WORK PLAN BEAVERHEAD RIVER WATERSHED UPDATED:September, 2007

Home , Beaverhead River, Blacktail Deer Creek, Ruby Range (Montana)

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 on a regular basis 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 six consecutive years of drought. 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 animal feeding, grazing, forest management, logging (public and private), and recreation are economic staples of the watershed. With each comes a special need to protect the environment in which the operation is conducted. . 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. Man – vs - wildlife conflicts must be dealt with.

ACTION PLAN 2006 – 2007

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 public meetings that involve informed experts and concerned citizens. Spread the awareness of current drought status and mitigation efforts and programs across the watershed. Timing: As needed or requested by constituents

Status as of April, 2008: Multiple meetings have been held held featuring speakers from East Bench Irrigation District, MFWP, MT Bureau of Mines, Montana Tech, Dept. of Geology, and USBOR. In the fall of 2007, BWC was awarded a grant from USBOR to act as the local coordinator for their MOU with MFWP for the Beaverhead River and Clark Canyon Reservoir. The summer of 2008 will mark the beginning of the effort to commence a citizen-based process. Objective 2: Obtain a better understanding of the aquifer between Barretts diversion and Twin Bridges, Montana on the east beside of the watershed.

Action Item 2: Complete a ground water study across the East Bench of the watershed. The East Bench canal traverses this route creating an “artificial aquifer” that affects ranchers and citizens alike.

Status as of April, 2008: Ruby Valley Watershed Council and CD have completed a similar study. Those results were presented to BWC. The BWC assisted the Montana Tech Dept. of Environmental Science in securing funding to expand and complete a ground water study in the Beaverhead River watershed below Barretts Diversion south of Dillon. The project was completed on schedule in the fall of 2007 and a final report has been circulated.

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 3: Enlist the services of an environmental engineering firm to finish the assessment and monitoring portion of the Beaverhead TMDL. Complete source assessments in preparation for completion of the final TMDL. Timing: Complete 4th Qtr. 2007

Status as of April 2008: The Beaverhead TMDL has been on hold for over one year due to man power shortages at MDEQ. Other watersheds with higher priority have been the focus. Assessment work is 80 percent complete. Prior work plans have offered a completion percentage of 90 percent. That has been lowered due to new information from DEQ regarding the upcoming assessment work required. It is estimated that the Beaverhead will begin receiving higher priority in the summer

3 of 2008. Temperature assessment and modeling along the Beaverhead main-stem is all that remains. The final Section 319 grant request has been awarded in the amount of $100,000. It includes funding to complete the TMDL and for identification, prioritization and outreach related to future restoration projects. Due to manpower shortages at MDEQ, the TMDL deadline has been extended until year-end 2008 and will likely be extended further.

Objective 2: Stream Restoration Demonstration Projects: Maintain an on-going process of identification, funding, and completion of stream restoration projects throughout the watershed.

Action Item 4: 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. 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. Timing 3rd qtr 2007 . Spring Creek culvert replacement – This Future Fisheries project for elimination of a flow and fish barrier between Spring Creek phases 1 & 2 has been completed and will be closed in the ssummer of 2008. . One to be identified.

Action Item 5: 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. Timing: New Projects – Identify 3rd Qtr. 2008, Funding 4th Qtr 2008 Work Plan Update – 3rd Qtr. 2008

Status as of April, 2008: . The Wheat ranch well project is complete. . Darnutzer Slough water gap project is complete. . The Spring Creek culvert replacement project is complete. . The Spring Creek RRGL is in the contracting phase. It will continue through September, 2009. . Coordination work has begun on the Spring Creek phase 2 restoration project..

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.

Action Item 6: 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. Timing: year-end 2008

Action Item 7: With the Grasshopper volunteer fire department, continue to pursue a dry line fire hydrant project in the upper Grasshopper Valley. The area is at the urban/ forest interface in the area of Maverick Mountain ski area. A 2004 forest fire threatened homes in the area, and water sources for fire fighting were limited. This project was tabled by the local sponsors in 2005 and then re-initiated in the spring of 2006 Timing: 4th Qtr. 2007

Status as of April, 2008 The Grasshopper volunteer fire department is still anxious to participate. A potential site on Dory Creek has been identified, and will be investigated further. Initial coordination directed at identification of potential funding sources has begun. The GVFD has committed to obtain preliminary cost estimates. This project was completed through other means of assistance. Cancel as a BWC project.

