DOCSLIB.ORG

Upper and North Fork Big Hole River Watershed Restoration Plan

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Upper and North Fork Big Hole River Watershed Restoration Plan Big Hole River, Montana Watershed Restoration Plan Part I: Upper & North Fork Big Hole Watershed Produced by: Big Hole Watershed Committee November 1, 2012 Big Hole Watershed Committee PO Box 21 Divide, Montana 59727 website: bhwc.org Produced with Funds and Support from: Montana Department of Environmental Quality 319 Program Helena, Montana Big Hole River Watershed Restoration Plan - November 1, 2012 Part I: Upper & North Fork Big Hole River Watershed Page | 2 Table of Contents Tables ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 Figures ........................................................................................................................................................... 6 Acronyms ...................................................................................................................................................... 7 Project Area .................................................................................................................................................. 8 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 9 Purpose ....................................................................................................................................................... 10 Watershed Restoration Planning ................................................................................................................ 11 The Big Hole Watershed Committee .......................................................................................................... 12 Vision ........................................................................................................................................................... 13 Watershed Characterization ....................................................................................................................... 14 Sensitive Species ..................................................................................................................................... 17 The Fluvial Arctic Grayling and the CCAA Program ............................................................................. 17 Westslope Cutthroat Trout ................................................................................................................. 18 Lake Trout ........................................................................................................................................... 18 Western Toad ...................................................................................................................................... 19 Western Pearlshell Mussel .................................................................................................................. 19 Section I: What is the Problem? .................................................................................................................. 20 Causes of Impairment in the Upper Big Hole Watershed ........................................................................... 20 Section II. Who Determines Water Quality Issues? .................................................................................... 21 Water Quality: Montana Department of Environmental Quality ........................................................... 21 USFS Beaverhead - Deer Lodge Forest Plan ............................................................................................ 23 Bureau of Land Management - Upper Big Hole Watershed Assessment ............................................... 27 CCAA Program ......................................................................................................................................... 31 Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks ........................................................................................................... 33 Big Hole Watershed Committee ............................................................................................................. 34 Section III: What Should the Watershed Look Like? ................................................................................... 36 Water Quality Goals & Priorities ................................................................................................................. 36 Blended Watershed Restoration Goals ................................................................................................... 36 Section IV: How Will We Get There? .......................................................................................................... 41 Road Map to Watershed Restoration ......................................................................................................... 41 Plan & Research ...................................................................................................................................... 42 Big Hole River Watershed Restoration Plan - November 1, 2012 Part I: Upper & North Fork Big Hole River Watershed Page | 3 Educate ................................................................................................................................................... 45 Restore .................................................................................................................................................... 47 Preserve & Protect .................................................................................................................................. 50 Partner .................................................................................................................................................... 52 Partners ....................................................................................................................................................... 53 Best Management Practices ....................................................................................................................... 55 Section V: How Will We Know When We Arrive? ....................................................................................... 58 Section VI: Discussion, Recommendations & Review ................................................................................. 61 Sub-Watershed Summaries ........................................................................................................................ 62 Upper Big Hole Watershed - Whole ........................................................................................................ 64 Governor Creek ....................................................................................................................................... 