Northcentral Montana warmwater streams investigations : survey and inventory of warmwater streams

639.31

F-46-R-1,

I-Q

MONTANA STATE LIBRARY

3 0864 0014 3535 6

MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF FISH, WILDLIFE AND PARKS
FISHERIES DIVISION
JOB PROGRESS REPORT

STATE: Montana Project No: F-46-R-1

PROJECT TITLE: Statewide Fisheries Investigations Job No: Ill-a

STUDY TITLE: Survey and Inventory of Warm water Streams

JOB TITLE: Northcentral Montana Warmwater Streams Investigations

PERIOD COVERED: July 1, 1987 through June 30. 1988

ABSTRACT

Warmwater fisheries investigations were conducted on the Marias
River above and below Tiber Dam. An advisory group was formed to
ensure adequate flows for resident and migratory fish in the
Marias River below Tiber Reservoir. Two sections of the Marias
River above Lake Elwell were electrof ished to determine species
composition, relative abundance, and movement. Walleye tagged in
the upper Marias River show varied movement patterns. Stream
preservation activities were conducted on nine projects. A creel
survey on the Missouri River between Holter dam and Ulra showed
very light use by walleye anglers.

OBJECTIVES AND DEGREE OF ATTAINMENT

1 . To maintain a minimum flow of 500 cfs in the lower Marias
River for habitat enhancement. Progress made and summarized
in this report.

2. To ensure, within hydrologic constraints, that flows in
streams supporting cool/warm water gamefish do not fall
below past ten year averages. Progress made for Marias
River and summarized in this report.

3. To maintain the Regions streambanks and channels in their
present or improved condition. (State funded). Progress
made and summarized in this report.

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STATE DOCUMENTS COLLECTION
^/,AY 1 i

MONTANA STATE LIERAr^Y
1515 E. 6th AVE. ^
HELENA, MONTANA 50u.-L)

4. Maintain water quality at or above 1983 levels as measured
at uses water quality monitoring stations. No discharge
permit applications or pollution complaints received during
report period.

5. To assess existing sauger, walleye and freshwater drum
populations to determine population densities in the
Missouri River between Morony Dam and the Marias River.

Because of a lack of suitable sampling gear, field
activities planned to meet Objectives 5 & 6 were not carried
out. However, considerable progress was made in obtaining
appropriate sampling gear. During the report period an 18-
foot jet boat with 115— HP outboard, a 3500— watt 220-volt
generator, and a Coffelt VVP-15 variable voltage pulsator
were acquired. It is hoped that limited sampling can be
conducted early in FY89 if the new boat can be outfitted for
electrofishing before fall 1988.

6. To maintain sauger populations in the Missouri River to
provide 10,000 angler days use annually. See Objective 5
above .

7. To determine angler use and harvest of fish species and
maintain at least the existing quality of fishery in
the lower Marias River. No work scheduled until FY90.

8. To increase and diversify angling opportunity in the upper
50 miles of the Marias River and lower 10 miles of Cut Bank
Creek. (State funded). Planned stocking of smallraouth bass
and/or sauger was not accomplished due to unavailability of
hatchery fish. Transplanting of sauger from the Missouri
and lower Marias was not accomplished due to inadequate
manpower .

9. To determine walleye distribution and angler harvest in the
Missouri River between Holter Dam and Great Falls. Progress
made and summarized in this report.

10. To evaluate need and develop fishing access sites on the
Missouri River downstream from Morony Dam. (State funded).

Through cooperation with Parks Division and Great Fa]. Is
chapter of Walleyes Unlimited a permanent access at Carter
Ferry was donated to MDFW&P.

11. To acquire public fishing access sites on the lower Marias
River. (State funded). The Montana Department of Highways
has created a permanent public access at Loma Bridge in
cooperation with MDFW&P.

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PROCEDURES

An advisory board consisting of personnel from the Bureau of
Reclamation, Sportsman's Clubs, County Commissioners, landowners
and Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks was formed to evaluate
plans for water manipulation in Tiber Reservoir and the Marias
River below Tiber Dam. Instream flow recommendations were
developed using the wetted perimeter method (Nelson 1984).
Recommendations and alternatives for projects involving stream
banks and channels were made through participation in the Stream
Protection Acts. Fish populations in the upper Marias River were
surveyed by electrofishing. Walleye were tagged with cinch-up
tags to determine angler harvest and movement.

FINDINGS

Past studies have determined that 500 cfs is necessary in the
lower Marias River to attract spawning sauger (Gardner, 1987).
To meet this goal, an advisory group of irrigators, sportsmen and
FWP representatives worked in cooperation with the Bureau of
Reclamation to develop operating guidelines. E 1 ec t r o f i sh i n g
surveys conducted during spring 1988 near the mouth of the Marias
River to monitor sauger and shovelnose sturgeon spawning runs are
summarized by Gardner (1988).

Stream Preservation

A total of nine applications involving hydraulic projects on
warmwater streams were reviewed and commented upon. Of these,
seven projects came under the 1963 Stream Preservation Act and
two projects under the 1975 Natural Streambed and Land
Preservation Act. The projects were in Teton and Pondera
Counties.

