix C). "Other" was used when none of the
defined substrate types were applicable. "Other" was typically grass, submerged aquatic vegetation mats
or in a few cases, man-made debris. Man-made debris included; tires, car parts, cement, and pump parts.
Substrate percentage was calculated by dividing the number of times each substrate was found by the total
number of substrate measurements at the site.

o

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

Results and Discussion

Fish survey- Thirty-one different fish species in 9 families were captured (Table 1). See Holton and
Johnson (2003) for species descriptions and preferred habitat. Of the species captured, 22 were native to
Montana and 9 were introduced. The abundance and distribution of fish captured in each stream are
discussed in detail below. The fathead minnow and the longnose dace had the greatest distribution at 14
sites each. Goldeye, emerald shiner, mountain whitefish, brook stickleback, freshwater drum, Iowa darter
and yellow perch were each found at one site. There were no species of special concern captured, but 5
species of uncertain status (Iowa darter, brassy minnow, plains minnow, northern red-belly dace, and
brook stickleback) were sampled. We were denied access 3 times. The reason given by the respective
landowner was: just planted spring-wheat and does not want vehicles on property, landowner does not
grant access permission to anyone, and that the "Fish and Game" was chasing elk with helicopters off of
his property to an adjacent ranch so they were not going to cooperate.

A total of 1 1 ,799 fish (Table 1) were captured from 22 sample sites in 12 HUCs. Five sites were sampled
with a backpack shocker, 16 were seined and the Musselshell River was gill-netted and seined (Table 2).
The brook stickleback and freshwater drum were the least common species with only one specimen
captured (Table 1). The plains minnow and the fathead minnow were the most abundant with 2,472 and
1,617 individuals captured respectively. Common carp were the most common non-native with 1,155
individuals captured at 4 sites. The Teton River and Musselshell River had the greatest species richness
with 12 and 13 species. Only one species was captured in Chip Creek, Daisy Dean Creek, Lake Creek,
Little Elk Creek and Pike Creek (Table 2).

Most streams were sampled once. Exceptions included; Arrow Creek, Smith River and the Musselshell ,_J

which were longitudinally sampled. Arrow Creek, Blake Creek, Coffee Creek, and the Sacagawea River
were re-sampled seasonally once near the original site. Gill nets were set on the Musselshell River over
about 20 stream miles and were combined as one fish sample (Table 2). To verify field identification up
to 20 voucher specimens of each species were taken from each stream. Therefore, species diversity and
abundance for seasonally sampled streams were likely influenced by removal of voucher specimens.

Reptile/Amphibian Survey - Eight different reptile species in 4 families that included 2 turtles and 6
snakes were observed (Table 3, Figure 2). Table 3 lists all reptiles and amphibians seen by the Region 4
prairie fish crew; several of which were not found at sampling sites. Appendix F lists the species captured
at each sampling site. All were native to Montana. The spiny softshell turtle was the most abundant of
the turtles. Of the snakes, the racer had the highest abundance and distribution. The common garter and
plains gaiter can be difficult to identify in the field and therefore most sightings are listed as garter snake
species (Table 3). This does not include the distinctly marked Western Terrestrial garter snake. Six
amphibian species in five families, including 3 species of frogs, two types of toads and one salamander
species, were observed (Table 3). The tiger salamander and the northern leopard frog held the greatest
distributions and abundance (Table 3).

Water Quality Survey- Of the 62 sites surveyed 33 were dry, 7 held water but no fish, and 22 held both

water and fish (Table 4). At least one site was sampled in 1 9 HUCs. Fish were not found in 7 of the

sampled HUCs. Table 4 lists water quality and hydrologic characteristics by stream. Streams were 8 to

341.9 miles long (Table 4). Longer streams were more likely to have water. Streams over 38 miles long

contained water either at or near the sample site. Of the 48 streams less than 38 miles long, only 15 held

water. The mean stream width was 19.5 yards. The mean thalweg and transect depths were 22.9 and 16.1 ^

inches respectively. The reaches that contained fish were mostly wetted, except for Chip Creek (<1%

wet) and McDonald Creek (45% wet).

4

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

^'

a

Ctaix

1 1

/V

^ft3nf

o

uopard flog

•

pa&le<j tirtfc

.

spbyfortfitatirat

spottaitog

T^rsaematder

oatxtri ctofu vog

saoootout cad

Commoi gantrtiakc

carterf lakt tpp. t^tt/ttmm-)

Gopt*r«ialtt

Ra«r

R3TO*I3K«

mie*tri trr.gaftrnia*:*

Figure 2. Reptile and amphibian observations during prairie fish surveys May - September 2003.

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

Measured conductivity ranged from 183.3 ^S to 14,090 ^S, with a mean of 3,092 ^iS. One site, an
unnamed tributary to Muddy Creek, had a conductivity exceeding 19,999 ^iS; it was out of range of the
conductivity meter. This stream did not contain fish though it was mostly wetted. Streams that contained
fish had a mean conductivity of 2,626 |aS. Fathead minnows were sampled in the stream with a
conductivity of 14 090 ^S. The pH ranged from 7.52 to 9.72 with a mean of 8.42 for all sites surveyed.
For streams with fish, the pH ranged from 7.52 to 9.13 and the mean was 8.32. The Musselshell River had
a high conductivity of 9,460 [iS but contained a wide variety offish species (Table 2). Of the seven sites
that were wetted but contained no fish, most were sampled early in the field season and were likely
ephemeral Four of the wet but fishless sites had conductivities exceeding 5,000 ^iS even though they
were sampled durmg run-off One site was likely too saline for fish as it exceeded 19,999 ^iS. Trout were
sampled m 5 streams, Daisy Dean,iittle Elk, Smith River, Belt and Hound Creek. Conductivity was less
than 500 ^S in all of these streams.

Water quality varied at different sampling sites on Arrow Creek; conductivity was nearly twice as high
(3470 ^S) at Site 1, compared to 1754 ^S at Site 2, 48 miles upstream. In contrast the conductivity at the
two sites on the Smith River located 16 miles apart, were within l^S of each other (380 ^S). There was
not much longitudinal difference in pH in either stream (Table 4). Seasonal water quality data was taken
on Blake Creek and Coffee Creek, but not on Arrow Creek or the Sacagawea River. The conductivity
dropped from the initial visit at Blake and Coffee Creeks. At Blake Creek it dropped by 26 ^S (4%) and
at Coffee Creek it dropped by 620 ^S (13%). Small changes in pH occurred in both streams (Table 4.)

The water temperature ranged from 46.4°F to 81.8°F during the sampling season. The mean temperature
was 63 7°F For streams with fish the mean water temperature was 65.4°F. The mean temperature was
56°F in May, 61.6 °F in June, 65.5°F in July and 67.8°F in August. Water temperatures were taken at
different times of the day, during a wide variety of air temperatures and seasons, so the values do not
reflect tolerances of the fish species present. Temperature was taken twice at two sites, Blake Creek and
Coffee Creek. At Coffee Creek the water temperature increased by nearly 20 °F, which suggests the
limitations of spot-checking temperature.

Habitat survey- Table 5 details the substrate at surveyed sites. The most common substrate was fines. We
documented fine substrate at every site except the Judith River and Smith River Site 1. The least common
substrate was hardpan, which was only found on South Fork McDonald Creek. Cobble, course gravel,
fine gravel, and sand substrates were documented at approximately 20 sites each. Wood or woody debris
were usually from beaver dams. Occasionally wood substrate was a single tree or an accumulation broken
limbs "Other" was usually grass or aquatic vegetation mats on the stream bottom. In a few sites
including as Ming Coulee, McDonald Creek, and Lake Creek other was man-made debris, such as, tires,
car parts, cement, and pump parts. The two Arrow Creek sites generally had similar substrate
compositions (Table 5). Arrow Creek site 2 had a greater percent of fine gravel and fine substrate than
Site 1 Site 1 had large boulders that were not found at Site 2. Heavy cattle use was noted at site 1 dunng
the second visit. We did not note grazing at Site 2. The Smith River sites varied greatly m their substrate
composition (Table 5). Site 2 was 97% sand substrate and site 1 was primarily, course gravel and cobble.
Recent grazing was not noted at either site.

w

^m

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

Major findings by HUC - See Table 2 for detailed species descriptions for each stream and Table 4 for

water quality and hydrology information.

Upper Missouri/Dearborn (HUC 10030102) - Five sites were sampled in this HUC, but only two, Lake
Creek, and Shonkin Creek contained water. In Lake Creek, one fathead minnow was the only fish
captured. Shonkin Creek likely contained fish, but was likely not effectively sampled with a seine.
Previous sampling (MFWP 1989) found abundant brook trout in this reach of stream.

Smith River (HUC 10030103) - Seven sites were sampled in this HUC. The two Smith River sites and
the Hound Creek site had water and fish. Ming Coulee had water and the other 3 sites were dry. On the
Smith River, sampling was completed at river mile 4 (site 2) and at river mile 20 (site 1). Water was
flowing at both sites. White sucker was the dominant species at both Smith River sites and at Hound
Creek. Longnose sucker and longnose dace were also found at all three sites. On the Smith River the
downstream site held more of a warm-water fish assemblage and contained fathead minnows, yellow
perch and flathead chubs. Trout were not sampled at the downstream site. In contrast, brown trout and
mountain whitefish were sampled at the more upstream site. The Hound Creek site was located within
0.5 miles of the Smith River. Hound Creek enters the Smith about 4 miles upstream fi-om site 1, so it is
not surprising that these sites had many fish species in common. In addition to brown trout, rainbow trout
were captured in Hound Creek. The single temperature taken at each site indicates water temperatures
may have been warm for trout at the downstream Smith River site. Conductivity measurements at the two
Smith River sites were very similar, about 380 |a.S.