65 Warm Springs Creek ................................................................................................................................ 66 Big Hole Headwaters ............................................................................................................................... 67 Big Hole River - Wisdom.......................................................................................................................... 68 North Fork Big Hole River........................................................................................................................ 70 Squaw Creek ........................................................................................................................................... 72 Works Cited ................................................................................................................................................. 73 Appendix ........................................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. Resources .................................................................................................................................................... 75 Link Addresses......................................................................................................................................... 76 Big Hole River Watershed Restoration Plan - November 1, 2012 Part I: Upper & North Fork Big Hole River Watershed Page | 4 Tables Table 1: Watershed Characterization ......................................................................................................... 14 Table 2: Sub-watersheds, 303d listed streams, and their impairment sources. See Table 11 for details. See Figure 3 for map. See page 63 for sub-watershed summaries. ........................................................... 15 Table 3: Other sensitive species (Montana Field Guide) ............................................................................ 19 Table 4: Water quality impairments, causes, and remedies in the Big Hole River watershed. See Table 5 for detailed impairments by sub watershed and stream. Source: (Montana DEQ, June 2009) ................. 20 Table 5: Summary of Upper Big Hole watershed impairments and their sources as stated in the TMDL (Montana DEQ, June 2009) ......................................................................................................................... 21 Table 6: TMDL Target Summary .................................................................................................................. 22 Table 7: USFS Beaverhead Deer Lodge National Forest Plan - Resource Categories. Each category lists goals, objectives and standards. (US Forest Service, 2009) .......................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Big Hole River Fluvial Arctic Grayling
    FLUVIAL ARCTIC GRAYLING MONITORING REPORT 2003 James Magee and Peter Lamothe Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Dillon, Montana Submitted To: Fluvial Arctic Grayling Workgroup And Beaverhead National Forest Bureau of Land Management Montana Chapter, American Fisheries Society Montana Council, Trout Unlimited Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service June 2004 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The following individuals and organizations contributed valuable assistance to the project in 2003. Scott Lula, Greg Gibbons, Zachary Byram, Tracy Elam, Tim Mosolf, and Dick Oswald of Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP), provided able field assistance. Ken Staigmiller (FWP) collected samples for disease testing. Ken McDonald (FWP), provided administrative support, chaired the Fluvial Arctic Grayling Workgroup, reviewed progress reports and assisted funding efforts. Bob Snyder provided support as Native Species Coordinator. Dick Oswald (FWP) provided technical advice and expertise. Bruce Rich (FWP) provided direction as regional fisheries supervisor. Jim Brammer, Dennis Havig, Dan Downing, and Chris Riley (USFS) assisted with funding, provided housing for FWP technicians, and assisted with fieldwork. Bill Krise, and Ron Zitzow, Matt Toner, and the staff of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Bozeman Fish Technology Center maintained the brood reserve stock and transported grayling to the upper Ruby River. Jack Boyce, Mark Kornick and Jim Drissell, and crew of Big Springs Hatchery assisted with egg takes at Axolotl and Green Hollow II brood lakes, and transported eyed grayling eggs for RSI use in the upper Ruby River and to Bluewater State Fish Hatchery for rearing reaches. Gary Shaver, Bob Braund, and Dave Ellis from Bluewater State Hatchery raised and transported grayling to the Ruby River and the Missouri Headwaters restoration reaches.
    [Show full text]
  • Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Montana Arctic
    Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Montana Arctic Grayling Restoration August 2007 1 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING among: MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE & PARKS (FWP) U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM) U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) U.S. FOREST SERVICE (USFS) MONTANA COUNCIL TROUT UNLIMITED (TU) MONTANA CHAPTER AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY (AFS) YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNP) MONTANA ARCTIC GRAYLING RECOVERY PROGRAM (AGRP) USDA NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS) MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION (DNRC) concerning MONTANA ARCTIC GRAYLING RESTORATION BACKGROUND Montana’s Arctic grayling Thymallus arcticus is a unique native species that comprises an important component of Montana’s history and natural heritage. Fluvial (river dwelling) Arctic grayling were once widespread in the Missouri River drainage, but currently wild grayling persist only in the Big Hole River, representing approximately 4% of their native range in Montana. Native lacustrine/adfluvial populations historically distributed in the Red Rock drainage and possibly the Big Hole drainage have also been reduced in abundance and distribution. Arctic grayling have a long history of being petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Most recently (in April 2007) the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) determined that listing of Arctic grayling in Montana under ESA was not warranted because it does not constitute a distinct population segment as defined by the ESA. On May 15th 2007, the Center for Biological Diversity announced its 60-day Intent to Sue the USFWS regarding the recent grayling decision. The Montana Arctic Grayling Recovery Program (AGRP) was formed in 1987 following declines in the Big Hole River Arctic grayling population, and over concerns for the Red Rock population.
