Trout Creek biological assessment: 2001

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This report is a compilation of historic information, the outcome of a Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) assessment, and the results from biological assessments of Trout Creek, Boundary County, Idaho. Located within the Northern Rocky Mountain physiographic province, Trout Creek is part of the lower portion of the Kootenai River subbasin and one of many tributaries flowing into the lower mainstem Kootenai River in Idaho. The upper portion of Trout Creek has historically been managed for timber production and harvest. The lower 2.1 km of Trout Creek consists of a split channel that runs through private land and The Nature Conservancy’s Ball Creek Preserve. Trout Creek historically supported a healthy fishery that was an important contribution to the Kootenai River ecosystem. Habitat alterations have resulted in a loss of aquatic and riparian resources that not only affect human intrinsic values but also decrease the economic value and usefulness of property. The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho (in conjunction with multiple resource agency and landowner partnerships) is proposing a project that could effectively restore the historic conditions in Trout Creek through aquatic and riparian restoration and rehabilitation while maintaining economic benefits of the property. This multi-phase project has incorporated a Proper Functioning Condition Assessment of basic physical parameters, a baseline assessment of biological parameters, and is proposing physical restoration activities such as re-vegetation and grazing management and a monitoring component that would provide information about the effects of rehabilitation activities. The bioassessment and historic data gathering portions of this project have provided necessary baseline information about the biological and physical status of Trout Creek. Data about fish, macroinvertebrates, periphyton, water quality, and productivity were collected along the main stem of Trout Creek, during spring and fall 2001. Trout Creek is distinctly divided into three geomorphological sections: 1) an upper forested (high-gradient) reach, 2) a transition reach between upper forested and flood plain habitat, and 3) a flood plain reach. The upper forested reach is presently at high functioning condition, supporting healthy populations of westslope cutthroat trout as well as abundant macroinvertebrate and periphyton assemblages. Due to removal of natural in-stream structures, the transition reach is physically unstable. However, this section supports fairly diverse fish, macroinvertebrate, and periphyton assemblages. The flood plain reach has been altered significantly by vegetation removal, cattle grazing, and stream channel incising. A grazing management plan coupled with re-establishment of riparian vegetation and woody debris are prescribed to help restore proper functioning condition to this section of the stream.

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ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology: Invertebrates [Note that one or more appendices are not included]

If needed for CSE citation style: Second author affiliation is Free Run Aquatic Research, Hayden, ID. Report prepared for: Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Portland, OR.

Possible Citation, CSE style : Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Fish and Wildlife Department; Kruse G (Free Run Aquatic Research, Hayden, ID). 2002 Mar. Trout Creek biological assessment: 2001. Prepared for Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Portland, OR. 64 p. Available at: http://www.krisweb.com/biblio/kootenai_bef_kootenaitribeetal_2001_troutc....