Sun (HUC 10030104) - Only one stream was sampled, an unnamed tributary to Muddy Creek. The
conductivity was extremely high; it exceeded 19,999 |j.S, and no fish were found.

Belt (HUC 10030105) - Belt Creek and Red Coulee were sampled in this HUC. Belt Creek was sampled
immediately upstream of the Salem Bridge (approximately river mile 2) and had a diverse fish assemblage
of 10 species (Table 2). The fish were primarily the minnows and suckers characteristic of Montana
prairie streams, but 2 rainbow trout were captured. Red Coulee was sampled very near its headwaters and
did not have any water when sampled in mid August (Table 4).

Marias (HUC 10030203) - Five streams were sampled in July or August and only one, Chip Creek, held
water (Table 4). Chip Creek had the highest measured conductivity (14,090 |iS) and pH (9.72) for streams
containing fish. Only one fish species, the fathead mirmow, was sampled from a single pool formed at the
end of a culvert. The Chip Creek sample site was located about 6 river miles from the Marias River.

Willow (HUC 10030204) - The three streams sampled in mid-August were all dry (Table 4).

Teton (HUC 10030205) - Four tributaries to the Teton were all dry when sampled in August (Table 4).
A wide variety of minnow species, sucker species and channel catfish were collected fi"om the main Teton
River north of Great Falls off of the Boodegger trail (Table 2).

Bullwhacker/Dog (10040101) - Two streams, Taffy Creek and Cutbank Creek were sampled in May.
Both streams had water, but no fish during this run-off period.

Arrow Creek (HUC 10040102) - Five streams and a total of 6 sites were sampled in this HUC. Arrow
Creek and Coffee Creek held water and fish. Flat Creek had water but no fish. Mud Spring Coulee and a
tributary to Flat Creek were dry (Table 4).

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

Arrow Creek - Two sites were sampled twice; site 1 was at approximately river mile 12 and site 2 was at -^
river mile 60. Flathead chub was the most abundant species at both sites. The least abundant species
(n=l) per site were longnose dace (site 1), lake chub (site 1) and longnose sucker (site 2). At the
downstream site, Arrow Creek conductivity was nearly twice as high (3,470 ^S) as at the Arrow Creek
site (1754 jiS) 48 miles upstream. There was not much longitudinal difference in pH (Table 4).

Site 1 was mostly riffles and runs with one deep pool. The pool at site 1 was dry by the second visit. Site
1 had the most dramatic change in species richness between visits. Six species were captured during the
first visit but only 2 species were caught on the revisit. The two species captured, flathead chub and plains
minnow, were also the two most abundant species per visit (Table 2). This site was reduced to one,
shallow pool by the second visit,^ which may explain the loss of 4 species. Furthermore, though Arrow
Creek had a small amount of flow during the initial visit, most specimens of the other 4 species may have
been removed as voucher specimens. Nearly all of the fish sampled on the second visit were less than 2
inches long (Table 2).

We captured four fish species at site 2 that were not present at site 1 (Table 2). Site 2 had a large deep
pool and several smaller ones. Judging from the size of the white suckers, longnose suckers, and goldeye
captured, the pool at site 2 either has not dried up during drought conditions in recent years or fish
migrated about 60 miles from the Missouri River during high spring flow and remained in this deep pool.
Goldeye are a large river fish (Holton and Johnson 2003), which implies that Missouri River fish may
make large seasonal movements up Arrow Creek.

Six species were sampled in Coffee Creek. White suckers, four minnow species, and a single brook

stickleback were captured during the initial visit. Small catostomid sp. were captured on the second visit. ^

No fish were sampled in Flat Creek about 16 miles upstream of the mouth. It was sampled during June
and had a high conductivity of 8,360 nS. Flat Creek was spot sampled in July 2002, about 6 miles
downstream and 5 different species were captured including fathead minnow, lake chub, longnose sucker,
plains minnow and white sucker (Yerk et al., 2004). A spring enters Flat Creek immediately upstream of
the 2002 sampling site.

Judith (10040103) - Three streams were sampled and only the Judith River had fish. Pacer Coulee
contained water near Denton, but fish were not found. Box Elder Creek was dry about 4 miles upstream
from the mouth. The Judith was sampled on the Beckman Game Range and only 5 species were captured
compared to 1 1 sampled on the game range in 2001 (Yerk et al. 2004), The 2001 sampling involved less
intense sampling at several sites in the game range, and was done 2 weeks earlier.

Fort Peck Reservoir (10040104) - Woodhawk Creek was the only stream sampled and was dry, during
May, less than one mile from its confluence with the Missouri River.

Upper Musselshell (10040201) - All three streams sampled in the Upper Musselshell contained fish.
Two, Daisy Dean Creek and Little Elk Creek only contained brook trout (Table 2). Blake Creek contained
minnows. The revisit to Blake Creek produced an interesting change in species abundance. On the first
visit, the northern redbelly dace was the most abundant species followed by lake chubs at 198 fish and 4
fish respectively. The return visit produced only 1 northem redbelly dace and 6 lake chubs. The species
composition also changed. One brassy minnow was captured on the first visit and three longnose dace ^^

were captured on the second visit. Neither was captured on both visits. ^B

Middle Musselshell (10040202) - Mud Springs Creek was the only water sampled and it was dry.

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

Flatwillow (10040202) - Two streams were sampled. Pike Creek, with 2 fathead minnows, was the only
stream with fish.

Box Elder (10040204) - Three of the six streams sampled had fish. Suckers and a variety of minnow
species were found in McDonald Creek and its tributaries. Electrofishing was used to sample the North
and South Forks of McDonald Creek but conductivities of 984 |iS and 1,745 ^iS were quite high for
effective electrofishing, so it is likely many fish were not sampled. The South Fork McDonald Creek was
sampled about 3 miles upstream in 1999 (Lewistown data files). Conducfivity was similar at 1,660 nS
and the fish species were slightly different; longnose suckers and mottled sculpin were only sampled in
1999, while fathead minnows were, sampled in 2003 but not in 1999. Black spot (a superficial parasitic
infection) was noticed on fish both years.

Lower Musselshell (10040205) - Two of five sampled streams, the Musselshell River and the Sacagawea
River (Crooked Creek) had fish. The other 3 streams, Cat Creek, Cottonwood Creek and Drag Creek were
dry.

The Musselshell River had a high conductivity of 9,460 |iS near the mouth (river mile 7.5), but contained
a wide variety offish species (Table 2). A total of 13 species were collected with seining and gill nets.
The fish fauna was slightly different in 2000, when the Musselshell River was also seined near river mile
7.5 (Hill et al. 2000). In 2000, crappie, sauger, flathead chub, longnose dace and fathead minnows were
captured. Walleye, sand shiners and green sunfish were captured in 2003 but not in 2000. Seining
captured a wider variety of species than gill netting. Freshwater drum was the only species not captured
by seines, while several species were not caught in gillnets (Table 2). In recent years the Lower
Musselshell has been severely dewatered during drought and has generally lacked flowing water
throughout the summer months. The stream is intensely managed for irrigation. In 2002, fish kills were
reported upstream of this sampling site and were assumed to be from the high salinity of the water (Ken
Frazer, MFWP-Billings, personal communications).

Nine different species were capUired n the Sacagawea River. The plains minnow and common carp were
the most abundant species capmred during each visit. The green sunfish was least abundant. The flathead
chub was the only species not captured during both visits. Only 15 of the 796 minnows counted were kept
as voucher specimens but all vouchers were validated as plains minnow. Small plains minnow and
flathead chub can be difficult to differentiate in the field. Due to possible misidentification and a minimal
voucher sample, some of 796 plains minnows could have been flathead chubs. The species distribution
was similar to what Bramblett and Zale (2000) found in 1999, several miles downstream. Plains
minnows were the most abundant species both years. Black bullheads were found in 2003 but not in
1999. Bramblett and Zale sampled channel catfish and river carpsucker in 1999. These are large river
species that we did not find further upstream in 2003 .

Upper Milk (10050002) - Two streams were sampled and only Breed Creek held fish. This is the only
stream where the Iowa darter was sampled, but it has a limited distribution in MFWP Region 4. The Iowa
darter has been previously reported from many tributaries in the upper Milk (Holton and Johnson, 2002),
so it was not surprising to find it here. All other tributaries to the Milk that were sampled (Big Sandy,
Sage Creek HUCs) were dry.

Big Sandy (10050005) - Only one stream, Twelve-mile coulee, was sampled in this HUC. It was dry.

Prairie streams 2003 ~ Region 4

Sage Creek (10050006) - Lair Creek and Fourmile Creek in this HUC were both dry when visited in late '-— ^
August.

Recommendations

We recommend additional training time for fish identification prior to fieldwork. This would help greatly
in the identification of minnows. We suggest splitting the lab time into two days and to schedule smaller
groups to allow better access to fish specimens. It would be helpful for new crewmembers to spend at
least one day working with a seasoned crew prior to conducting their own survey. We found it beneficial
to spend at least one day sampling with other regional crews early in the season. This assisted with
problem solving, fish identification, and standardization of methods between regions.

It was helpful to have at least one 50-gallon cooler with 2 or 3 bubblers to provide oxygen for the captured
fish. Without this extra equipment, minnows often died in buckets, which may have added to the changes
in fish populations noted on repeat seasonal surveys. When fish are difficult to identify the crew should
measure only the fish they are keeping as specimens. This would assist in calculating the percent of
species present and likely reduce the number of "unknowns." Fish smaller than 2 inches do not preserve
well and often cannot be characterized to species. Some minor modifications are necessary to the fish
data sheets, including addifional fields for; gear type, start and stop times and ambient air temperature.
Weather may be important to note as well. Also, some typographical errors need to be fixed on the data
sheets. Water quality parameters and time sampled need to be added to the habitat data sheet. Turbidity
sampling as recommended by the protocol would be beneficial and is planned for 2004. To get an
understanding of changes in water volume and water chemistry, habitat surveys would be worthwhile to
complete during each seasonal visit. Use of GPS and good field descriptions would be usefiil to delineate ^_J
re-survey areas. On streams where electrofishing is used, either sampling in an upstream direction or use
of a downstream block net is recommiended.

