Flathead-Stillwater Watershed Restoration Plan August 2017 Prepared by: Sarah Bowman, BSWC Member Flathead Conservation District 133 Interstate Lane Kalispell, MT 59901 406-752-4220 www.flatheadcd.org Acknowledgements Thank you to the following people for editing this document and providing development guidance: Valerie Kurth – Flathead Conservation District Dean Sirucek – Flathead Conservation District Eric Trum – Department of Environmental Quality Ethan Kunard – Madison Conservation District Samantha Tappenbeck – Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Montana Jessica Makus – Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Montana Ann McCauley – Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Montana Elena Evans – Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Montana Lori Curtis – Whitefish Lake Institute Additional thanks to the Flathead Basin Commission for writing section 4.3.2 on Wastewater Management. Lastly, a big thank you goes out to every organization within the Flathead‐Stillwater watershed who provided input throughout the entire process. Table of Contents List of Acronyms………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. vii Executive Summary…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. viii Section 1: Introduction 1.1 What is a Watershed Restoration Plan?....................................................................... 1 1.2 What is an Impaired Stream and What is a TMDL?...................................................... 2 1.3 What is the Purpose of the WRP?................................................................................. 3 1.4 Who is the Flathead Conservation District?.................................................................. 4 1.5 Who else is involved?.................................................................................................... 4 Section 2: Identifying the Watershed and its Impaired Waters………………………………………………….8 Section 3: Identifying Causes and Sources of NPS Pollution and Other Threats 3.1 Sediment Causes and Sources………………………………………………………………………………… 15 3.2 Temperature Causes and Sources…………………………………………………………………………… 16 3.3 Nutrient Causes and Sources………………………………………………………………………………….. 17 3.4 Non‐Pollutant Impairments……………………………………………………………………………………. 19 3.5 Other Water Quality Pollutants and Threats………………………………………………………….. 20 3.6 Permitted Point Sources of Pollution………………………………………………………………………. 21 3.7 Streams of Concern Pollution Causes and Sources………………………………………………….. 22 Section 4: Identifying Nonpoint Source Management Measures and Estimated Reductions 4.1 Estimated Reductions in Sediment, Nutrient, and Temperature Loading………………… 23 4.2 BMPs for NPS Pollution Reduction………………………………………………………………………….. 25 4.3 Conservation Management Measures to Address Non‐Listed Watershed Pollutants 4.3.1 AIS Management Measures……………………………………………………………………. 26 4.3.2 Wastewater Management……………………………………………………………………… 27 4.3.3 Protection of Healthy, Functioning Riparian Areas, Wetlands, and Floodplains……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 29 4.3.4 Noxious Weed Management………………………………………………………………….. 30 4.3.5 Channel Migration………………………………………………………………………………….. 31 Section 5: Identifying Technical and Financial Assistance Needed 5.1 Technical Partners…………………………………………………………………………………………………..32 5.2 Financial Assistance……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 33 Section 6: Developing an Information and Education Component…………………………………………..34 Section 7: Identifying and Implementing Restoration Projects 7.1 Implementation Plan……………………………………………………………………………………………… 36 7.2 NPS Management Problems, Project Histories, and Recommended Solutions by Stream 7.2.1 Ashley Creek…………………………………………………………………………………………… 38 7.2.2. Coal Creek……………………………………………………………………………………………… 41 7.2.3 Flathead River………………………………………………………………………………………… 45 iii 7.2.4 Haskill Creek…………………………………………………………………………………………… 48 7.2.5 Krause Creek………………………………………………………………………………………….. 51 7.2.6 Logan Creek……………………………………………………………………………………………. 55 7.2.7 Sheppard Creek……………………………………………………………………………………….57 7.2.8 Spring Creek…………………………………………………………………………………………… 59 7.2.9 Stillwater River……………………………………………………………………………………….. 60 7.2.10 Stoner Creek………………………………………………………………………………………….63 7.2.11 Lower Swan River…………………………………………………………………………………. 64 7.2.12 Swift Creek…………………………………………………………………………………………… 65 7.2.13 Trumbull Creek…………………………………………………………………………………….. 66 7.2.14 Whitefish River and Tributaries (Cow and Walker Creeks)……………………. 68 7.3 Implementation Schedule………………………………………………………………………………………. 71 Section 8: Evaluating Progress and Success 8.1 Criteria and Milestones for Measuring Progress…………………………………………………….. 