----- ' ---- 1 !3o !( F1 LE , ,. I i STUDY REPORT FlATHEAD NATIONAl F ...- Wild& Scenic . River STUDY REPORT , .•~·· ~ . ~ \. FLATHEAD RIVER WILD AND SCENIC RIVER STUDY REPORT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FLATHEAD NATIONAL FOREST 1975 Prepared in Accordance with Section 4(a) of Public Law 90-542 Preface This report was originally published in July of 1973. It was sent to Federal agencies, State agencies, and made available for public review in August of 1973. Consideration of review comments was the basis for changes made in this revision. Recommendations within the report have not changed, but numerous additions and corrections have been made in the support data. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was passed prior to the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act. As a result of this sequence of legislative action two reports are required in the Flathead Wild and Scenic River Study: (1) a study report and (2) an environmental statement. The draft environmental statement was used more extensively than the study report for public review since it contained the items of essential interest in a more concise form. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act requires that responses from Federal agencies be sent with the study report to the President and Congress; therefore, they have been included in Appendix 11. A summary of public comment to the draft environmental statement is also included as a part of Appendix 11 of this report. Public documents on the draft environmental statement which were also pertinent to the study report were considered in the revision of the study report. Public, Federal, and State letters are all included in the final environmental statement with the responses by the Forest Service explaining how comments were considered in the revision of the report. i Table of Contents I INTRODUCTION • • . 2 II SU}~Y OF STUDY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS 3 Wild and Scenic River Qualifications • • 3 Considerations of Best Use , • • • • . 3 Conclusions • • • • • • • 5 Boundary of Area • • • • • • • . 6 III GENERAL INFORMATION 9 Study Reach 9 Zone of Influence . 11 People and Their Way of Life 11 Access • • • • • • • . 17 Water Development Projects • 17 Other Free-Flowing Rivers 20 Climate • • • • • • • • • • 20 River Basins Studies and Projeet Reports • 21 Current and Scheduled Studies 25 State Programs 26 IV DESCRIPTION 29 The River 29 Water Quality • • • • • 31 State of Montana Water Quality Standards 32 Sources of Sediment and Other Pollution • 33 Rates of Flow • • • • • • • 33 Watercraft Opportunities • • • . 34 Ownership of Streambed 36 Other Considerations • • • • 37 Water Rights • • • . • • • • • , 37 Domestic and Industrial Use of Water . • • • 38 Fisheries • • • • 38 Wildlife • • • • • 41 Geology and Soils 44 Hinerals • • • • • • • • • • 45 Hydrology and Climatic Factors • 47 Precipitation • • • • • • • • • • 48 Soil Moisture • • • • • • • • • • • • • 48 Stream Channel Condition 49 Streamflow Characteristics 49 Climate and Recreation 49 Recreation . 50 Recreation Trends and Potential • 50 Major Recreation Opportunities Within the Flathead River Basin • • • • • • • 51 ii ' ; Recreation Use and Activity Along the Study River 52 Wilderness 55 Outstanding Features 58 Landownership and Status 65 Residential Sites and Summer Homes • • •• 66 Agriculture . 67 Vegetation . • . • • • • • • • • • • 67 Transportation (Existing)· • • • • • • • 69 Transportation (Future) • • • • • • . • • . • 74 Untility Lines • • • • • • • • • • • 75 Commercial Uses and Industrial Installation • • • • • 76 Need for Hydropower . • • • • • • • • • • • 77 Alternatives to Hydropower • . • • • • • • • • • •• 79 Flood Problems and Existing and Potential Solutions 80 Major Non-conforming Areas and Uses • • • • 82 V INTERSTATE AND INTERNATIONAL 85 Interstate Compacts . • • • • • • • • 85 Treaties with Canada • • • • • • 85 Discussion of Flathead Drainage in Canada • 86 VI INVOLVEMENT OF OTHERS (prior to hearing) 90 Public Involvement 90 State Involvement • . 92 Interagency Involvement • . 93 Elected Official Involvement 93 VII ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES 94 VIII HEARING ANALYSIS AND PROPOSAL RESPONSE • 115 Hearing • • • . • • • • • • •• 115 Response to Proposal • • 115 Evaluation of Response . • 118 IX RECOMMENDATIONS • • • . 120 X ACTION PLAN . • • • • 122 Administration • . 122 Private Land Considerations . 122 Management Guidelines • • • • • • • • . 123 Management Guidelines for Portions Proposed as Wild . · · • • • • · • • . 124 Management Guidelines for Portion Proposed as Scenic . • • 127 Management Guidelines for Portions Proposed as Recreational • • • • • • • • • • • 133 Development of Facilities and Access • • • . • 139 Estimated Program Costs, First Five Years • • • • 140 Outside Area Considerations • • . • • • • . • • • • 142 iii XI APPENDIX Appendix Number Page River Boundary Location (maps) • • • • • • 1 1-19 Economic Analysis of Smoky Range and Spruce Park . _ . 