We recommend the amphibian/reptile survey remain an integral part of the prairie stream survey. It may
be worthwhile to expand this part of the survey. Montana has limited information on the distributions of
repfiles and amphibians; recording observations required little additional time and therefore little
additional cost.

We found that longer streams were more likely to contain water and fish. Therefore choosing streams
based on drainage length appears to be beneficial. This was northcentral Montana's third consecutive year
of drought. By mid-summer 2003 drought indices, such as the Palmer Index found central Montana in
severe drought (NRJS web site nris.state.mt.us.drought/states/droughtstatusmpas.html; 2/10/04). This
survey did not evaluate topographic features that could potentially limit movement or provide refuge in
drought. A survey of ponds, dams, irrigation diversions and other features may be useful to evaluate how
such features influence prairie stream fish distribufion. Schrank et al. (2001) found impoundment density
to be a significant factor for the Topeka shiner in Kansas and Winston et al. argued that abundance of the
plains minnow and 3 other minnow species were reduced above an impoundment due to fish passage
issues and predator fish in the dam's pool.

0

10

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

Acknowledgements

Tlianks to the landowners for access. Steve Leathe, Bill Gardner, George Liknes, Steve Carson, Ken
Farthing, Chris Luby-Brown and Fred Roberts (Bureau of Land Management) answered countless
questions. Dr. Robert Bramblett provided invaluable assistant with fish identification. Mike Vaughn and
Fawn Kirkland assisted with equipment purchases. Ryan Rauscher gave important advice on reptiles and
amphibian identification. Nate Allen assisted all aspects of the field surveys and thanks to Mark Frank for
volunteering to help on the large streams. Jim Boyd assisted with data summaries and maps.

Water Codes Referred to in this Report

|k^'

14-0280

Black Coulee

18-1410

Cottonwood Creek

14-0920

Corral Creek

18-1590

Daisy Dean Creek

14-1400

Dry Fork Coulee (Choteau)

18-1665

Drag Creek

14-1440

Dry Fork Coulee (Choteau)

18-3540

Little Elk Creek

14-2040

Fourmile Creek

18-3780

McDonald Creek

14-2440

Horse Creek

18-4260

Mud Springs Coulee

14-6000

Teton River

18-4320

Musselshell River

14-6440

Weatherwax Coulee

18-4590

North Fork McDonald Creek

14-6520

West Fork Willow Creek

18-4980

Pike Creek

1500AB

Breed Creek

18-5640

South Fork McDonald Creek

15-2040

Laird Creek

18-6930

Yellow Water Creek

15-4200

Twelvemile Coulee

20-4850

Red Coulee

16-0140

Arrow Creek

No#

Bear Creek (Gulch) (Fergus)

16-0460

Box Elder Creek

No#

Bear Gulch (Liberty)

16-0820

Chip Creek

No#

Flat Creek (Cascade)

16-0860

Coffee Creek

No#

Kinyon Coulee

16-0970

Sacagawea River

No#

Lake Creek

16-1060

Cutbank Creek

No#

Pacer Coulee

16-1560

Flat Creek (Choteau)

No#

Unnamed trib of Flat Creek

16-1800

Judith River

No#

Unnamed trib of Muddy Creek

16-3220

Salt Creek

No#

Unnamed trib of Teton River

16-3780

Taffy Creek

16-4240

Woodhawk Creek

17-0544

Belt Creek

17-0928

Boston Coulee

17-3024

Goodman Coulee

17-3600

Hound Creek

17-4832

Ming Coulee

17-5216

Ninemile Coulee

17-6272

Rocky Springs Coulee

17-6656

Shonkin Creek

17-6816

Smith River

17-7088

Spanish Coulee

17-7152

Spring Coulee

18-0270

Bear Creek (Fergus/Petroleum)

18-0480

Blake Creek

18-1050

Cat Creek

18-1110

Chippewa Creek

5**

11

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

Table 1. Fish species captured during Region 4 prairie fish survey. May- August 2003.

p^jj^jj Species Native or Introduced # of Fish # Sites

.-'■^"^v

's^

Mooneye

Goldeye

Sucker

River carpsucker
Longnose sucker
White sucker
Mountain sucker
Shorthead redhorse
Unidentified sucker

Minnow

Lake chub
Common carp
Western silvery minnow
Brassy minnow
Plains minnow
Flathead chub
Emerald shiner
Sand shiner
Northern redbelly dace
Fathead minnow
Longnose dace
Unidentified minnow

Trout

Rainbow trout
Mountain whitefish
Brook trout
Brown trout

Bullhead Catfish

Black bullhead
Channel catfish
Stonecat

Stickleback

Brook stickleback

Sunfish

Green sunfish
Smallmouth bass

Drum

Freshwater drum

Perch

Iowa darter

Yellow perch

Walleye _^__

Hiodontidae

Hiodon alosoides

Catostomidae

Carpiodes carpio
Catostomus catostomus
Catostomus commersoni
Catostomus platyrhynchus
Moxostoma macrolepidotum

Cyprinidae

Couesius plumbeus
Cyprinus carpio
Hybognathus argyritis
Hybognathus hankinsoni
Hybognathus placitus
Platygobio gracilis
Notropis atherinoides
Notropis stramineus
Phoxinus eos
Pimephales promelas
Rhinichthys cataractae

Salmonidae

Oncorhynchus mykiss
Prosopium williamsoni
Salvelinus fontinalis
Salmo trutta

Ictaluridae

Ameiurus melas
Ictalurus punctatus
Noturus flavus

Gasterosteidae

Cidaea inconstans

Centrarchidae

Lepomis cyanellus
Micropterus dolomieu

Sciaenidae
Aplodinotus grunniens

Percidae

Etheostoma exile
Perca /lavescens
Sander vitreum

Native

Native
Native
Native
Native
Native
Native

Native

Introduced

Native

Native

Native

Native

Native

Native

Native

Native

Native

Native

Introduced
Native
Introduced
Introduced

Introduced

Native
Native

Native

Introduced
Introduced

Native

Native

Introduced

Introduced

13

2

127

6

1614

13

166

5

14

5

13

837

10

1155

4

992

3

80

5

2472

5

1034

6

160

1

276

4

241

2

1617

14

870

14

13

3

2

6

1

18

2

8

2

10

2

14

3

5

2

4
1

8

4

2
2

Q

12

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

Table 2. Statistics offish captured on each stream during prairie Fish survey, May- August 2003 by HUC.
Water HUC Total length (inches)

Date (Drainage) Species N Min Max Mean

Lake Creek

10030102

Fathead minnow

1

3.0

3.0

3.0

8/21/2003

Upper Missouri

Seine

Dearborn

Hound Creek

10030103

Brown trout

3

3.0

3.3

3.2

8/8/2003

Smith

Fathead minnow

1

1.9

1.9

1.9

Seine

Longnose dace

3

l.l

1.4

1.3

Longnose sucker

11

1.8

4.4

3.9

_

- Rainbow trout

1

2.1

2.1

2.1

White sucker

71

1.5

4.3

7.4

Smith River Site 1

10030103

Brown trout

5

7.0

9.0

8.0

8/7/03

Smith

Longnose dace

63

0.9

2.9

1.9

Seine

Longnose sucker

55

1.6

5.6

2.2

River mile 20

Mountain whitefish

6

3.0

3.2

3.1

White sucker

131

1.3

4.5

1.9

Smith River Site 2

10030103

Flathead chub

53

1.4

6.0

2.0

8/13/03

Smith

Fathead minnow

1

2.1

2.1

2.1

Seine

Longnose dace

4

1.1

1.6

1.3

River mile 4

Longnose sucker

50

1.3

2.4

1.9

Unknown cyprinid species

3

1.2

1.5

1.4

White sucker

660

1.4

2.2

1.6

Yellow perch

4

2.6

2.6

2.6

Belt Creek

10030105

Lake chub

41

2.2

4.4

2.8

7/30/2003

Beh

Longnose dace

63

1.8

3.4

2.3

Seine

Longnose sucker

3

2.7

4.5

3.7

Mountain sucker

13

1.5

2.8

2.3

Rainbow trout (n=l)

2

2.0

2.0

2.0

Sand shiner

4

1.8

2.0

1.9

Shorthead redhorse

1

3.2

3.2

3.2

Stonecat

4

0.9

2.8

1.8

White sucker

13

1.2

3.9

1.9

Unknown catostomid species

2

0.9

1.0

0.9

Chip Creek

10030203

Fathead minnow

480

1.6

2.6

1.9

8/6/2003

Marias

Seine

13

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

Table 2 - continued

Water

HUC

Total length (inches)

Date

(Drainage)