The BWC has agreed to assist the Beaverhead Outdoors association in obtaining funding for the installation of wheel chair access ramps at the Blacktail Meadows kids fishing pond. This project was also completed through other means of assistance. Cancel as a BWC project.

Work with the City of Twin Bridges on a bank stabilization project is currently on hold awaiting input from MDOT regarding a highway bridge. This project was abandoned by the City of Twin Bridges.

The BWC has committed to assist the City of Dillon and Beaverhead County Commissioners in securing partnering funds for a major flood control/restoration project on Blacktail Deer Creek through Dillon. Funding was secured through other means. BWC supported the project spearheaded by Beaverhead County.

Goal 4: Weed Management : Continue to advance the success and awareness of the weed effort across the watershed.

Objective 1: Support the county-wide weed management program by performing outreach activities such as meetings and weed days directed at raising awareness of both the weed program and the BWC involvement.

Action Item 8: Organize and coordinate four weed days in field season 2008.

Action Item 9: Work with the Beaverhead county weed board to secure the Beaverhead riparian corridor weed grant annually. BWC members will present the grant to the Montana board.

Status as of April, 2008 One weed day is planned for the Blacktail Ridge area and three are planned for Clark Canyon Reservoir. Dyce Creek/Scudder Creek weed project is complete pending monitoring. The RAC grant for weed management runs through September 2008.

Members of the BWC traveled to Billings in support of the riparian corridor weed grant. Funding was awarded.

Objective 2: Continue to identify, initiate, and fund stand alone weed management projects.

Action Item 10: Complete the weed control projects in the Dyce Creek drainage,on Blacktail Ridge, and at Clark Canyon Reservoir per the recently awarded Resource Advisory Committee grant from ASDA/FS. Timing: -- 3rd Qtr 2008

Action Item 11: Identify and fund one new weed management project for field season 2008. Mule Shoe ditch Corridor leafy spurge control has been brought before the committee.

Status as of July, 2006 . One weed oriented meeting was held prior to the 2008 season to discuss the weed plan. A 2007 summary meeting was held in January 2008. . All weed day events are on the calendar for 2008. . A Weed Day events was held on Blacktail Ridge in July,2007. Fourteen trucks and ATV’s representing multiple partners spent ten hours treating weeds in the area.

Goal 5: Expand the project scope of the BWC to include more involvement in issues related to recreation, wildlife and fisheries.

Objective 1: Enhance BWC prominence within the watershed as multi-dimensional entity.

Action Item 12: Continue developing relationships with local recreational groups. Make presentations. Discuss ways in which the BWC can be helpful in the projects of those groups. Where possible provide BWC membership in recreational organizations, study groups, etc.

6 Timing: 3rd Qtr. 2008 (ongoing)

Action Item 13: Work to secure funding for an investigation and mitigation plan for cottonwood tree die out along the Beaverhead River main-stem. Timing: Funding – 2nd Qtr. 2008 Complete – 4th qtr. 20087

Action Item 14: Identify one new recreation/wildlife project for inclusion in the 2007/2008 work plan. Goal 6: Coordination, information, education, outreach. Perform the administrative tasks relevant to continuous growth and improvement in BWC operations.

Objective 1: Expand the awareness across the watershed of the role of the Beaverhead Watershed Committee.

Action Item 15: Perform outreach activities as follows: . Two informational mailings annually to at least 200 stakeholders. . Update the 2006 informational brochure detailing the successes of the BWC and it’s function in the watershed. . One on one meetings with landowners promoting BWC participation in project activities. . Informal get-togethers . Timing: Ongoing – 12/31/08

Action Item 16: Perform BWC operational activities as follows: . Monthly committee meetings . Steering Committee Meetings . Special Meetings • Attend Beaverhead Conservation District Meetings • Fund seeking/securing • Community relations, information, announcements • Reporting • Timing – Ongoing – 12/31/08

Action Item 17 Red Rock Watershed. Continue to support as needed, the formation and start-up of a watershed group in the Red Rock River drainage. The BCD has requested that the Red Rock, if formed, function under the Beaverhead Committee. Timing: Year-end 2008