2 1, 2 Potential Water Resource Development Projects Outside the Immediate Study River Area, but Within the Regional Zone of Influence 3 1, 2 Size Classes of Timber Shown in Acres (chart) . • • • • . • . • . 4 1 Daily Mean Temperatures (graphs) • 5 1 Monthly Mean Discharge (graphs) 5 2 River Gradient Profiles (graphs) • • • • . 5 3 River Cross Section • • • • . 5 4 Water Quality Analysis Data 5 5 Precipitation Charts • . • • . • • . 5 6 Summary of the Physical Features That Affect Fish Habitat . • . • . •.. 6 1 Soils of the Flathead Rivers • 7 1, 2 General Landform Map • • . 7 3 Recreation Site (map) 8 1 List of Cooperating State and Federal Agencies • • • • . 9 1 Bibliography • • . • . • • • • • • 10 1-3 Literature Reviewed 10 3-7 Summary of Public Comments to Draft Environmental Statement 11 1 State and Federal Comments • • • • . 11 1-13 Public Law 90-542 (National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act) and amendments thereto 12 1-26 List of Figures Used in Text Figure Number 1 River Classification (map) • 8 2 River Location (map) . • • • 10 3 Regional Zone of Influence • 12 4 Hydroelectric Power Resources 18 5 Big Game Winter Range 42 5(A) Relationship of Bob Marshall Wilderness, proposed Wild and Scenic River, and potential wilderness areas . 56 6 Existing Transportation • . • • 70 7 Flathead River Drainage in Canada 87 8 Choice 2 • 99 9 Choice 3 . 104 10 Choice 4 105 11 Choice 5 . • • • 107 12 Environmental Quality ..•. • 112 13 Local and Regional Economic and Social Improvement (Regional Development) . 113 14 Enhancement of Hational Economic Objectives (National Development) . • . • . • . 114 iv l1iddle Fork Flathead River near Spruce Creek 1 I INTRODUCTION The National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-542) directs that the Department of Agriculture study 219 miles of the Flathead River system " ... to determine whether it should be included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System." This study report is in compliance \vith that direction. The objectives of the study were: 1. Determine if the Flathead River or portions thereof qualify for inclusion into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 2. Determine if the Flathead River or portions thereof should be included in the System (this involves a determination of best use). 3. If yes, a. establish a River Management Zone and classify segments (wild, scenic, or recreational). b. prepare a development plan, acquisition plan, and management plan. c. identify outside area problems and opportunities which may be created or foreclosed. The study of the river began in July of 1970 with the USDA, Forest Service, in the lead role as the coordinating agency. Under a provision of the Act, the Governor was given the right to jointly lead in the study. The Governor of Montana chose to cooperate with the Forest Service rather than jointly lead the study. In addition to State and Federal agencies interested individuals , organizations, and a 10-member public advisory committee cooperated in the Flathead River Study. Canoeing on the North Fork 2 II SUMMARY OF STUDY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS Wild and Scenic River Qualifications Study rivers must meet certain criteria established by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in order to be considered for inclusion in the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Criteria include a determination of (1) free-flowing status, (2) the presence of high quality water, and (3) the fact that the river, with its immediate environment, possesses outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values. It has been determined that the study portions of the Flathead River meet these criteria. Considerations of Best Use Use to the Present: Road (and railroad) construction and subdivision of private land are the two activities having the greatest impact on · river values within the study area. In many instances roads have not been detrimental. While roads ~ave not precluded Wild and Scenic Rivers consideration, they have materially reduced the alternatives for possible classification; i.e., wild, scenic, or recreational. In the case of the lower Middle Fork, roads have substantially altered the character of the shoreline. Subdivision of private land has been minor in the past but is steadily increasing. Little regard has been given to the need to protect river values. Small lots adjacent to the river have been sold with no provision for vegetative screening, minimum set-back distance from water's edge, minimum lot size, or building codes. This trend in use is resulting in losses to the scenic quality of the river environment. The greatest use of the river area