Species

N

Min

Max

Mean

Teton River

10030205

Channel catfish

2

1.7

1.7

1.7

8/15/03

Teton

Common carp

I

1.7

1.7

1.7

Seine

Fathead mimiow

4

1.7

2.0

1.9

Flathead chub

694

1.8

4.9

2.6

Lake chub

1

3.6

3.6

3.6

Longnose dace

85

1.5

2.5

1.9

Mountain sucker

31

1.2

4.4

2.7

Plains minnow

852

2.6

5.0

3.5

-

River carpsucker

8

1.3

4.2

1.9

Sand shiner

249

1.5

2.3

1.8

Shorthead redhorse

3

1.6

2.0

1.8

White sucker

397

1.5

8.8

3.1

Arrow Creek Site 1

10040102

Fathead minnow

11

2.2

2.2

2.2

6/19/03

Arrow

Flathead chub

74

2.5

5.4

3.2

Seine

Lake chub

1

4.4

4.4

4.4

River mile 12

Longnose dace

1

2.5

2.5

2.5

Plains minnow

21

3.2

3.4

3.3

Western silvery mirmow

11

4.5

4.5

4.5

7/29/03

Flathead chub

75

1.4

1.9

1.8

Plains minnow

8

1.6

2.1

1.9

Arrow Creek Site 2

10040102

Brassy minnow

9

1.7

2.6

2.2

6/19/03

Arrow

Fathead minnow

23

1.6

2.5

2.0

Seine

Flathead chub

28

2.2

4.6

3.1

River mile 60

Goldeye

2

11.1

12.8

12.0

Lake chub

7

2.6

3.7

3.4

Longnose dace

20

2.1

3.0

2.5

Longnose sucker

1

17.7

17.7

17.7

Plains minnow

5

2.9

3.0

2.9

Western silvery minnow

3

3.8

3.8

3.8

White sucker

4

3.5

8.4

5.7

7/29/03

Brassy minnow

4

2.4

2.6

2.5

Seine

Fathead minnow

5

1.9

2.5

2.2

Flathead chub

24

1.4

6.0

3.9

Goldeye

5

11.3

12.3

11.7

Lake chub

13

1.4

4.5

3.4

Longnose dace

9

1.2

3.2

2.2

Plains minnow

3

2.8

3.0

2.9

Unknown Cyprinid Species

10

2.4

3.8

2.9

Western silvery minnow

11

2.2

2.8

2.7

White sucker

38

1.3

4.9

3.0

Q

14

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

Table 2 - continued

Water HUC
Date (Drainage)

Species

Total length (inches)
N Min Max Mean

Coffee Creek

10040102

Brassy minnow

1

2.8

2.8

2.8

5/19/2003

Arrow

Brook stickleback

1

2.2

2.2

2.2

seine

Fathead minnow

18

1.7

2.4

1.9

Lake chub

20

2.0

3.2

2.5

Longnose dace

2

2.2

2.4

2.3

White sucker

19

1.8

7.2

2.9

6/17/2003

Brassy minnow

3

2.0

2.3

2.2

seine

Fathead minnow

15

2.0

2.8

2.3

Lake chub

170

2.4

4.4

3.2

Longnose dace

21

2.2

3.2

2.5

Unknown catostomid species

3

0.8

1.0

0.9

White sucker

19

2.6

7.6

3.9

Judith River

10040103

Flathead chub

30

1.5

3.7

2.4

8/28/2003

Judith

Longnose dace

^ 14

0.9

2.1

1.3

seine

Longnose sucker

7

2.1

3.3

2.5

Plains minnow

1

3.4

3.4

3.4

Shorthead redhorse

3

2.3

2.8

2.5

Stonecat

1

1.7

1.7

1.7

Biake Creek

10040201

Brassy minnow

1

2.6

2.6

2.6

6/17/2003

Upper Musselshell

Lake chub

4

2.7

4.6

3.9

Backpack unit

Northern redbelly dace

198

2.1

2.7

2.3

7/23/2003

Lake chub

6

3.3

4.7

3.9

Backpack unit

Longnose dace

3

2.9

3.4

3.3

Northern redbelly dace

1

2.2

2.2

2.2

c

Daisy Dean Creek 10040201 Brook trout

6/1 1/2003 Upper Musselshell

7 4.8

7.0

5.5

Backpack unit

Little Elk Creek

10040201

Brook trout

11

4.6

8.9

6.6

6/12/2003

Upper Musselshell

Backpack unit

Pike Creek

10040203

Fathead minnow

2

2.3

2.3

2.3

8/19/2003

Flatwillow

seine

McDonald Creek

10040204

Brassy minnow

60

1.6

1.7

1.6

8/12/2003

Box Elder

Fathead minnow

157

.8

2.3

1.3

seine

Lake chub

107

1.3

2.2

1.6

Longnose dace

4

1.4

1.8

1.7

Mountain sucker

10

1.2

5.6

1.9

White sucker

15

2.1

2.9

2.5

15

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

Table 2 - continued.

Water

HUC

Total

length (inches)

Date

(Drainage)

Species

A^

Min

Max

Mean

North Fork McDonald Creek

10040204

Fathead minnow

99

1.2

2.3

1.7

7/24/2003

Box Elder

Longnose dace

14

.8

2.6

1.2

Backpack electrofishing

Northern redbelly dace

42

1.0

2.1

1.4

White sucker

3

1.1

1.2

1.1

South Fork McDonald Creek

10040204

Fathead minnow

7

1.7

2.2

2.0

7/25/2003

Box Elder

Lake chub

2

2.1

2.1

2.1

Backpack electrofishing

Longnose dace

157

1.1

2.5

1.9

River mile 14

--—

Mountain sucker

2

4.4

4.9

4.7

White sucker

40

1.3

10.8

3.9

Musselshell River

10040205

Channel catfish

4

8.3

30.5

18.4

8/22/2003

Lower Musselshell

Common carp

78

2.2

31.0

19.2

Seine (river mile 7.5)

Emerald shiner

160

2.4

3.1

2.8

Green sunfish

3

1.2

1.6

1.4

River carpsucker

5

2.1

10.9

6.0

Sand shiner

1

2.1

2.1

2.1

Shorthead redhorse

2

5.0

6.8

5.9

Smallmouth bass

1

11.0

11.0

11.0

Walleye

6

6.0

11.0

7.3

Western silvery minnow

967

2.8

3.6

3.2

White sucker

1

2.5

2.5

2.5

Musselshell River

10040205

Black bullhead

1

7.7

7/8 and 7/15/03

Lower Musselshell

Channel catfish

8

7.6

26.0

14.0

6 overnight gill net sets

Common carp

16

6.5

27.5

15.8

(six different sites from

Freshwater drum

1

14.0

Rivermile 7.5 - 25

Shorthead redhorse

5

9.0

11.6

10.3

Smallmouth bass

3

8.5

10.1

9.2

Walleye

2

10.0

12.0

11.0

Sacagawea River

10040205

Black bullhead

6

3.0

8.8

5.2

7/2/2003

Lower Musselshell

Common carp

716

1.3

17.6

2.1

seine

Fathead minnow

305

1.5

2.4

2.0

Green sunfish

2

3.3

3.4

3.4

Lake chub

162

1.5

5.0

2.9

Plains minnow

796

2.5

4.0

2.8

Sand shiner

6

2.1

2.3

2.2

White sucker

33

1.3

10.4

2.8

8/4/2003

Black bullhead

3

3.4

9.6

6.0

seine

Common carp

344

1.4

18.4

3.3

Fathead minnow

94

1.4

2.5

1.9

Flathead chub

56

5.2

5.2

5.2

Green sunfish

3

3.4

3.9

3.7

Lake chub

117

1.3

5.2

2.5

Plains minnow

786

1.9

3.1

2.8

Sand shiner

16

1.9

2.3

2.1

White sucker

10

2.5

3.0

2.7

^

16

Q

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

Table 2 - continued

Water

HUC
(Drainage)

Species

Total length (inches)

Date

N

Min

Max

Mean

Breed Creek

10050002

Brassy minnow

2

2.6

2.7

2.6

7/31/03

Upper

Milk

Fathead minnow

394

2.0

2.7

2.3

seine

Iowa darter

8

2.0

2.3

2.1

Lake chub

186

1.5

4.1

2.6

Longnose dace

407

1.1

3.2

1.7

Mountain sucker

110

2.0

4.5

2.6

Unknown catostomid species

8

1.7

2.0

1.9

White sucker

160

1.6

6.3

2.1

Table 3. Reptile and amphibian observations, May - August 2003 in northcentral MT.
Family Species Total Number of Sites

Ambystomatidae

Tiger Salamander

Ambystoma tigrinum

38

4

Pelobatidae

Plains Spadefoot

Scaphiopus bombifrons

8

1

Bufonidae

Woodhouse's Toad

Bufo woodhousii .

1

1

Hylidae

Western Chorus Frog

Pseudacris maculata

8

3

Ranidae

Northem Leopard Frog
Spotted Frog

Rana pipens
Rana pretiosa

58
2

7
1

Emydidae

Painted Turtle

Chrysemys picta

1

1

Trionychidae

Spiny Softshell

Aplaone spiniferus

3

1

Colubridae

Racer

Coluber constrictor

15

11

Gopher Snake

Common Garter Snake

Plains Garter Snake

Westem Terrestrial Garter Snake

Garter Snake Species'

Pituophis catenifer
Thamnophis sirtalis
Thamnophis radix
Thamnophis elegans
Thamnophis spp

11
1
1
7
6

7
1
1
4
4

Viperidae

Westem Rattlesnake

Crotalus viridis

8

8

Either T. radix or T. sirtalis.

17

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

w

Table 4. Water quality data collected during prairie stream surveys, May - August 2003 by HUC.

