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Big Hole River Foundation
P.O. Box 3894
Butte, Montana 59702

phone: 1-866-533-BHRF

Grayling Status

Big Hole River Fluvial Arctic Grayling Population Survey 2003

Fluvial Arctic Grayling Work Group Annual Report

Big Hole Spring Pre-Spawning surveys were conducted in the spring of 2003. A total of 43 adult grayling were captured, this is fewer than normal. Of the 43 captured, 76% were spawning age fish (age 3+). This survey indicates that our mature grayling population is very low.

Due to low numbers in the core grayling area, Wisdom reach, monitoring efforts were expanded in 2003. An expanded, stratified sample was developed and included; 29 tributaries, of those, 10 were sampled by snorkeling or electrofishing.

The survey indicates that we have a much stronger age class in 2003 than we have seen in recent years. There were larger numbers of little grayling (young of the year, YOY) in the Wisdom sampling reach, as well as tributaries. In general, the surveys found good numbers of YOY, but low numbers of older fish. However, the McDowell section used to have high numbers of YOY, and this section is now producing very low numbers of grayling. Increased numbers of grayling in the monitoring reaches, are attributable to increases in YOYs.

The outlook for this year is not promising. Flow conditions in 2004 during grayling spawning (early May) were dismal at best with flows approximately 5 % of average for the period of record. Pre-spawning surveys were cut short due to poor instream flow conditions. The outlook for spawning success this year is poor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2004 ANNUAL GRAYLING REPORT

PROGRESS REPORT ON RUBY RIVER GRAYLING

FINAL DRAFT OF ARCTIC GRAYLING CCAA RECOVERY PLAN

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR CCAA

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR CCAA APPENDICIES

BHRF COMMENTS ON CCAA DOCUMENT 1-06