    [Show full text]
  • Ruby River Access Sites Secured by Bruce Farling Hen the Topic of Stream Access Families, There Would Be No Formal Fishing Ago
    SPRING TROUT LINE 2016 Newsletter from the Montana Council of Trout Unlimited Ruby River access sites secured by Bruce Farling hen the topic of stream access families, there would be no formal fishing ago. Because of budget constraints, and the Ruby River is raised access sites for 40-plus river miles below some caused by limits imposed by Win Montana it’s often related the Vigilante Fishing Access Site a couple the Legislature, as well as demands at to absentee landowner James Cox miles downstream of the Ruby River Dam. some of the other 330 sites in FWP’s Kennedy from Atlanta and his 15-year Three county bridge popular fishing access legal and political efforts to prevent the rights-of-way provide site program, the public from accessing this great fishery. the only other points department didn’t However, not all stories about stream of access on the lower have adequate funding access coming from the Ruby Valley river. But the bridges to renew the leases for are as distressing as the Kennedy tale. have limited parking. the previous agreed Recently we can thank some civic-minded Plus, Mr. Kennedy upon price. The ranchers and, in part, Montana TU and has contested bridge Doornbos, Barnosky three of its chapters for a bit of good access in court and and Guillame families, news about the Ruby. made getting to the however, graciously Since the mid-1990s, three long- river at those spots agreed to lease the time ranching families in the valley have physically difficult access sites at a much- been leasing portions of their properties with his fencing schemes.
    [Show full text]
  • June 2021 Meeting Minutes
    Big Hole Watershed Committee Monthly Meeting Minutes June 16th, 2021 – 7:00 pm at the Divide Grange Zoom option also provided In Attendance In-person: Pedro Marques, BHWC; Tana Nulph, BHWC; Ben LaPorte, BHWC; Jarrett Payne, MFWP; Jim Hagenbarth, Rancher/BHWC; Max Hanson, UM/BHWC Intern; Paul Cleary, Resident/BHWC; Sandy Cleary, Resident; Matt Norberg, DNRC; Betty Bowler, Resident; Tom Bowler, Resident; Hans Humbert, Rancher/BHWC; Randy Smith, Rancher/BHWC; Jim Dennehy, Butte-Silver Bow Water Dept./BHWC; Thomas Woolf, MFWP; Scott Reynolds, Resident; Steve Luebeck, Sportsman/BHWC; and John Reinhardt, Rancher/BHWC. Zoom: Charley (no last name given); Chris Edgington, MTU; and Paul Siddoway. Meeting Minutes BHWC monthly meetings are now held at the Divide Grange with a virtual (Zoom) option provided thanks to Southern Montana Telephone Company, who donated the internet service. Meeting minutes and recordings are available at https://bhwc.org/monthly-meetings/ (scroll down for meeting minutes archive). Printed copies are available during in-person meetings. Contact Tana Nulph, BHWC Associate Director, at [email protected] or (406) 267-3421 to suggest additions or corrections. Reports Streamflow/Snowpack Report as of June 16, 2021 – Matt Norberg, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation • Streamflows: Streamflows in the Big Hole River have generally been below to well below average since the start of April. The bulk of the snowpack has melted off and the river peaked earlier and lower than normal. Daily average flows for this time of year are well below normal Big Hole Watershed Committee, 2021 Page 1 levels with most of the gages reporting streamflow’s well below the 25th percentile with some even below the 10th percentile.