Stream Water Quality Mean Mean

Water Length Conductivity Temperature Width depth (inches) Percent

Date (miles) O^S) (°F) pH (yds.) Thalweg Transect wetted'

Upper Missouri Dearborn HUC 10030102

Flat Creek 13.1

6/24/2003

Lake Creek* 18.7

6/24/2003

Ninemile Coulee 16.8

8/14/2003

Shonkin Creek^ 52.0

5/22/2003

Spring Coulee 14.5

8/14/2003

Dry Dry Dry

777 65.5 8.93

Dry Dry Dry

291 53.4 8.78

Dry Dry Dry 0

31.4 24.3 100

Dry Dry Dry

7.4 17.4 15.3 100

Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry

Boston Coulee 13.9

6/24/2003

Goodman Coulee 13.2

6/24/2003

Hound Creek* 25.2

8/8/2003

Ming Coulee 32.0

6/24/2003

Smith River Site 121.1

1*

8/7/2003

Smith River Site 121.1

2*

8/13/2003

Spanish Coulee
6/24/2003

Unnamed Trib to
Muddy Creek
8/21/2003

12.7

13.4

Smith HUCl 0030 103

Dry

Dry

416

967

382

381

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

62.1

8.25

11.5

31.4

21.4

53.6

8.16

1.2

4.6

3.3

63.0

8.22

15.6

29.0

17.0

68.7 8.38

Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry

Sun HUC 10030104
>19,999 61.9 9.72

0.5

1.12

* Streams with fish; 1 to nearest %; 2 likely contains fish, not effectively sampled with seine;

100

100

100

22.7 21.1 12.7 100

0.9 100

18

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

^J

Table 4 - continued

Stream

Water Quality

Mean

Water Length
Date (miles)

Conductivity Temperature
(^S) (°F)

pH

Width

(yds)

depth (inches)
Thalweg Transect

Percent
wetted'

Belt Creek*
7/30/2003
Red Coulee
8/14/2003

88.3
10.9

Chip Creek*
8/6/2003

-23:5

Corral Creek
7/31/2003

18.7

Dry Fork Coulee
8/6/2003

21.6

Horse Creek
7/31/2003

24.9

Rocky Springs Coulee
8/27/2003

23.9

Black Coulee

8/27/2003

17.5

Kinyon Coulee

8/27/2003

West Fork Willow Creek

8/27/2003

23.9
36.3

Dry Fork Coulee
8/14/2003

22.4

Teton River*
8/15/2003

184.3

Unnamed Trib to Teton River J 7 . Q

8/14/2003

Weatherwax Coulee
8/14/2003

13.6

Belt Creek 10030105

447 68.5 8.25

Dry

Dry Dry

Marias 10030203
14090 72.7 9.13

12.5 17.4 10.0 100

Dry Dry Dry 0

0.6 0.7 1.9 <1

Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry

Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry

Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry

Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry

Willow HUCl 0030204
Dry Dry Dry

Dry Dry Dry

Dry Dry Dry

Teton 10030205
Dry Dry Dry

Dry Dry Dry

Dry Dry Dry

Dry Dry Dry

Dry Dry Dry

*Streams with fish; 1 to nearest %

1878 66.6 8.41 9.8 15.7 7.9 100

Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry

Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry

19

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4
Table 4 - continued

Stream

Water Quality

Mean

Mean

Water

Length

Conductivity Temperature

Width

depth (inches) Percent

Date

(miles)

(HS) (T)

pH

(yds)

Thalweg Transect wetted'

CutbanJc Creek 16.0

5/20/03

Taffy Creek 19.9

5/20/03

Arrow Creek Site 1* 101.6

6/19/2003

Arrow Creek Site 2* 101.6

6/19/2003

Coffee Creek*

5/19/2003 46.0

6/17/2003

Flat Creek 58.0

6/4/2003

Flat Creek, unnamed Trib to 8.0

5/22/2003

Mud Spring Coulee
5/22/2003

Box Elder Creek 14.8

6/25/2003

Judith River* 127.1

8/28/2003

Pacer Coulee 9.4

5/19/2003

Woodhawk Creek 24.3

5/20/2003

Bull whacker/Dog 10040101

9710 66.0 8.63 3.9 11.4

10120

1754

4650
4030
8360

Dry

Dry

818

5950

48.0 8.27 2.6

7.1

5.7 100

60.1 8.77 4.1 13.8 lO.J

Judith 10040103
Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry

Fort Peck Reservoir 10040104

Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry

100

Arrow Creek HUC 1 0040 1 02

3470 72.5 8.38 5.3 13.3 10.6 100

79.7 8.40 5.8 10.9 9.5 100

52.3 8.63 3.2 14.5 8.8 100

72.1 8.47

56.3 8.83 3.6 6.6 6.0 99.95

Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry 0

Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry 0

59.4 8.47 27.2 26.0 17.4 100

4.2 100

0

Q

*Streams with fish; 1 to nearest %

20

^^

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4
Table 4 - continued.

Stream

Water Quality

Mean

Mean

Water

Length

Conductivity Temperature

Width

depth (inches) Percent

Date>

■ (miles)

(fiS) CF)

pH

(yds)

Thalweg Transect wetted'

Blake Creek* 16.5

6/17/2003

7/23/2003

Daisy Dean Creek* 28.2

6/1 1/2003

Upper Musselshell 10040201
685 62.2 8.32

659
379

60.8

46.4

8.39

7.9

3.7 7.46 5.2 100

3.1 12.7

9.1 100

Little Elk Creek*
6/12/2003

21.6

183.3

50.0 8.06 7.3 14.4

7.3 100

Mud Springs Creek 25.1

8/20/2003

Middle Musselshell 10040202
Dry Dry Dry

Dry Dry Dry

PDce Creek*
8/19/2003

27.3

Flatwillow 10040203
692 77.2 7.94

1.5

5.2 3.8

61

^m^

Yellow Water Creek
8/20/2003

Bear Creek
6/26/2003

19.9

35.7

Dry

Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry

Box Elder 10040204
Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry 0

Bear Creek (Gulch)
7/24/2003

10.0

Dry

Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry

Chippewa Creek
6/26/2003

27.7

Dry

Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry

McDonald Creek*
8/12/2003

72.2

3000

73.8 8.03 2.5

8.6

4.4 45

North Fork McDonald

Creek*

7/24/2003

28.5

984

55.2 7.93 1.2

4.1

4.0 100

South Fork McDonald

Creek*

7/25/2003

37.6

1745

65.5 7.52 6.0 21.6 15.0 100

1^

*Streams with fish; 1 to nearest %;

21

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4
Table 4- continued.

Water
Date

Stream
Length
(miles)

Water Quality

Conductivity Temperature
(^S) (T)

PH

Mean
Width

(yds)

Mean
depth (inches)
Thalweg Transect

Percent
wetted'

Lower Musselshell 10040205

Cat Creek
6/5/2003

21.6

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

0

Cottonwood Creek
6/5/2003

22.4

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

0

Drag Creek
6/16/2003

21.9 -

Dry -

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

0

Musselshell River*

341.9

9460

74.7

8.81

9.7

13.5

9.5

100

8/22/2003

Sacagawea River* 92.9 2990

7/2/2003

Bear Gulch 13.9

7/31/2003

Breed Creek* 20.8

7/31/2003

Twelvemile Coulee 23.1

8/26/03

Sage Creek 10050006

Laird Creek 21.1

8/26/2003

Fourmile Creek 19.9

8/26/2003

81.1

.57 3.i

12.0 10.8

Upper Milk 10050002
Dry Dry Dry Dry

407

61.9 8.1 2.4

Big Sandy 10050005
Dry Dry Dry Dry

8.0

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

Dry

87

Dry Dry 0

3.9 100

Dry Dry 0

* Streams with fish; 1 to nearest %;

22

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

Table 5. Percent substrate composition for wetted stream reaches, from region 4 prairie fish survey, May -
August 2003 by HUC.

Substrate Types (%)

Water

Date

Lake Creek*
6/24/2003

Course Fine Hard-

Bedrock Boulder Cobble Gravel Gravel Sand Fines pan Wood Other

Upper Missouri 10030102

16 32 51

1

Shonkin Creek
5/22/2003

25

46 2

7 17

Hound Creek*

8/8/2003

Smith 10030103
20 36 23

14 8

Ming Coulee
6/24/2003

97

Smith River Site 1*
8/7/2003

36 52 8 2

if '

Smith River Site 2*
8/13/2003

Unnamed Trib to Muddy

Creek

8/21/2003

Sun 10030104
95 4

97 1

1 1

Belt 10030105
Belt Creek*
7/30/2003

42

52 4

2 1

Marias 10030203
Chip Creek*
8/6/2003

17 6 32 5

39

Teton 10030205
Teton River*
8/15/2003

19 24 43 10

Bullwhacker/Dog 10040103
Cutbank Creek 1 2

5/20/03

14 39 14

14

Taffy Creek
5/20/03

100

23

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4
Table 5 - continued.

Substrate Types (%)

Water

Course Fine

Hard-

Date

Bedrock Boulder Cobble Gravel Gravel

Sand

Fines

pan

Wood

Other

Arrow 10040102

Arrow Creek Site 1*

3

19 18 6

5

48

1

6/19/2003

Arrow Creek Site 2*

17 19 26

14

35

2

6/19/2003

Coffee Creek*

3

11 19 14

2

49

2

5/19/2003

Flat Creek

- — r

1 8

22

61

3

2 •

6/4/2003

Judith 10040103

Judith River*

32 14

34 19

8/28/2003

Pacer Coulee

1 25

68

3

5/19/2003

Upper Musselshell 10040201

Blake Creek*

4 10 12

10

60

4

1

6/17/2003

Daisy Dean Creek*

1

8 28 17

8

35

2

6/11/2003

Little Elk Creek*

46 30 4

5

9

7

6/12/2003

Flatwillow 10040203

Pike Creek*

9

68

23

8/19/2003

Box Elder 10040204

McDonald Creek*

6 2 7

15

46

5

6

8/12/2003

North Fork McDonald

1

5 1 3

28

56

2

5

Creek*

7/24/2003

South Fork McDonald

3

28 23 15

11

10

2

4

1

Creek*

7/25/2003

Lower Musselshell 10040204

Musselshell River*

99

1

8/22/2003

Sacagawea River*

6 10 14

70

7/2/2003

Upper Milk 10050002

Breed Creek*

37 28 8

10

14

1

7/31/2003

Q

Q

* Streams with fish

24

Q

Prairie streams 2003 - Region 4

References

Bramblett R. G and A. V. Zale. 2000. The Ichthyofauna of small streams on the Charles M. Russell
National Wildlife Refuge, Montana. Intermountain Journal of Sciences. 6:57-67.