Action Item 19 Update Beaverhead River Watershed Work Plan. Include projects and identified in the past twelve months. Timing: 3rd Qtr. 2008 Annual

Status as ofApril, 2008: . One informational mailing was done early in the year. Another will be sent after the 2008 field season is over. Meeting summaries are distributed to over 100 stakeholders eight times per year that include meeting highlights as well as a rundown of Committee activities. . A BWC “advertising brochure” was included with that mailing. . Several newspaper articles in the Dillon Tribune detailing the progress and successes of the BWC over the first five years in existence. . Meetings are ongoing. . No new grant applications have been completed thus far in 2008.

Watershed Characterization Climate A National Weather Service climatological station, number 242409 (Dillon WMCE), is located in Dillon, Montana, at an elevation of 5,320 feet. Precipitation in the area occurs as both rainfall and snowfall. Average annual precipitation for the period of record from 1895 to 2000 at Dillon is13.39 inches, with the maximum annual precipitation at 24.43inches and minimum at 5.76 inches for that period of record. Most precipitation occurs from March through July and the month of September (Figure 2-3).

Figure 2-3. Average Total Monthly Precipitation near Dillon, MT (WRCC, 2003).

The minimum and maximum 100-year, 24-hour precipitation events for the Beaverhead Watershed result in 2.6 and 3.2 inches of precipitation (NOAA, 1973). Snowfall accounts for most of the precipitation in the basin. The mean annual snowfall is 42.6 inches, most occurring from November to April.

The mean annual temperature of the area is 43.81 degrees Fahrenheit. The highest temperatures occur in July, with a mean temperature of 83.1 degrees Fahrenheit. The lowest temperatures occur in January, with a mean temperature of 12.3 degrees Fahrenheit (Fig. 2-4).

8 Topograph y The watershed encompass es a widely diverse topographic setting ranging from wide- open valley bottoms and sage covered foothills to tall highly Figure 2-4. Yearly Temperature and Precipitation Trend at Dillon WMCE (WRCC, 2003). glaciated mountain peaks. The headwaters of the Beaverhead River originate in the Red Rock River and Bloody Dick Creek watersheds. Mountains in these areas include the Tendoy and Centennial Mountains to the south and the Beaverhead Mountains to west. Numerous mountains exceed 9,000 feet in elevation, 10,000-foot mountains are fairly common, and a few peaks approach 11,000 feet. The Beaverhead River is flanked by the Pioneer Mountains on the west and, in the lower portion of the watershed, the Ruby Mountains on the east. In addition, the Blacktail Mountains, which flank Blacktail Deer Creek on the south, are located east of the Beaverhead River. The Ruby and Blacktail Mountains are just over 9,000 feet in elevation on the east, where the Pioneer Mountains are some of the highest in the watershed with several peaks in the 11,000-foot range on the west.

The Beaverhead Valley is one of the widest and flattest intermountain basins in Montana (Kendy and Tresch 1996). South of Dillon, large, gently sloping alluvial fans coalesce on an extensive, gravel-covered planar surface. East of Dillon, the flood plain of the Beaverhead River’s flanked on the east by a large dissected bench, or pediment, that extends to the west flank of the Ruby Range. North of Dillon, the Big Hole, Beaverhead, and Ruby Rivers converge into a wide flood plain containing sloughs and seeps. The Beaverhead Valley ranges in altitude from about 4,600 feet at the confluence of the Big Hole and Beaverhead Rivers to about 7,200 on the highest pediment.