75 8.2 Identifying a Monitoring Plan………………………………………………………………………………….80 Section 9: References………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 81 Section 10: Appendices……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 84 Appendix A: 319 Funded Projects Since 2002…………………………………………………………………………… 85 Appendix B: Best Management Practices…………………………………………………………………………………. 87 Appendix C: Action items from the 2016 Flathead Basin AIS Strategic Prevention Plan……………. 93 Appendix D: GIS Map of Potential Project Areas Based off of Aerial Analysis…………………………… 95 Appendix E: Example Landowner Letter…………………………………………………………………………………… 97 Appendix F: Example Community Input Meeting Agenda………………………………………………………… 98 Appendix G: Temperature Sampling Sites on Ashley Creek & Whitefish River…………………………..99 Appendix H: Examples of Streambank Restoration Techniques……………………………………………… 101 iv Tables and Figures Tables Table 1. Organizations committed to watershed restoration within the Flathead‐Stillwater watershed………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5 Table 2. Impairments and impaired uses of waterbodies in the Flathead‐Stillwater watershed on Montana DEQ’s list of impaired waters and additional streams of concern……………………………… 10 Table 3. Waterbodies in the Flathead‐Stillwater and Flathead Lake watersheds with pollutant impairments on the 2014 (and 2016) 303(d) list not addressed in this document……………………..20 Table 4. Estimate of nutrient load reductions from NPS pollution and natural backgrounds……. 23 Table 5. Estimate of temperature load reductions from NPS pollution…………………………………….. 23 Table 6. Estimate of sediment load reductions form NPS pollution………………………………………….. 24 Table 6.A. Potential project costs based on local contractor estimates……………………………………. 33 Table 7. Criteria for project prioritization…………………………………………………………………………………. 37 Table 8. Schedule of proposed or current projects within the Flathead‐Stillwater watershed….. 71 Table 9. Criteria indicators to measure progress toward meeting water quality targets…………… 75 Table 10. Short‐ and Long‐term milestones for determining progress in achieving water quality standards…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 77 Table 11. Possible monitoring techniques that could be used to measure effectiveness of projects and programs that address NPS pollution issues…………………………………………………………………………….. 80 Figures Figure 1. Montana DEQ’s Adaptive Water Quality Management process…………………………………… 2 Figure 2. The Crown of the Continent ecosystem………………………………………………………………………..3 Figure 3. Flathead watershed and subwatersheds……………………………………………………………………… 8 Figure 4. Locations of DEQ listed streams and other streams of concern…………………………………….9 Figure 5. Primary land cover of the Flathead‐Stillwater watershed……………………………………………11 Figure 6. Population density in persons/sq. mile in the Flathead‐Stillwater watershed……………. 12 Figure 7. Close‐up of Kalispell and surrounding area population density………………………………….. 13 Figure 8. Close‐up of Whitefish and Columbia Falls population density……………………………………. 14 Figure 9. Examples of BMPs to be used across the watershed to promote NPS pollution reduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..25 Figure 10. Riparian vegetation provides shade to the stream which helps keep temperatures cooler………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….25 Figure 11. Current locations of AIS Plant Species as of 2016…………………………………………………….. 26 Figure 12. Current locations of AIS Mollusk Species as of 2016………………………………………………… 26 Figure 13. Cover of the Flathead Basin AIS Prevention Strategy 2010………………………………………. 27 Figure 14. Leaking septic system in a residential yard………………………………………………………………. 27 Figure 15. River to Lake Initiative map of critical lands protected…………………………………………….. 29 Figure 15.A. Examples of educational activities………………………………………………………………………… 34 Figure 16. General Implementation Plan………………………………………………………………………………….. 36 Figure 17. Ashley Creek with three separate segments……………………………………………………………..38 Figure 18. Wetlands along Ashley Creek…………………………………………………………………………………… 39 Figure 19. Livestock fence installed along the ½ mile stream property to keep cows and other livestock out of the riparian area……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..39 Figure 20. Volunteers planting willow stakes into the ground with water jet stinger……………….. 40 v Figure 21. Small fenced area with bark mulch that provides weed protection and green tubes to eliminate vole damage……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 40 Figure 22. Coal Creek……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 41 Figure 23. Common stream bank condition in Coal Creek………………………………………………………… 42 Figure 24. Riparian zone burn from the Moose Fire (2001) in lower Coal Creek……………………….. 42 Figure 25. Coal Creek existing travel infrastructure (2016)……………………………………………………….. 43 Figure 26. Mainstem Flathead River…………………………………………………………………………………………. 45 Figure 27. Example of effect of fluctuating water technique