DNRC. 1979. River Mile Index to the Missouri River. Water Resources Division, Montana Department
of Natural Resources and Conservation, Helena, MT.

Frazer, Ken. Fisheries Biologist, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Billings, MT.

Hill, W.J., A.E. Tews, S. Dalbey^P-.D. Hamlin and S.A. Leathe. 2000. Northcentral Montana Warm and
Coolwater Fisheries. Montana Job Progress Report. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Fisheries
Division. Federal Aid projects: F-1 13-Rl and F-113-R2.

Holton, G.D. and H.E. Johnston. 2003. A Field Guide to Montana Fishes. Montana Fish Wildlife and
Parks. Helena, MT.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. 1989. Application for reservations of water in the Missouri River
Basin above Fort Peck Dam. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Helena, Montana.

Reichel, J. and D. Flath. 1995. Identification of Montana's Amphibians and Reptiles. Montana Fish
Wildlife and Parks. Helena, MT.

Schrank S.J, C.S. Guy, M.R. Whiles, and B. L Brock. 2001. Influence of instream and landscape-level
factors on the distribution of Topeka shiners in Kansas streams. Copeia. 2001:413-421.

Winston, M. R., CM. Taylor and J. Pigg. 1991. Upstream extirpation of four minnow species due to
damming of a prairie stream. Transactions of the American fisheries society. 120:98-105.

Yerk, D., and others. 2004. Northcentral Montana Warm and Coolwater Ecosystems. 2001 - 2002.
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks progress report. Great Falls, Montana. In preparation.

25

Appendix A. Name and location of Prairie Stream sample sites in Region 4 by HUC.

Sample Site

Site

#

Latitude Longitude

Township Range

Section # County BLM Map

Upper Missouri Dearbom 10030102

Flat Creek

48

47.251515

111.487165

T17NR2E S4

Cascade

Great Falls South

Lake Creek

2

47.71264

111.5495

T23NR1E S25

Choteau

Great Falls North

Ninemile Coulee

3

47.622708

110.759284

T22NR8E S31

Chouteau

Fort Benton

Shonkin (Creek

81

47.59077

110.55554

T21NR9E SIO

Chouteau

Fort Benton

Spring Coulee

4

47.696922

110.654797

T22NR8E SI

Chouteau

Fort Benton

Smith 10030103

Boston Coulee

50

47.260414

111.402770

T17NR3E S6

Cascade

Great Falls South

Goodman Coulee

51

47.321310

111.408862

T18NR3E S7

Cascade

Great Falls South

Hound Creek

93

47.215260

111.393420

T17NR3E S19

Cascade

Great Falls South

Ming Coulee

49

47.271570

111.276460

T18NR4E S31

Cascade

Great Falls South

Smith River Site 1

91

47.261590

111.420650

T17NR2E SI

Cascade

Great Falls South

Smith River Site 2

92

47.393660

111.449550

T19NR2E S14

Cascade

Great Falls South

Spanish Coulee

52

47.251894

111.447553

T17NR2E S2

Cascade

Great Falls South

Sun 10030104

Unnamed Trib To Muddy
Creek

55a

47.74052

111.80545

T23NR2W S24

Teton

Great Falls North

Beh Creek 10030105

Beh Creek

90

47.582150

111.030190

T21NR5E S13

Cascade

Great Falls North

Red Coulee

57

47.438436

110.951769

T19NR6E S3

Cascade

Belt

Marias 10030203

Chip Creek

5

47.942690

110.640590

T25NR8E S12

Chouteau

Fort Benton

Corral Creek

6

48.781629

111.144765

T35NR4E 824

Liberty

Sweet Grass Hills

Dry Fork Coulee

8

47.907276

110.767032

T25NR7E S24

Chouteau

Fort Benton

Horse Creek

9

48.674582

111.128052

T34NR5E S30

Liberty

Sweet Grass Hills

Rocky Springs Coulee

11

48.698870

112.008677

T34NR3W S16

Toole

Sweet Grass Hills/ Cutbank

Willow HUC 10030204

Black Coulee

14

48.708283

111.565737

T34NR1E 814

Toole

Sweet Grass Hills

Kinyon Coulee

15

48.545545

111.351746

T32NR3E 89

Toole

Sweet Grass Hills

W.F. Willow Creek

17

48.552830

111.615034

T32NR1E 84

Toole

Sweet Grass Hills

Teton 10030205

Dry Fork Coulee

18

47.968029

110.907909

T26NR6E 836

Chouteau

Fort Benton

Teton River

94

47.911060

11L327980

T25NR3E S22

Teton

Great Falls North

Unnamed Trib To Teton
River

20a

47.931082

111.230814

T25NR4E S9

Chouteau

Great Falls North

Weatherwax Coulee

21

47.842333

110.967684

T24NR6E 816

Chouteau

Fort Benton

Bullwacker/Dog 10040103

Cutbank Creek

23

47.633470

109.347370

T22NR18E S36

Fergus

Winifred

Taffy Creek

26

47.65017

109.22418

T22NR19E S25

Fergus

Winifred

Arrow 10040102

Arrow Creek Site 1

83

47.625640

109.835620

T21NR15E 85

Fergus

Winifred

Arrow Creek Site 2

84

47.406590

110.198620

T19NR12E S16

Fergus

Belt

Coffee Creek

67

47.438740

109.906770

T19NR14E 82

Fergus

Lewistown

Flat Creek

66

47.68292

110.03671

T22NR13E Sll

Chouteau

Fort Benton

0

^p

Appendices page 1

Appendix A - continued.

v^i^-'

Site

Township Range

Sample Site

#

Latitude

Longitude Section #

County

BLM Map

Arrow 10040103 continued

Unnamed Trib To Flat Creek

71

47.716034

110.151476 T23NR12E S26

Chouteau

Fort Benton

Mud Spring Coulee

■70

47.690323

110.326690 T22NR11E S4
Judith 10040103

Chouteau

Fort Benton

Box Elder Creek

75

47.411014

109.546432 T19NR17E S15

Fergus

Lewistown

Judith River

96

47.354180

109.700850 TI8NR16E S4

Fergus

Lewistown

Pacer Coulee

76

47.274860
]

109.884680 T18NR14E S36
Fort Peck Reservoir 10040104

Fergus ,

Lewistown

Woodhawk Creek

1

27

47.740974

108.956958 T23NR2IE S21
Upper Musselshell 10040201

Fergus

Winifred

Blake Creek

77

46.696320

109.569760 T11NR17E S22

Fergus

Big Snowy Mountains

Daisy Dean

28

46.59994

110.33085 TlONRllE S27

Meagher

White Sulpher Springs

Little Elk Creek

82

46.37179

110.31329 T7NR11E S14

Meagher

Ringling

Middle Musselshell 10040202

Mud Springs Creek

31

46.80285

108.08377 T12NR29E S16
Flatwillow Creek 10040203

Petroleum

Musselshell

Pike Creek

32

46.840130

108.520630 T13NR25E S35

Petroleum

Musselshell

/ Yellow Water Creek

34

46.908507

108.512537 T13NR25E Sll

Petroleum

Musselshell

Box Elder 10040204

Bear Creek

35

47.290982

108.811639 T18NR23E S29

Fergus

Winnett

Bear Creek (Gulch)

89

46.965500

109.042900 T14NR21E S22

Fergus

Big Snowy Mountains

Chippewa Creek

37

47.144505

109.227523 T16NR20E S17

Fergus

Lewistown

McDonald Creek

88

47.03115

108.59293 T15NR25E S30

Petroleum

Winnett

N.F McDonald Creek

86

47.05956

109.2039 T15NR20E S16

Fergus

Lewistown

S.F McDonald Creek

87

46.98966

108.92281 T14NR22E SIO

Fergus

Musselshell

Lower Musselshell 10040205

Cat Creek

39

47.034140

107.946340 T15NR30E S29

Petroleum

Sand Sprmgs

Cottonwood Creek

40

47.137591

108,511853 T16NR29E S21

Petroleum

Winnett

Drag Creek

41

47.407805

108.196323 T19NR28E S18

Petroleum

Winnett

Musselshell River

95

47.35991

107.95792 T19NR29E S36

Petroleum

Sand Springs

Musselshell River

Various

Petroleum

Sand Springs

Sacagewea River

85

47.46426

108.23535 T20NR27E S26

Petroleum

Winnett

Upper Milk 10050002

Bear Gulch

42

48.929110

111.172480 T37NR4E S26

Liberty

Sweet Grass Hills

Breed Creek

43

48.888600

111.249690 T36NR4E S8
Big Sandy 10050005

Liberty

Sweet Grass Hills

Twelvemile Coulee

44

48.269965

110.272048 T29NR11E S14

Chouteau

Lonesome Lake

.^^ Fourmile Coulee

Sage Creek 10050006

45

48.753513

110.900536 T35NR6E S36

Liberty

Chester

Laird Creek

46

48.944057

110.990405 T37NR8E S19

Liberty

Sweet Grass Hills/ Chester

Appendices page 2

Appendix B

Procedure to determine Eastern Montana Prairie streams to sample.
Steve Carson, FWP Information Services Unit, 11-19-01.

Goal: Select 160 eastern Montana streams by HUC that have not been sampled before and fall
within the Northern Plains area ecoregion.

