WORK PLAN BEAVERHEAD RIVER WATERSHED UPDATED: January 2009 INTRODUCTION PURPOSE The purpose for this watershed plan is to: (1) Identify and document resource concerns within the watershed, both water and non- water related. (2) Prioritize those concerns (3) Outline objectives and methods of addressing those concerns (4) Provide guidance in the implementation of action plans and other associated watershed activities. This document will be maintained as a guide for watershed activities, and will be updated annually to reflect current circumstances in the watershed including reprioritization of concerns and addition of new areas of concentration. BEAVERHEAD RIVER WATERSHED COMMITTEE – MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Beaverhead Watershed Committee is to seek an understanding of the watershed – how it functions and supports the human communities dependent upon it – and to build agreement on watershed-related planning issues among stakeholders with diverse viewpoints. Goals: . Provide a mechanism and forum for landowners, citizens, and agencies to work together to: . Identify problems and concerns both riparian and non-riparian, urban and rural. Reach agreement upon the priority of and methods for addressing those concerns. Act as a conduit between local interests and agencies for purposes of procuring the funding and non-monetary assistance necessary to begin systematically addressing priority concerns. Foster a cooperative environment where conflict is avoided, and work to resolve conflict as necessary for the watershed effort to move forward. Stay abreast of opportunities, issues, and developments that could be either beneficial or detrimental to the watershed or segments of the watershed. Keep stakeholders appropriately informed. Objectives: . Continuous Improvement – Maintain a broad range of active improvement projects/programs relating to diverse attributes of the watershed. Be Proactive – Act as a leader and organizer in the collection of information and ideas. Provide concise input to stakeholders and agencies. Collaborate – Work with other watersheds to maintain a continuing exchange of ideas and talent. Conserve funding by drawing upon the experience of the group. Objectives: cnt’d . Partnering and Outreach – Foster and nurture positive relationships with stakeholders and agencies. Utilize prior positive results to expand the role of the Committee and participation level of watershed citizens. WATERSHED RESOURCE CONCERNS . Drought and availability of water – The Beaverhead River watershed and all of southwestern Montana are attempting to recover from consecutive years of drought that started in 2001. The drought has created reduced reservoir storage levels that result in reduced river flows at the end of the irrigation year. All entities in the region are putting forth initiatives to mitigate the economic and environmental damages. Water Quality – The Beaverhead River watershed has a total of twenty-three reaches on nineteen streams currently on the EPA 303d list. A common listing cause is sediment, although selected reaches are also listed for temperature, nutrients and metals. Weeds and weed management – The Beaverhead watershed including areas of both Beaverhead and Madison counties face an ever increasing threat from the spread of noxious weeds. Southwest Montana is a primary destination for recreationists from all over the state and beyond. As vehicles and livestock traverse the rural areas, weeds such as spotted knapweed are quickly spread. Thousands of dollars are spent on weed management annually. Land management/stewardship – Operations such as agriculture, animal feeding, grazing, forest management, logging (public and private), and recreation are economic staples of the watershed. Working with non-traditional/small acreage landowners is also a vital component. With each different land use comes a special need to protect the environment. Recreational conflicts related to land use and access – As the watershed continuously evolves, attitudes toward land use change as well. Large blocks of inaccessible private and public land are placing heavy pressure on diminishing acreages the public can utilize. Public awareness of conservation and management issues – All of the preceding have an information and education component. Landowners and stakeholders are frequently unaware of changes taking place around the watershed, the importance of their participation, and the potential resulting benefits. Wildlife and fishery management/Recreation – A large segment of the local economy evolves around the outdoor recreation industry, primarily hunting and fishing. The protection and preservation of these resources is vital to the watershed. ACTION PLAN 2009-2010 GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND ACTION ITEMS Goal 1: Water Quantity: Water conservation: Work with agencies and landowners to implement drought mitigation concepts and practices. Increase public awareness. Objective 1: Provide a forum to bring together landowners, stakeholders and agencies. Facilitate discussions relating to water utilization and conservation. 