Vegetation Cover Higher elevations within the nearly 1,000,000 acre Beaverhead watershed can be lumped into three general plant communities: Dry Foothill Grasslands and Shrublands (lowest elevations on the National Forests); Cool, Moist Conifer Zone (mid-elevations); and Alpine Zone (highest elevations). Riparian areas and noxious weed infestations are found across all three zones (USFS 2002). Dry Foothills Grassland and Shrublands consist of a mix of mountain grasslands, meadows, grass/sagebrush, Douglas fir, and aspen groves. The dominant process affecting

9 this zone today are succession in the absence of historical fire regimes and grazing and herbivory by domestic livestock and wild herbivores. Aspen groves are greatly reduced in extent compared to historical conditions and continue to decline. The cool, moist Conifer Zone is primarily forest dominated by lodgepole pine and lower elevation sub-alpine species (Douglas fir, Engelmann spruce and sub-alpine fir) with a patchwork of meadows interspersed. Long fire intervals are resulting in changes in this plant community as well. Sub-alpine fir, Engelmann spruce, and white bark pine dominate the harsh Alpine Zone (USFS 2002). In general, aspect, soils, and elevation are primary determinants of plant communities in the watershed, with forests that are typical of the drier, intermountain region of the northern Rockies (BLM 2003).

Riparian areas in mid and higher elevations of the Beaverhead watershed are varied and occur along streams, lakes, ponds, peatlands, marshes, springs, and seeps. Vegetation is typically diverse and includes cottonwood, aspen, willow complexes, dogwood, birch, alder, rose, chokecherry, honeysuckle, sedges, rushes, grasses, and forbs (USFS 2002). Riparian conditions today vary from healthy native vegetation to severely impacted stands with native vegetation being replaced by noxious exotic species. The importance to fisheries of willows for stream bank protection, for providing cover and habitat, and for thermal moderation cannot be overstated (Hansen et al. 1995). The extensive willow and aspen communities that historically supported beavers have been significantly reduced in the watershed, and most areas are no longer capable of sustaining stable beaver activity (BLM 2003). As a result of a large historical beaver population a different hydrologic condition existed in this and nearby watersheds: a recent survey in the region of 47 valley segments with indications of previous beaver activity revealed only 3 with current use by beavers (USFS 2002). An extensive literature review of these habitats in the region as well as their stressors and management options available for restoration and enhancement is available in the Description of the Existing Condition and Analysis of the Management Situation for the Dillon Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM 2003) and in Hansen et al. (1995). Additional information on riparian habitats on public lands exists in the form of many “Cover board Photo Plots” conducted by BLM since about 1980 – but no summaries are available and the information resides in files of the agency.

Noxious weed infestations result from the spread of a variety of non-native plants into disturbed and degraded habitats where they are able to out compete native plants, typically in the absence of natural controls. Thousands of acres in the Beaverhead watershed are now infested to some degree with noxious non-native weeds. Little useful invasive weed mapping has been accomplished in the Beaverhead watershed. Lower elevation habitats of the Beaverhead watershed typically include dry grasslands and shrublands (typically sagebrush) in mountain foothills, along with irrigated pasture and cropland, non-irrigated pasture, weed infestations, and developed land in the valleys. Approximately 135,400 irrigated acres exist in the watershed upstream from Beaverhead Rock and approximately 9,200 acres downstream (Magee 1999).

Geology

The Beaverhead Valley was formed by down-dropping along basin-marginal, north- to northeast-striking, faults. The west side of the basin is bounded by simple normal faults, and the east side is bounded by a zone of complex normal and right-lateral, strike-slip faults. Recent

10 scarps, broken surfacial deposits, and disrupted drainages within the basin indicate active basin extension (Ruppel, 1993; Haller and others, 1993).

The maximum depth of the Beaverhead Valley is not known. According to Ruppel (1993), the depth to bedrock beneath basin fill is greatest at the northern end of the basin, where gravity data indicate a depth of about 3000 to 4,600 ft. However, Petkewich (1972) estimated the depth to bedrock to be more than 8,000 ft in the northern part of the basin, and Noble and others (1982, p. 80-83) estimated a maximum basin depth of 8,500 ft at the southern end of the basin. Ruppel (1993) determined the southern end of the basin to be about 1,500 to 3,000 ft deep, and the basin margin east of Dillon to be about 3,000 ft deep. Most of the basin may be about 1,500 ft deep, based on drill-hole data and topographic inference (Ruppel, 1993).

Several investigators have examined the geology of the Beaverhead Valley. The geologic units described by previous investigators are summarized below. These geologic units are referenced to hydrogeologic units to provide a consistent regional framework. In the following discussion, the hydrogeologic-unit abbreviations are italicized.