    [Show full text]
  • Jefferson River at Three Forks, Montana
    FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT JEFFERSON RIVER AT THREE FORKS, MONTANA Prepared by U.S. ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT, OMAHA, NEBRASKA December 1971 Jefferson River at Three Forks, Montana ( ) Draft (X) Final Environmental Statement Responsible Office: U.S. Army Engineer District, Omaha, Nebraska 1. Name of Action: (x) Administrative ( ) Legislative 2. Description of Action: The proposed project would consist of the construction of an earth filled levee and a drainage collector ditch approximately lU ,700 feet in length along the northwest side of a small community. The location is at Three Forks in Gallatin County, Montana. 3. a. Environmental Impacts; Flood protection would be provided for a flood having a frequency of occurrence of once in a 100 years. A 28 acre loss of alternate land use would be required for levee alignment. A possibilit would exist for pollutants from adjacent land to accumulate in the collector ditch. A potential would exist for the collector ditch to develop aquatic growth. Five hundred feet of shelterbelt would be lost to levee construction. b. Adverse Environmental Effects: Construction would effect the removal of 28 acres of land from alternative land use; collector ditch could act as a collector of pollutants; and construction of the levee would necessitate the removal of 500 feet of shelterbelt. Alternatives; Floodplain zoning, evacuation, flood proofing, reservoir construction, channel improvement, and ”no development” were considered. 5• Comments Received: City of Three Forks Bureau of Sport Fisheries & Wildlife, USDI Montana Department of Fish Bureau of Reclamation, USDI and Game Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, USDI Montana Department of Health Environmental Protection Agency, USEPA Montana Highway Commission Bureau of Mines, USDI Soil Conservation Service, USDA Montana Water Resources Board National Park Service, USDI 6.
    [Show full text]
  • BIG HOLE National Battlefield
    BIG HOLE National Battlefield Historical Research Management Plan & Bibliography of the ERCE WAR, 1877 F 737 .B48H35 November 1967 Historical Research Management Plan BIG HOLE NATI ONAL for .BATILEFIELD LI BRP..RY BIG HOLE Na tional Battlefield & Bibliog raphy of the N E Z PERCE WAR, 1877 By AUBREY L. HAINES DIVISION OF HISTORY Office of Archeology and Historic Preservatio.n November 1967 U.S. Department of the Interior NATI ONAL PARK SERVICE HISTORICAL RESEARCH MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR BIG HOLE NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD November 1968 Recommended Superintendent Date Reviewed Division of History Date Approved Chief, Office of Archeology Date and Historic Preservation i TABLE OF CONTENTS Historical Research Management Plan Approval Sheet I. The Park Story and Purpose . • • • 1 A. The Main His torical Theme ••••••• 1 B. Sub sidiary Historical Theme • • • • • 1 1 c. Relationship of Historical Themes to Natural History and Anthropology • • • • • • • • 12 D. Statement of Historical Significance •• 14 E. Reasons for Establishment of the Park • • • • • 15 II. Historical Resources of the Battlefield 1 7 A. Tangible Resources • • • • 17 1. Sites and Remains 1 7 a. Those Related to the Main Park Theme • • . 1 7 b. Those Related to Subsidiary Themes • 25 2. Historic Structures 27 B. Intangible Resources • 2 7 c. Other Resources 2 8 III.Status of Research •• 2 9 A. Research Accomplished 29 H. Research in Progress • • • • • 3o c. Cooperation with Non-Service Institutions 36 IV. Research Needs ••••••••••••••••• 37 A. Site Identification and Evaluation Studies 37 H. General Background Studies and Survey Histories 40 c. Studies for Interpretive Development • • • • • 4 1 D. Development Studies • • • • • • • • • 4 1 E.
