BBCTU looks forward to summer projects, restoration

Springtime in Montana has arrived and even though it’s been a cold start, the building snowpack is a positive outcome. Hoping our rivers and streams hold up well this summer!

Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited is gearing up for another busy season working on projects that create colder, cleaner and more connected habitat for trout populations throughout the Blackfoot River watershed. Working in collaboration with our many partners, we have several projects planned and ready to go for 2022.

Since 2009, our restoration team has teamed up with private landowners in the Nevada Creek watershed and together we have restored over 24,400 feet of instream and riparian habitat along with implementing grazing management systems benefiting 300 acres. Our follow-up monitoring data has demonstrated a significant improvement in the fishery and instream and riparian habitat conditions.

Bank erosion along Nevada Creek has been a serious issue as it impacts the stream and causes loss of important hay ground. These projects have reduced erosion levels by over 1,500 tons annually. That is 150 dump truck loads of dirt per year!

The demonstrated success of these projects has generated additional interest from other landowners to implement similar conservation practices on their lands. This summer we will be implementing phase five of the work. This next phase involves restoring over 8,000 feet of stream habitat, encouraging floodplain reconnection, installing thousands of willow cuttings and will help address impacts from bank erosion of over 500 tons of sediment. Plus, designs are already underway for phase six of this important work!

A fish screen project is also is the works on Johnson Creek, a tributary to the lower Blackfoot River. This stream supports westslope cutthroat and bull trout and an existing irrigation diversion has been capturing fish and stranding them. Thanks to the diligence of the private landowner managing the ditch and the support of several funders, this project will be implemented this summer and will result in improved fish passage for native trout, along with cold water inputs benefiting the lower Blackfoot River.

Two existing undersized stream crossings will also be upgraded this summer. Trail Creek and Willow Creek are important native trout streams and the undersized culverts creating fish passage concerns and channel impairments will be replaced with bridges. Designs are underway to address several other undersized stream crossings impacting migration corridors in the upper watershed.

We can’t do this work without your support! We believe in supporting local businesses and putting as much money on the ground as possible. Over 98% of all funds raised go directly towards projects. To be notified of volunteer opportunities or to support our programs, find us on Facebook, on our website (http://bbctu.org) or send an email to Ryen Neudecker @ ryen@montanatu.org. BBCTU truly appreciates all of your support and interest.