Upper Marias River and Lower Cut Bank Creek

Fish populations in the Marias River above Lake Elwell were
surveyed by electrofishing in April. Seven species were
collected in the two shocking sections (Table 1). The numerous
walleye captured in the F— Bridge section were believed to be
mature spawners moving upstream from Tiber Reservoir. Four
walleye tagged in the upper end of the reservoir near the Devon
pumping station were captured while shocking the river 4-13 days
later .

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Table 1. Species composition, number and size of fish sampled by
electrofishing in the Marias River above Lake Elwell,
April , 1987 .

Section Species* Number Length Range (Avg) Weight Range (Avg)

Naismith Section W f

Rb

FhC

LnSu

WSu

F-Bridge Section WE

Wf

Rb

NP

FhC

LnSu

WSu

4

9.5-17.0

(13.0)

6

9.6-21.9

(18.9)

2

• -

14

6.8-15.2

(12.7)

8

8.4-20.2

(12.5)

355

9.9-28.0

(15.8)

3

12.0-14.4

(13.6)

12

1

11

14.9-22.0

(18.0)

(33.0)

36

6.8-18.1

(12.4)

18

8.1-17.3

(12.8)

0.40-1.86 (1.01)
0.30-3.75 (2.76)

0.15-1.60 (1.00)
0.22-3.60 (1.14)

0.50-8.00 (1.41)
0.75-1.14 (1.00)
1.37-3.90 (2.34)
(Approx . 10# )

0.12-2.25 (0.99)
0.20-2.80 (1.17)

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*Species abbreviations: Wf-mountain whitefish; Rb-rainbow trout;

FhC-flathead chub; LuSu-longnose sucker; WSu-white sucker; WE-
walleye; NP-northern pike

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A total of 63 walleye were tagged in April in the F-Bridge
section to monitor harvest and movement. To date, 5 of these
(all males) have been caught by fishermen and no clear pattern of
movement has emerged. Three tag returns indicated upstream

movement and summer residency as the fish were caught in August
and September. Two tagged fish were caught in May and August in
the Reservoir.

The upper Marias River and lower portion of Cut Bank Creek
supports an abundant supply of forage fish but low numbers of
game fish. Efforts to establish sauger and smallmouth bass will
be made when hatchery fish become available or transplants can be
made .

Missouri River Upstream from Great Falls

A roving creel clerk interviewed 2050 anglers who fished 5444
hours on the Missouri River between Holter dam and Ulm
(approximately 56 river miles) during April through September
1987. Nearly all anglers interviewed were fishing for trout
hence the results of the survey are presented by Hill et al.
(1988). None of the anglers reported fishing specifically for
walleye while eight anglers indicated they were fishing for trout
and walleye. All these anglers were fishing in the 2.5 mile
section immediately below Holter dam and most (6 of 8) were
encountered during April. They reported fishing 27 hours total
and none had caught a walleye. These anglers were likely fishing
for mature walleye that reportedly concentrate below the dam
during the spring spawning season. Annual spring and fall
electrofishing surveys indicate that a very sparse population of
walleye inhabits the river between Wolf Creek Bridge (about 2.5
miles downstream from Holter dam) and the town of Cascade.

DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The advisory group formed to develop operating guidelines for
maintaining sufficient flows in the Marias River below Tiber Dam
should continue to function to ensure adequate flows for spawning
sauger and shovelnose sturgeon from the Missouri River. Although
no discharge permit applications or pollution complaints were
received during the report period, these will be handled on a
case by case basis as they arise.

Sauger and smallmouth bass will be requested for the upper Marias
River and Lower Cut Bank Creek. If sauger aren't available
through hatchery sources, attempts to collect and transfer adult
fish from the Missouri River will be made.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank Bill Gardner and Jose Ser rano-Piche for the
electrofishing surveys they conducted on the Marias River
upstream from Tiber Reservoir. Jan Boyle conducted the creel
survey on the Missouri River between Holter dam and Ulra,

LITERATURE CITED

Gardner, William M. 1987. Middle Missouri River Basin - Instream
flow studies. Montana Department Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Job
Progress Report, Project No. FW-2-R 016, Job No. 1-B. 17 pages.

Gardner, William M. 1988. Middle Missouri River Basin - Instream
flow studies. Montana Department Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Job
Progress Report, Project No. F-38-R3, Job No. II. 20 pages.

Hill, William J., Stephen A. Leathe, and Alfred Wipperman. 1988.
Northcentral Montana trout stream investigations. Montana
Department Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Job Progress Report,
Project No. F-46-R-1, Job No. I-q.

Nelson, Fred A. 1984. Guidelines for using the wetted-periraeter
(WETP) computer program of the Montana Department of Fish,
Wildlife and Parks. Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and
Parks, Bozeman, Montana. 58 pages.

Prepared By: William J. Hill, Stephen A. Leathe, and Alfred
Wipperman

Date: AugusL,1988.

Principal Fish Species Involved:

Sauger, walleye, shovelnose sturgeon, channel catfish,
smallraouth bass, burbot, northern pike and freshwater drum.

Code Numbers Of Waters Referred To In Report:

14-1080

14-3240

14-3280

17-4880

17-4896

Cut Bank Creek Sec. 01
Marias River Sec. 01
Marias River Sec. 02
Missouri River Sec. 08
Missouri River Sec. 09

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