Data Layers used:

Bailey's Ecoregions layer-Great Plains polygon, too gross a scale for analysis

Climax vegetation layer-from Natural-resources Information System (NRIS), represents the same

Great Plains Prairie area as Bailey's but at a finer scale.

100,000K stream routes-MFWP-built on the National Hydrography from the named streams

4* code hues- from Natural resources Information System (NRIS)

Montana Rivers Information System (MRIS) database-for determining sampled streams

Steps:

Intersected the Prairie area (climax veg layer) with the 4* code HUCs to find hues that fell within

the prairie. Dropped those HUCs that are less than 50% Prairie. (In region 4, streams in prairie

regions of some HUCs that were less than 50% prairie were randomly selected at the request of

Region 4 fisheries personnel).

Determined the number of streams to sample in each HUC by dividing the amount of prairie in

each HUC by the total amount of Prairie in Eastern Montana and then mulfiplying by I60(the total

number of streams to be sampled).

Generated a list of streams that are sampled within the HUCs in step 1.

Intersected the remainder of streams (the unsurveyed with the Prairie Area) to remove streams that

were in a HUC but not in an area of Prairie.

Sorted these unsurveyed streams by HUC and descending by length.

Selected the number of streams to sample for each HUC(from step2) starting with the longest

streams. The alternatives vv'ere selected by taking the next consecutive streams in the list

(approximately twice the number of sample streams). Length was chosen as the criteria as the

perennial-intermittent stream category was not useable.

A random river mile was derived from each selected stream. A Lat-long was determined for each

point and whether that point fell within public land.

The Numbers:

52 HUCs determined to fall within the Prairie ecoregion.
4207 unsurveyed streams in these 52 HUCs.
367 streams surveyed in these 52 HUCs

1-9 streams selected to sample in each HUC - state wide.
160 samples, 264 alternates, total of 424 streams selected
84% if the streams have some public access along them
21% of the selected sample points fall in public land

Appendices page 3

^

Q

^'

T*mw

^

Appendix C: Fish and Habitat Sampling Protocol for Prairie Streams, Bob Bramblett,
Montana Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit January 2003

Site location. -Locate the sampling site using GPS for random sites, or by convenience for non-
random sites. The GPS location will be the center of the reach, this is where you place the "F" flag
(see Step 2). If the site is dry, shift the reach up or downstream to capture the most wetted channel
possible on the parcel of land where you have permission for sampling.

Laying out the sample reach.-Lay out a 300 m sample reach using a measuring tape and a set of
1 1 pin flags (labeled A-K). Follow the curves in the stream channel with the measuring tape; do
not cut across curves. To avoid spooking fish, walk along the bank, not in the stream. Place a flag
every 30 m. The "A" flag will be at the downstream end, the "K" flag will be at the upstream end
of the reach. The "F" flag will go in the center of the reach.

Block nets.-?lace block nets (these can be old seines, 1/4" mesh) at the upstream (K flag) and
downstream (A flag) ends of the sample reach if the water in the channel is continuous, deeper
than 25 cm, and relatively clear. This prevents fish from leaving the sample reach.
Seining.-SQlect the seine based on the size of the stream to be sampled. The seine length to be
used should be approximately equal to or slightly greater than the stream width, and the seine
height should be about 1.5 to 2 times greater than the depth of the stream. Dip nets can be used in
very shallow, small habitats. Seining begins at the upstream end (K flag) and proceeds
downstream to the A flag. Seining is performed by two people, one on each end of the seine. In
pools, the seine is pulled down the stream channel, using the shore and other natural habitat
features as barriers. Begin with the seine rolled up on each seine braille. The seine is typically set
perpendicular to shore and hauled downstream parallel to shore. As you proceed, let out enough
seine so that the seine forms a "U" shape, but not so much that the net is hard to control. Adjust
the length of the seine by rolling or un-rolling net on the seine braille. The speed of seining should
be fast enough to maintain the "U" shape, but not so fast that the floats become submerged, or that
the seine's lead line come way up off the bottom of the stream. If rocks or other snags are on the
bottom, the seine can be lifted off the bottom for a moment to avoid the snag, or one of the netters
can bring the seine around the snag to avoid it, all the while maintaining the forward progress of
the seine. Similariy, areas of dense aquatic vegetation can be avoided. It is important not to stop
the forward progress, because fish will swim out of the seine. It is better to avoid a snag while
keeping moving than to become snagged, which will allow fish to escape. In "snaggy" waters,
keep more of your seine rolled up for better control.

Proceed downstream while seining. In narrow streams, the entire channel width is spanned with
the seine. In wider streams, one person walks along the shore, while the other wades through the
channel. The length of each seine haul will depend on the natural features of the stream chaimel
and shoreline, but seine hauls should not normally be more than 60 or 90 m long. Side channel
bars or the end of a standing pool are good areas to haul out or "beach" the seine. Where a large
bar or end of a standing pool is present both netters can simply run the net up on the shore. In
streams with steep banks or lack of obvious seine beaching areas the "snap" technique can be used.
At the end of the haul, the person near shore stops, while the person farthest out turns into shore,
quickly, until the seine is up against the bank. The two netters then walk away from each other,
taking the slack out of the seine, and keeping the seine's lead line up against the bank.

In riffles, with moderate to fast current, the "kick seine" technique can be used. The seine is held
stafionary in a "U" shape, while the other team member disturbs the substrate immediately
upstream of the net. Then the net is quickly "snapped" out of the water by both team members
using an upstream scooping motion.

Appendices page 4

Seine the entire 300 m reach, covering the linear distance at least once. If part of the 300 m is dry,
just skip it. If the stream is much wider than your seine, do extra seine hauls in the large pools to
cover the extra width. Sample all habitat types (shoreline, thalweg, side channels, backwaters).

After each seine haul, place fish in a bucket. If the water is warm, or you have captured many fish,
place fish in a fish bag to keep them alive until seining is completed. If you have to work up fish
before seining is completed, release processed fish in an area that has already been seined, as far
away from the area remaining to be seined as possible (or outside of the block nets). Large fish
such as northern pike, common carp, white sucker, shorthead redhorse, or channel catfish, can be
measured, given a small clip to the lower caudal fin and released immediately.

Processing captured Jish. -Record the species of each fish captured, and measure 20 "randomly"
selected fish to the nearest millimeter, total length. If the species offish is unknown, try to at least
record it as Unknown type 1 , Unknown type 2, etc. Keep track of and record the minimum and
maximum length of each species.

For each species, preserve a subsample of at least 10 individuals per site to serve as voucher
specimens. Record a small letter "v" next to the recorded length of the fish that is vouchered to
allow for later validation. For Hybognathus spp., voucher up to 20 individuals per site. Kill the
fish to be vouchered by placing them in a small bucket or 1000 ml nalgene jar with an overdose
solution of MS-222. After fish processing is completed, drain the MS-222 solution and place the
fish in a 1000 ml nalgene jar with a 10% solution of formalin (in clear water, if possible). For
specimens longer than 150 mm, an incision should be made on the right ventral side of the
abdomen after death, to allow fixative to enter the body cavity. The volume of formalin solution
should be approximately equal to the twice the volume offish fissue to be preserved, and the fish
volume should be considered water when concentrations are determined. For example, if the fish
take up 250 ml of the 1000 ml volume, you need about 500 ml of 10 % formalin solution (75 ml
formalin and 425 ml water) in the 1000 ml nalgene jar. If necessary, use a second jar to
accommodate all of the specimens. Use safety glasses and gloves when pouring formalin. Do not
let the fish "cook" in the sun for a while and preserve them later, do it as soon as possible. Label
all jars inside and out with Site, Site Number, Lat/Long, Date, Collectors names. Use pencil on
Write-In-the-Rain or high rag paper for inside labels (just put the label right in with the fish), use a
sticker label on the outside, cover it with clear (ScotchPad high performance packing tape pad
3750-P). Fish specimens should be left in formalin solution for at least 2-7 days. Fish specimens
must have formalin solution soaked out before being handled extensively. Specimens should be
soaked in water for at least 2 days, and water should be changed at least four times during this
period. After soaking out the formalin, the fish specimens should be placed in either 70% ethanol
or 40%) isopropanol for long-term storage.

Habitat survey.-Chaxmel width, depth of water, and substrate will be measured at 1 1 transects

perpendicular to the stream channel (located at Flags A-K), and along the thalweg in 10 thalweg

intervals between transects (deepest part of channel). Stream width is measured to the nearest 0.1

m, depth is measured to the nearest cm, and substrate sizes and codes are on the data sheet. One

person will be in the stream taking measurements while the other records data. Record the

Latitude and Longitude (in digital degrees) of the F flag, the stream name, site number, the date,

the flow status (flowing, continuous standing water, or interrupted standing water) and the names

of the crew members on the data sheet. Take photographs of the site, capturing as much of the ^^

sampling reach as possible. Make sure the date feature on the camera is turned on, to allow for ^^

later identification of site photographs.

Appendices page 5

c

Transects. -Start on the left bank (facing downstream) at Flag A. Measure and record the wetted

width of the channel to the nearest 0.1 m. Measure and record (separated by a comma on the data

sheet) five equally spaced depth and substrate measurements across the wetted stream channel:

Left Bank-5 cm from the left bank;

Left Center-halfway between the Center and the Left Bank;

Center-center of the wetted stream;

Right Center-halfway between the Center and the Right Bank;

Right Bank-5 cm from the right bank

Thalweg. -Begin by recording the depth and substrate 3 m upstream of the transect, in the deepest
part of the channel (thalweg). Proceed up the thalweg to Flag B, recording depth and substrate
every 3 m along the thalweg. You will record a total of 10 depths and substrates between each pair
of transects. If the stream channel is dry, record a 0 for depth, and record the substrate. The last
thalweg measurement point should fall on the next upstream transect. The 3 m interval can be
estimated, and it is helpful if the data recorder helps to keep the person in the stream from
"squeezing" or "stretching" the thalweg measurements. Repeat this procedure until all 1 1 transects
and 10 thalweg intervals are completed.