2 Action Item 1: Organize and facilitate eight public meetings that involve informed experts and concerned citizens. Organize and facilitate four steering committee meetings. Spread the awareness of current drought status and mitigation efforts and programs across the watershed. Responsible: Watershed Coordinator, BWC Timing: As needed or requested by constituents Action Item 2: Organize and facilitate public meetings as related to the Memorandum of Understanding between Bureau of Reclamation and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks. Work in a collaborative process that includes local interest and uses in an effort to develop resource management strategies. Responsible: BWC, Watershed Coordinator, Reclamation, FWP Objective 2: Obtain a better understanding of the irrigation delivery and irrigation practices affects on the aquifer in the Beaverhead Watershed. Example: The affects of increased winter flow in the Beaverhead on the lower section of river, which typically has higher flows than the upper section. Action Item 3: Organize a “library” of water studies that have been completed on the Beaverhead aquifer. Responsible: Watershed Coordinator, BWC Goal 2: Water Quality: Improve the health of the Beaverhead River Corridor and tributaries. The Beaverhead watershed currently has twenty-three reaches on nineteen streams on the 303d list. A common impairment on all is sediment. Nutrient loading and metals are identified on some reaches as well. Objective 1: Complete the assessment and where necessary, the reassessment of the targeted reaches of 303(d) streams. Action Item 4: Continue coordination of outreach education regarding completion of the TMDL. Assist DEQ as needed in preparation for completion of the final TMDL. Responsible: DEQ, Watershed Coordinator, BWC, engineering firms Objective 2: Stream Restoration Demonstration Projects: Maintain an on-going process of identification, funding, and completion of stream restoration projects throughout the watershed. 3 Action Item 5: Complete four restoration projects . Stone Creek Nitrate Pilot Phase 2. – A wetland impoundment of approximately two acres will be constructed on lower Stone Creek. Environmental benefit is reduction of up to five tons annually in nutrient deposition into the Beaverhead River. o Contact: Carl Malesich (landowner), Watershed Coordinator, BWC o Timing: 4th qtr 2008 . Spring Creek Restoration RRGL – Revegetation and reconstruction where necessary of two stream miles of Spring Creek in Madison County. Partners are The Walsh Ranch, and MFWP. o Contact: Walsh Ranch (Landowner), Watershed Coordinator, BWC o Timing 3rd qtr 2007 . One to be identified. Action Item 6: Identify and fund two new restoration projects. The on-going assessment work has pin-pointed many candidate streams as potential restoration targets. Coordination efforts will be directed toward investigation, outreach, and funding of two new projects. A priority listing of project candidates will be maintained and updated with this document in order to continue to have several restoration projects in the BWC pipeline at all times. • Grasshopper Creek – Remove excess sediment in stream and reconstruct where necessary. o Contact: Russ Kipp (landowner), Watershed Coordinator o Timing: 4th Qtr 2008 • Spring Creek Phase 2 o Contact: Landowner, Watershed Coordinator o Timing: 1st Qtr 2009 • Anderson Ln (Beaverhead River) – Improve water control structure. Environmental benefit is improved irrigation water delivery and improved River health. This project could also provide an access point for recreation on the Beaverhead River. o Contact: Watershed Coordinator, BWC, Landowners • One to be identified: ex Clark Canyon Creek, White Creek (Grasshopper) Goal 3: Continue to broaden the array of BWC projects to begin addressing off-stream issues of multiple importance. Objective 1: Identify new entities with unique issues affecting the more populated areas of the watershed, and assist with resolution of key issues. 4 Action Item 7: Perform outreach activities with locality and watershed-wide organizations to promote the image of the BWC as an “over all” asset to the watershed. Entities such as volunteer fire departments, youth organizations, county and town governments will be contacted. Two potential projects will be identified, and a list of potential project candidates will be maintained. • 4-H Watershed Education • Water Day/Festival (in schools or separate) Responsible: BWC, Watershed Coordinator