Bedrock geology of the area was most recently described by Ruppel and others (1993). Archean and Early Proterozoic gneiss, schist and some marble crop out extensively in the Ruby Range east of the Dillon. The metamorphic rocks are folded and faulted, and intruded by Middle Proterozoic diabase dikes. Faulted and folded Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks outcrop in mountains on the south and west sides of the watershed. The Paleozoic sedimentary rocks are primarily carbonates, including Mississippian limestone, and the Mesozoic rocks are primarily shale. Tertiary volcanic rocks, including andesite and dacite, border the basin west of Dillon and southwest of the Rattlesnake Creek drainage area.

Tertiary sediments that fill the intermontane basin belong to the Renova Formation and the overlying Sixmile Creek Formation of the Bozeman Group, although it is difficult to distinguish the two formations in this basin. Tertiary sediments are exposed on pediments near the sedimentary basin margin, including the large bench east of Dillon. The heterogeneous Tertiary sediments consist of light-gray to yellowish-brown, moderately indurated to well-indurated tuffaceous sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone with some lacustrine limestone, marl, tuff, shale, and conglomerate (Hanneman and Wideman, 1991; Ruppel and others, 1993).

Pleistocene glacial till fills some tributary valleys. The poorly sorted deposits of boulders, gravel, sand, and clay grade into well-sorted, coarser-grained, glacial-outwash fans where the tributaries enter the basin.

Quaternary alluvial deposits, including alluvial-fan deposits and flood-plain alluvium, unconformably overlie Tertiary sediments in much of the basin. Alluvial fans flanking the Lower Ruby and Blacktail Deer Creek valleys consist of poorly sorted, silty sand, and gravel (Ruppel and others, 1993). Alluvial deposits consisting of silt, sand, and gravel extend along channels and flood plains of the Beaverhead River and its major tributaries (Ruppel and others, 1993). South of Dillon, hundreds of feet of sand and gravel with a little silt underlie the planar valley floor. Drillers’ logs indicate that, near Dillon, these coarse-grained deposits pinch out. North of Dillon, the alluvium is clayey. Geologic contact between Quaternary deposits and the

11 underlying, similarly textured, Tertiary sediments are difficult to distinguish. Therefore, the thickness of the Quaternary deposits is unknown (Ruppel and others, 1993).

Soils Soils in the Beaverhead County portion of the planning area are currently being inventoried and classified by the NRCS, but this information is not yet complete or published (US Department of the Interior 2003). As a result, only general soil information derived from State Soil Geographic Database (STATSGO) is available for planning purposes in Beaverhead County. STATSGO data are not sufficiently detailed to make interpretations at the county level.

Soils across the planning area vary with local geology, topographic relief, and climate (US Department of the Interior 2003). Soils on flood plains and terraces are more than 60 inches deep and formed in loamy material deposited by water. All other soils vary in depth from less then 20 inches to more then 60 inches. Soils on lower elevations uplands and terraces were transported by wind or water or were formed from igneous and metamorphic rocks. Soils on the higher elevation uplands form in water deposited materials or from metamorphic rock. Soils on mountains are formed mainly from glacial till or bedrock. Soils derived from some of the Tertiary and Quaternary sediments are highly erodible based on K factors, and are a source of naturally high sediment levels in some areas of the Beaverhead.

The NRCS generally provides erosion hazards information in the mapping unit descriptions, such as in the Madison County Soil Survey, but these are not available for Beaverhead County. Erosion is one of the indicators of rangeland health that is examined while determining whether rangelands are healthy or functioning. Erosion indicators such as rills, water flow patterns, pedestals, and/or terracettes, bare ground, gullies, litter movement, soil resistance to erosions and soil surface loss or degradation are reviewed. Generally, soils on steeper slopes with longer slope length and less vegetation cover erode more rapidly then soils with flatter slopes, shorter slope length and more vegetation cover.

Hydric soils exist in the planning area, though they are not extensive. Hydric soils are those that are saturated, flooded, or ponded long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions.

Cultural Characteristics Historical Overview The following material is excerpted from US Department of Interior 2003.