    [Show full text]
  • Montana Fishing Regulations
    MONTANA FISHING REGULATIONS 20March 1, 2018 — F1ebruary 828, 2019 Fly fishing the Missouri River. Photo by Jason Savage For details on how to use these regulations, see page 2 fwp.mt.gov/fishing With your help, we can reduce poaching. MAKE THE CALL: 1-800-TIP-MONT FISH IDENTIFICATION KEY If you don’t know, let it go! CUTTHROAT TROUT are frequently mistaken for Rainbow Trout (see pictures below): 1. Turn the fish over and look under the jaw. Does it have a red or orange stripe? If yes—the fish is a Cutthroat Trout. Carefully release all Cutthroat Trout that cannot be legally harvested (see page 10, releasing fish). BULL TROUT are frequently mistaken for Brook Trout, Lake Trout or Brown Trout (see below): 1. Look for white edges on the front of the lower fins. If yes—it may be a Bull Trout. 2. Check the shape of the tail. Bull Trout have only a slightly forked tail compared to the lake trout’s deeply forked tail. 3. Is the dorsal (top) fin a clear olive color with no black spots or dark wavy lines? If yes—the fish is a Bull Trout. Carefully release Bull Trout (see page 10, releasing fish). MONTANA LAW REQUIRES: n All Bull Trout must be released immediately in Montana unless authorized. See Western District regulations. n Cutthroat Trout must be released immediately in many Montana waters. Check the district standard regulations and exceptions to know where you can harvest Cutthroat Trout. NATIVE FISH Westslope Cutthroat Trout Species of Concern small irregularly shaped black spots, sparse on belly Average Size: 6”–12” cutthroat slash— spots
    [Show full text]
  • Knowing Yellowstone
    Knowing Yellowstone Science in America’s First National Park Jerry Johnson, Editor Cover Photo: A Storm Ripping Through the Valley, Trey Ratcliff DESIGN/LAYOUT/PRODUCTION – Monica Chodkiewicz ISBN 978-1-58979-522-8 Published by Taylor Trade Publishing An imprint of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc. 4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706 http://www.rlpgtrade.com Estover Road, Plymouth PL6 7PY, United Kingdom Distributed by National Book Network Copyright © 2010 by Jerry Johnson All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992. Printed in the United States of America Knowing Yellowstone Science in America’s First National Park Jerry Johnson, Editor iv Knowing Yellowstone: Science in America’s First National Park Acknowledgments: Many people are involved in the evolution and eventual publication of a book. The authors of the chapters that follow willingly took time from busy field seasons and research programs to deliver their highly technical work in a format accessible to those who are not immersed in the world of doing science. I thank them for their good work. Several individuals supported this project from the start.
    [Show full text]
  • Population Viability of Arctic Grayling in the Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park
    North American Journal of Fisheries Management 30:1582–1590, 2010 [Article] Ó Copyright by the American Fisheries Society 2010 DOI: 10.1577/M10-083.1 Population Viability of Arctic Grayling in the Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park 1 AMBER C. STEED* Montana Cooperative Fishery Research Unit and Department of Ecology, Montana State University, Post Office Box 173460, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA ALEXANDER V. ZALE U.S. Geological Survey, Montana Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, and Department of Ecology, Montana State University, Post Office Box 173460, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA TODD M. KOEL Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, Yellowstone Center for Resources, Post Office Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190, USA STEVEN T. KALINOWSKI Department of Ecology, Montana State University, Post Office Box 172460, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA Abstract.—The fluvial Arctic grayling Thymallus arcticus is restricted to less than 5% of its native range in the contiguous United States and was relisted as a category 3 candidate species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2010. Although fluvial Arctic grayling of the lower Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, were considered to have been extirpated by 1935, anglers and biologists have continued to report catching low numbers of Arctic grayling in the river. Our goal was to determine whether a viable population of fluvial Arctic grayling persisted in the Gibbon River or whether the fish caught in the river were downstream emigrants from lacustrine populations in headwater lakes. We addressed this goal by determining relative abundances, sources, and evidence for successful spawning of Arctic grayling in the Gibbon River.
