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Connectivity in a Montane River Basin: Salmonid Use of a Major

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Connectivity in a Montane River Basin: Salmonid Use of a Major CONNECTIVITY IN A MONTANE RIVER BASIN: SALMONID USE OF A MAJOR TRIBUTARY IN THE SMITH RIVER SYSTEM by Thomas David Ritter A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Fish and Wildlife Management MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY Bozeman, Montana May 2015 ©COPYRIGHT by Thomas David Ritter 2015 All Rights Reserved ii DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis to my family. To my parents, Tom and Cathy, who not only raised me properly, but were my first teachers; you lead by example, instruction, and encouragement. To my partner in crime, Christopher, who provides advice and friendship as only a brother can. Words cannot express my gratitude. No matter what path I choose, you provide undying love, support, patience, and confidence that I can succeed. “If you don’t know where you’re going, you might not get there.” (Yogi Berra, “When You Come to the Fork in the Road, Take It!” 2002). Thanks to you, I’m finally there. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I first thank Dr. Al Zale, who provided unwavering support, guidance, and patience during the most developmental years of my personal and professional life; I was honored to have you as my advisor. I am grateful for my committee members, Drs. Kathi Irvine, Robert Gresswell, and Bradley Shepard, who were always generous with their time, exceedingly supportive, and never short on insight and expertise. This project would not have been possible without the logistical support of Grant Grisak and George Liknes from MTFWP, who went to great lengths to make sure I had the equipment and access necessary to succeed. I also thank my dedicated technicians, Jonathan Wester and Charlie Birch; your enthusiasm, hard work, and good-humor were essential during long field seasons in challenging terrain. I am indebted to Carol Hatfield and the staff of the National Forest Ranger Station in White Sulphur Springs, who never failed to assist. I thank Mr. Howard Zehntner and the Wilkes family, who granted me access on their land and embraced me as a Tenderfoot resident. Glen Hough and Ron Marcoux made this project possible. I thank fellow graduate students Jan Boyer and Sean Lewandowski, who were brave enough to help me in the field. I am grateful for Brian Tornabene, Shane Vatland, Michael Duncan, and Brittany Mosher, who continue to provide support as well as lifelong friendship. To all of my colleagues 2010-2014: you simply made life fun. Last, but not least, I thank the love of my life, Brandi Skone. Amidst it all, your belief in me and unrelenting love carry me through. Generous funding was provided by the Bair Ranch Foundation and Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................1 2. STUDY AREA ........................................................................................................7 3. METHODS ............................................................................................................15 Water Temperature ...............................................................................................15 Snorkel Surveys .....................................................................................................17 PIT-tagging ............................................................................................................19 Backpack Electrofishing ............................................................................20 Angling ......................................................................................................21 Confluence Fish Weir ................................................................................21 Seining .......................................................................................................22 Fixed Antenna Stations ..........................................................................................22 Portable Antenna Surveys ......................................................................................24 Wading Antenna Design ............................................................................25 Snorkel Antenna Design ............................................................................25 Redd Counts ...........................................................................................................27 Brook Trout Spawning Surveys .............................................................................28 Mountain Whitefish Video Surveys.......................................................................28 Juvenile Surveys ....................................................................................................29 4. ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................44 Observed Movement ..............................................................................................44 Activity ..................................................................................................................45 Net Direction ..........................................................................................................45 Inferred Spatial Distribution ..................................................................................45 5. RESULTS ..............................................................................................................47 Temperature Regimes ............................................................................................47 Brown Trout ...........................................................................................................49 Movement ..................................................................................................49 Population Characteristics .........................................................................51 Spawning....................................................................................................52 Mountain Whitefish ...............................................................................................53 Movement ..................................................................................................53 Population Characteristics .........................................................................54 Spawning....................................................................................................55 Rainbow × Cutthroat Hybrid Trout .......................................................................56 Movement ..................................................................................................56 v TABLE OF CONTENTS – CONTINUED Population Characteristics .........................................................................57 Spawning....................................................................................................58 Brook Trout ............................................................................................................59 Movement ..................................................................................................59 Population Characteristics .........................................................................59 Spawning....................................................................................................60 6. DISCUSSION ........................................................................................................95 Tenderfoot Creek as a Thermal Refuge .................................................................95 Spawning and Life Histories of Fishes in Tenderfoot Creek .................................99 7. MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS AND FUTURE RESEARCH ...................106 REFERENCES CITED ..............................................................................................109 vi LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Summary of short- and long-term upper incipient lethal temperatures (UILTs) and upper growth limit temperatures of juvenile salmonids .............................................................................................32 2. Numbers and proportions of Brown Trout, rainbow × cutthroat hybrid trout, Brook Trout, and Mountain Whitefish tagged, by method, in Tenderfoot Creek and the Smith River from June through November, 2010 to 2013........................................................................................32 3. Mean and ranges of relative weights of Brown Trout, rainbow × cutthroat trout, Brook Trout and Mountain Whitefish measured, weighed, and tagged in Tenderfoot Creek and the Smith River, 2010 to 2012. ....................................................................................62 4. Relocations of Brown Trout, rainbow × cutthroat hybrid trout, Brook Trout, and Mountain Whitefish tagged in Tenderfoot Creek and the Smith River by fixed station antennas, portable antennas, fish weir, electrofishing, and angling from June through November, 2010 to 2013 ...................................................................................................................62 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. The Smith River, Montana, and its major tributaries and lower Tenderfoot Creek and its major tributaries ..................................................10 2. Mean monthly discharges and mean monthly temperatures of the Smith River during 2011, 2012, and 2013 and the overall mean from 1997 to 2013 ........................................................................................11 3. The 6-m high waterfall located at stream kilometer 13.7
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