Protohistoric refers to the time period immediately before written history (US Department of Interior 2003). The period began in Montana when Plains and Great Basin Indian groups began using the horse, followed by the use of Euro-American goods, notably firearms, trade beads, and metal implements, which were fashioned into knives, and other practical tools. These items were traded into the region from other tribal groups long before white men came into the area. The horse, in particular, created a profound change or “cultural revolution” on the Plains. The

12 horse made people on the Plains extremely mobile and highly efficient hunters, especially in regard to bison hunting. Among other effects, this increased mobility led to intensified territorial disputes with neighboring tribes, resulting in shifting tribal boundaries. Federally recognized Indian tribes whose ancestors inhabited western Montana at various times include the Confederated Salish-Kootenai Tribes, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, and the Blackfeet Tribe. The Protohistoric Period ended with the arrival of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805, which is generally understood to represent the first written records of the area and beginning of the historic period in southwestern Montana.

Following in the wake of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, fur traders began to actively trap for beaver and other mammals in tributary streams and rivers of both the Missouri and Columbia River systems. This enterprise ended by the close of the 1830s due to the depletion of beaver and other fur bearing mammals, and because of a decline in demand for pelts as a result of changes in fashion and the rise of the European and American textile industries. As noted below, there are several interpretive opportunities for locations associated with this early historic period.

Gold prospectors and a few early settlers began moving into southwestern Montana following the demise of the fur trapping industry. The first wave of mining began in the early 1860s and lasted for about the next 20 years focusing on the mining of placer gold gravel deposits along larger streams and drainages. This was followed by lode, or hard rock mining of gold, silver, and then copper deposits. There are approximately 20 known historic mining districts that incorporate public lands within the planning area.

By World War I the mining of hard rock gold was essentially over, although some small ventures continued. A revival occurred during the Great Depression era of the 1930’s when the price of gold almost doubled. Overnight, the gold mining streams and fields were once again sluiced and mined with pick and shovel. Unlike before though, this was done by out-of-work miners and others who were trying to eke out some sort of livelihood during the harsh economic times of the Great Depression. The Great Depression mining era closed at the outbreak of World War II. Gold mining continues today, generally by large corporations who mine for so-called “flour” gold. The mining of this type of gold requires tons of earth to be removed and the use of highly sophisticated processing techniques in order to retrieve a few ounces of the precious yellow metal.

Though the region continued to support mining endeavors, the economic emphasis shifted to agricultural pursuits along the major river valleys (Madison, Ruby, Jefferson, and Beaverhead). Many of the earliest farming and ranching operations started to supply the needs of early mining camps. As mining and agricultural industries continued to develop, transportation routes were formalized insuring a steady flow of goods and materials into and out of the area. These routes connected southwestern Montana to the railroad hubs at Corrine, Utah, and the riverboat port of Ft Benton. In the 1880’s railroads entered the area forging a permanent link with regional, national, and international commerce.

13 Land Use As outlined above, historic land use has emphasized mining, fur trapping and agricultural operations, primarily ranching. Timber harvesting was also a significant, although a less apparent land use in the Beaverhead.

Current land use in the watershed is under primarily agricultural cattle production, and limited grain crops and potato production. A large portion of the upper watershed is used for rangeland. The narrow flood plains of the major tributaries are irrigated for hay and alfalfa production and pasture based on field observations. Irrigation canals installed in the mid to late twentieth century provide water for irrigation from the Beaverhead River, much of which is derived from Clark Canyon Reservoir. Cattle have been driven through the valley in large numbers throughout the livestock grazing history of the basin. Cattle are still driven through the basin, however, recent road improvements have enabled ranchers to truck cattle further up the watershed, decreasing the distance cattle are driven overland.

Other land uses in the basin consist of recreation, logging, and mining. The most intensive recreation use is fall big game hunting, especially in the upper Blacktail Deer Creek drainage. Mining has been and is still an important land use in the basin and a potential source of impairment to water quality. A large operating talk mine is located in the Stone Creek watershed. However, most water quality impairment issues likely relate to historic mining and are probably linked to abandoned mines in the watershed.

Roads directly affect a small portion of the land within the forested areas of the basin. Road density varies and is summarized on a stream-by-stream basis in Section 4.4.