    [Show full text]
  • Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Big Hole River Basin 41D Index of Claims by Source Name, by Enforceable Priority Date
    04/06/2007 Page 1 DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION BIG HOLE RIVER BASIN 41D INDEX OF CLAIMS BY SOURCE NAME, BY ENFORCEABLE PRIORITY DATE TRIB Values: CB=Closed Basin, MP= Manmade Pit, NO=Natural Overflow, NP=Natural Pit, OF=Overflow and Waste Water, SI=Subirrigation, SP=Spring, WS=Waste & Seepage, WW=Waste Water, UT=Unnamed Tributary; POD Indicator: &=Only First POD Listed WATER WATER VERSION LATE HISTORICAL USE FLOW ENFORCEABLE POINT OF DIVERSION TRIB SOURCE NAME OWNER NAME RIGHT ID RIGHT TYPE STATUS CLAIM TYPE RATE PRIORITY DAT QTR SEC SEC TWP RGE CN 41D 93827 CLAIM ACTV DECREE IR 2.50 CFS 05/01/1890 SESENE 19 1S 11W BE ADSON CREEK CONNOLLY, J W CONNOLLY, SHIRLEY B 41D 53770 CLAIM ACTV USE ST 11/05/1906 S2 20 1S 11W BE & ADSON CREEK USA (DEPT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE) 41D 53918 CLAIM WDRN CM AGNES LAKE SPRING USA (DEPT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE) 41B 10700 CLAIM ACTV DECREE IR 2.50 CFS 05/01/1870 SWSESW 35 5S 8W BE ALBERS SLOUGH OPEN A RANCH INC 41B 10702 CLAIM ACTV DECREE IR 5.00 CFS 05/01/1870 SWSESW 35 5S 8W BE ALBERS SLOUGH OPEN A RANCH INC 41B 10701 CLAIM ACTV DECREE IR 10.00 CFS 05/01/1876 SWSESW 35 5S 8W BE ALBERS SLOUGH OPEN A RANCH INC 41B 10703 CLAIM ACTV DECREE IR 7.50 CFS 06/01/1888 NESENE 9 6S 8W BE WS ALBERS SLOUGH OPEN A RANCH INC 41D 93289 CLAIM ACTV USE ST 01/01/1875 S2SESE 13 1N 11W BE & ALDER CREEK FONG RMBP FAMILY TRUST TURNBULL, JEANETTE TURNBULL, MARK A 41D 93272 CLAIM ACTV FILED IR 8.26 CFS 07/24/1886 SESWNE 24 1N 12W BE ALDER CREEK SYRING, RALPH C SYRING, RUTH M TURNBULL, JEANETTE TURNBULL,
    [Show full text]
  • Magnitude and Frequency of Floods in the United States Part 6-A
    Magnitude and Frequency of Floods in the United States Part 6-A. Missouri River Basin above Sioux Cit'% Iowa By JAMES L. PATTERSON GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1679 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1966 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY William T. Pecora, Director Library of Congress catalog-card No. GS 64-192 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 CONTENTS Page Abstract _________________________________________ 1 Introduction _______________________________ 1 Purpose and scope_________________________ 1 Acknowledgments ________________________ _ 3 Application of flood-frequency data_____________________ _ 3 Regional application_____________________________ _ 4 Special application______________________________ 7 Streams affected by regulation or diversion________________ 11 Description of the area__________ ____________ _ 12 River basins____________________________________ 12 Topography ____________________________________ 12 Climate ______________________________________ 13 Flood-frequency analysis______________________________ 13 Method of analysis_______________________________ 13 Records used___________________________________ 14 Flood frequency at a gaging station___________________.__ 14 Types of flood series_____________________ 14 Flood-frequency curves___________________ 15 Regional flood frequency______________________________ 17 Mean annual flood__________________________ 17 Composite
    [Show full text]
  • Experience the Nez Perce Trail
    Lolo, Montana, to the Big Hole National Battlefield, Montana, through the Bitterroot Valley Experience the Nez Perce Trail Bitterroot River © Jerry Bauer 1 The Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail Designated by Congress in 1986, the entire Nez Perce National Historic Trail stretches 1,170 miles from the Wallowa Valley of eastern Oregon to the plains of north-central Montana. This segment of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail from Lolo, Montana, to the Big Hole Battlefield, Montana through the Bitterroot Valley is one of eight available tours (complete list on page 35). These are available at Forest Service offices and other federal and local visitor centers along the route. As you travel this historic trail, you will see highway signs marking the official Auto Tour route. Each Mainstream Auto Tour route stays on all-weather roads passable for all types of vehicles. Adventurous and Rugged Routes are an alternative for those seeking the most authentic historic route. They are often on gravel or dirt roads, so plan ahead. Check weather and road conditions before embarking on your journey. Call 511 for road condition reports on major routes. For road condition information on Adventurous and Rugged routes inquire locally. 3 Experience the Nez Perce Trail How do I get there? Mainstream Traveler (Passable for all types of vehicles.) This Auto Tour begins at Fort Fizzle, 4.6 miles west of Lolo Montana. Lolo is located approximately 7 miles south For most travelers this will be the appropriate route. of Missoula, Montana. The roads are generally paved and won’t pose a challenge for typical cars, campers with trailers, and RVs.
    [Show full text]