Gear List

20', X 6' X %" heavy delta seines

15' X 4' x'/V heavy delta

30' X 6' X %" heavy delta (or delta) with 6' x 6' x 6' bag

Fish bags: nylon diver's bags, %" mesh 18" x 30"

Mudders - 109.00 at Ben Meadows

Block nets. Tent stakes

Stream Conductivity meter

Thermometer

Turbidity meter (LaMotte, Ben Meadows 224805, $795.00-might try the ""transparency tube"

Ben Meadows 224196, $52.95)

Waders (breathable waders are essential for this work-Cabelas has them for about SlOO/pair), hip

boots are usually too low

Lug sole wading boots (Cabelas)

Habitat pole (I make habitat poles out of 1 .0" OD PVC pipe. 1 .5 m long including caps. Score the

pipe every 10 cm with a pipe cutter, then use a Sharpie to mark rings around the pole at the scores,

and label the pole 10, 20, 30, etc, 5 cm marks are made between the 10 cm rings, you can visually

estimate between the 5 cm marks to get to the nearest cm. Spray or brush a Urethane finish on the

pole or your marks will come off fast with sunscreen and bug dope.)

Metric 30 m tape (Ace Hardware actually carries a tape with metric on one side)

Measuring boards, one short 300 mm (half a 6" PVC works well for Hybognathus "fin flotation",

one long, -0.5- 1 m, you can just use a meter stick for the odd big fish)

Hand lens

Small 1 gallon red bucket from Ace for doping fish

5 gallon buckets

MS-222

Labels and tape pads for fish samples

1000 ml Nalgenejars

Formalin (buffered is great, but more expensive-I throw a Rolaids in each jar offish to neutralize

the acidity)

Clip board

1 1 Pin flags labeled A-F

-'c

Appendices page 6

Appendix D. Habitat sampling sheet used in 2003.

Site:

Date:

water flowing

Lat/Lon^:

Observers:

continuous standing water
interrupted standing pools

Transect

Cross

Section

Transec
t

Width
(XX.X m)

Left Bank
depth, sub

Left Center
depth, sub

Center
depth, sub

Right Center
depth, sub

Right Bank
depth, sub

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

1

J

K

BR = Bedrock (> 4000 mm) (larger than a car)

BL = BouWer (250 to 4000 mm) (basketball to

car)

CB = Cobble (64 to 254 mm) (tennis ball to

basketball)

CG = Coarse Gravel (16 to 64 mm) (marble to

tennis ball)

FG = Fine Gravel (2 to 16 mm) (ladybug to

marble)

SA = Sand (0.06 to 2 mm) (gritty - up to ladybug

size)

FN = Silt/Clay/Muck (not gritty)

HP = Hardpan (FIRM, CONSOLIDATED, Fine

Substrate)

WD = Wood (any size)
OT = Ottier (describe in
comments)

Thalweg Profile

Station

A-B
depth, sub

B-C
depth, sub

C-D
depth, sub

D-E

depth, sub

E-F
depth, sub

F-G
depth, sub

G-H
depth, sub

l-J
depth, sub

J-K

depth,
sub

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Comments/Observations:

Appendices page 7

K.m"

Appendix E: Fish data sampling sheet used in 2003.

Site: Date:

water flowing?

continuous
standing water?

Page of

i^t/Long: Observers:

interrupted
standing pools?

Species jt''::;;f|l;-;|H:'r;:5^ lengths

' '■'-' '''i'^'^yS/'v^^S:'' ■] (mm)

total count

max length

min length

■ ^

total count

max length

min length

total count

max length

min length

total count

max length

min length

total count

max length

min length

total count

max length

min length

c

Appendices page 8

Appendix F. Amphibian and reptile observations from Region 4 prairie fish sampling sites in 2003. Does not include observations while driving
to the sites.

HUC

COUNTY

SITE

LAT

LONG

TRS

DATE

SPECIES

N

10030102

UPPER

MISSOURI

DEARBORN

TETON

LAKE CREEK

47.712640

111.549500

8/21/2003

WESTERN CHORUS
FROG

6

CHOUTEAU

SHONKIN CREEK

47.590770

110.555540

T21NR9ES1

5/22/2003

GOPHER SNAKE

4

CHOUTEAU

SHONKIN CREEK

47.590770

110.555540

T21NR9ES1

5/22/2003

RACER

2

CHOUTEAU

SHONKIN CREEK

47.591000

110.555160

T21NR9ES1

5/22/2003

WESTERN

TERRESTRIAL GARTER
SNAKE

1

10030103 SMITH

CASCADE

MING COULEE

T18NR4ES31

6/24/2003

RACER

CASCADE

SMITH RIVER site #2

47.393660

111.449550

8/13/2003

COMMON GARTER

10030105 BELT

CASCADE/
CHOUTEAU

BELT CREEK

47.582150

111.030190

7/30/2003

WESTERN

TERRESTRIAL GARTER
SNAKE

4

CASCADE

RED COULEE

T19NR6ES3

8/14/2003

GOPHER SNAKE

10040101

BULLWACKER

DOG

FERGUS

CUTBANK CREEK

47.633470

109.347370

T22NR18ES36

5/20/2003

WESTERN CHORUS
FROG

10040102
ARROW

FERGUS/
CHOUTEAU

ARROW CREEK site
#1

47.625640

109.835620

T21NR15ES5

6/19/2003

WOODHOUSE TOAD

FERGUS

COFFEE CREEK

47.439350

109.905430

T19NR14ES1

5/19/2003

PLAINS GARTER
SNAKE

FERGUS

COFFEE CREEK

47.439350

109.905430

T19NR14ES1

5/19/2003

GOPHER SNAKE

FERGUS

COFFEE CREEK

47.438740

109.906770

T19NR14ES1

6/17/2003

LEOPARD FROG

FERGUS

COFFEE CREEK

47.438740

109.906770

T19NR14ES1

6/17/2003

GOPHER SNAKE

CHOUTEAU

FLAT CREEK

47.68292

110.03671

6/4/2003

TIGER SALAMANDER

17

10040104 FORT

PECK

RESERVOIR

FERGUS

WOODHAWK CREEK

47.742440

108.949360

5/20/2003

RACER

FERGUS

WOODHAWK CREEK

47.742440

108.949360

5/20/2003

PAINTED TURTLE

10040201

UPPER

MUSSELSHELL

FERGUS

BLAKE CREEK

46.696320

109.569760

6/17/2003

GARTER SNAKE (SPP.)

MEAGHER

DAISY DEAN CREEK

46.60098

110.3314

6/11/2003

WESTERN

TERRESTRIAL GARTER
SNAKE

MEAGHER

LITTLE ELK CREEK

46.371790

110.313290

6/12/2003

SPOTTED FROG

10040203
FLATWILLOW

PETROLEUM

PIKE CREEK

46.840130

108.520630

8/19/2003

GARTER SNAKE (SPP.)

PETROLEUM

PIKE CREEK

46.840130

108.520630

8/19/2003

LEOPARD FROG

6 1

Appendices page 9

c

c

G

©

Appendix F. Continued.

HUC

COUNTY

SITE LAT

LONG

TRS DATE

SPECIS N

10040204 BOX
ELDER

FERGUS

BEAR CREEK
(GULCH)

46.965500

109.042900

T14NR21ES22

7/24/2003

GOPHER SNAKE

1

PETROLEUM

MCDONALD CREEK

47.031150

108.592930

T15NR25ES30

8/12/2003

TIGER SALAMANDER

1

PETROLEUM

MCDONALD CREEK

47.031150

108.592930

T15NR25ES30

8/12/2003

GARTER SNAKE (SPP.)

2

PETROLEUM

MCDONALD CREEK

47.031150

108.592930

T15NR25ES30

8/12/2003

RACER

1

PETROLEUM

MCDONALD CREEK

47.031150

108.592930

T15NR25ES30

8/12/2003

GOPHER SNAKE

1

PETROLEUM

MCDONALD CREEK

47.031150

108.592930

T15NR25ES30

8/12/2003

LEOPARD FROG

29

FERGUS

N.F. MCDONALD
CREEK

47.059560

109.203900

7/24/2003

LEOPARD FROG

13

FERGUS

S.F. MCDONALD
CREEK

46.989660

108.922810

7/25/2003

LEOPARD FROG

2

10040205

LOWER

MUSSELSHELL

PETROLEUM

DRAG CREEK

T19NR28ES18

6/16/2003

GARTER SNAKE (SPP.)

2

PETROLEUM

DRAG CREEK

T19NR28ES18

6/16/2003

TIGER SALAMANDER

17

PETROLEUM

DRAG CREEK

T19NR28ES18

6/16/2003

UNKNOWN TADPOLES

17

PETROLEUM

MUSSELSHELL
RIVER

47.35081

107.96251

7/8/2003

LEOPARD FROG

1

PETROLEUM

MUSSELSHELL
RIVER

47.35044

107.96230

7/15/2003

SPINY SOFTSHELL

3

PETROLEUM

SACAGEWEA RIVER

T20NR27ES26

7/1/2003

PLAINS SPADEFOOT
(TADPOLES)

8

PETROLEUM

SACAGEWEA RIVER

T20NR27ES26

7/2/2003

TIGER SALAMANDER

3

PETROLEUM

SACAGEWEA RIVER

T20NR27ES26

7/2/2003

LEOPARD FROG

5

Appendices page 10

Q