Land Ownership Roughly thirty-nine percent of the planning area is under federal management, fifteen percent are state lands (including FWP managed lands and surface waters), and about forty-six percent is in private ownership. Most of the federally managed lands are in the higher elevations of the watershed and under Forest Service and BLM management. In general, lower elevations in the Beaverhead Valley are mostly private lands with some BLM and State Trust Lands. The US Bureau of Reclamation owns the Clark Canyon Reservoir.

Population As of the 2001 census, 9,089 people resided in Beaverhead County. Dillon is the largest municipality in the Beaverhead Watershed. As of the 2001 census, the population of Dillon was 3,852 and has dropped in population over the last decade from 4,001 residents. Other towns in the watershed include Bannack, Polaris, Argenta, Lima, and Twin Bridges. Twin Bridges has the second largest population center at 400 residents.

16 Beaverhead Watershed Committee 2005 Committee Members

Chairman Carl Malesich, Rancher 9575 Highway 41 Dillon, Montana 59725 406-683-2012

Steering Committee Tom Rice, Rancher 2020 Sawmill Rd. Dillon, Montana 59725 406-683-4831

John Osborne, Rancher 767 East Bench Rd. Twin Bridges, Montana 59754 406-684-5993

Russ Kipp, Outfitter Montana High Country Tours Polaris, Montana 59736 406-834-3552

Membership Agriculture/Ranching Beaverhead – Upper Reach . Tom Rice 2020 Sawmill Rd. Dillon, Montana 59725 406-683-4831 . Todd Tash 1532 Highway 278 Dillon, Montana 59725 406-683-2408 Beaverhead - Middle Reach . Carl Malesich 9575 Highway 41 Dillon, Montana 59725 406-683-2012 . Robert Van Deren P.O. Box 525 Dillon, Montana 59725 406-683-9510 Beaverhead – Lower Reach

17 . Walt Morris 512 East Bench Rd. Twin Bridges, Montana 59754 406-684-5413

. John Osborne 767 East Bench Rd. Twin Bridges, Montana 59754 406-684-5993 Blacktail Deer Creek . Ray Marxer 9500 Blacktail Rd. Dillon, Montana 59725 406-683-5819 Grasshopper Creek . Nate Finch 4950 Bannack Rd. Dillon, Montana 59725 Phone Unlisted Horse Prairie Creek . Tom Tamke 900 Mansfield Lane Grant, Montana 59725 406-681-3122 Lima, MT . Allen Martinell P.O. Box 240077 Dell, Montana 59739 406-276-3380

Business, Recreation and Tourism Beaverhead/Big Hole Outfitters and Guides Association . Russ Kipp Montana High Country Tours Polaris, Montana 59736 406-834-3552 Beaverhead Outdoors Association . Bob Hartwell 1185 Driveway Lane Dillon, Montana 59725 406-683-2866 Small Business . Vacant Local Government Beaverhead County Commissioners . Garth Haugland

18 10 North Pacific St. Dillon, Montana 59725 406-683-5245 City of Dillon, MT . J. S. Turner 125 North Idaho St. Dillon, Montana 59725 406-683-4245 Beaverhead Conservation District . Carl Malesich 9575 Highway 41 Dillon, Montana 59725 406-683-2012

19 Beaverhead Watershed Committee Technical Advisors and Supporters 2005

Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks U. S. Bureau of Reclamation U. S. Bureau of Land Management USDA Forest Service Beaverhead/Deer Lodge National Forest Resource Advisory Committee Department of Natural Resource Conservation Natural Resource Conservation Service . Beaverhead County . Madison County Montana Department of State Lands East Bench Irrigation District Beaverhead County: . Commissioners . Weed Board . Disaster and Emergency Services . Grant Coordinator . Weed Supervisor / Weed Board . Planning board/Planner Beaverhead Conservation District Montana Associated Conservation Districts Ruby Valley Conservation District Madison County Commissioners Ruby Valley Watershed Council Big Hole Watershed Committee Jefferson River Watershed Committee City of Dillon – City Manager Trout Unlimited Beaverhead Outdoors Association Beaverhead, Big Hole outfitters and Guides Association Walsh Ranch Andersen Blacktail Ranch Windmill Livestock Malesich Ranch Dwight Harrison, Z5 Ranch Shaffner/Kuntz Ranch Tash Livestock Matador Ranch Kirk Environmental Camp, Dresser, and McKee Inc. Curtis Kruer