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

phone: 1-866-533-BHRF

Other Projects

Macroivertebrate (aquatic insects) surveys of the Big Hole were conducted in 2002. The survey work was conducted at the permanent reference reaches throughout the Big Hole basin and is the FIRST comprehensive invertebrate survey ever done. Macroinvertebrates are biological indicators of water quality and river health. The samples were analyzed later that winter. A full report in PDF format can be downloaded via the following link:
MacroInvertibrate-Based Assessment of The Big Hole River, Montana. (August 2002)

The radio telemetry study for grayling was conducted in 2001 and 2002. Transmitters were implanted in 15 grayling. The grayling were tracked throughout the season on a weekly basis. Grayling exhibited extreme mobility with movements over 60 miles. The purpose of the study was to gain understanding of grayling behavior during low flows, higher temperatures and drought. The study was successful in documenting important low flow habitat and tributaries with high concentrations of grayling.

Hazardous Materials - The BHR, County Government and the EPA have produced an emergency response plan for spills or contamination of the river by the railroad or road. Also a trailer with materials to contain a spill in a centralized location so local fire departments could act to contain the mess was put into place. BHRF continues to monitor a possible superfund site near Maiden Rock.

Origin labeled grass-fed beef market development - The BHRF recognizes that improvement in the return watershed ranchers receive for their product may make it possible for greater voluntarism and win-win situations that lead to greater conservation of water resources. The BHRF wants to begin an exploration of the possibilities for this development in the watershed. The BHRF with NCAT is holding an open forum on April 6th to touch base with all on-going and proposed projects related to grass-fed livestock production. After that meeting, some further next steps will be outlined.

USFWS Cooperative Agreement - This project is coordinated by the BHWC and has consists of two major activities. First, to undertake studies of water storage alternatives, management practices other then water storage to improve water flows and a study of upland vegetative cover changes and its relation to stream flows. Second, to fund habitat restoration projects on the Big Hole to improve Arctic grayling populations and improve general fishery and riparian health. Part of this funding also provided support for the development of a flood plain map. Resources have been committed to a set of specific restoration projects beginning this spring of 2005. Habitat restoration group meets on a fairly regular basis to continue to allocated support for habitat restoration from this funding source. BHRF is a member of the Habitat restoration group.

Upper Basin Modeling and Water Budget Study is being conducted in cooperation with the Bureau of Mines and Geology and MT Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. This research effort is a continuation of the Return Flow Research Project (Hydrology of the Big Hole Basin and Assessment of the effects of irrigation on the hydrologic budget, Marvin, Voeller. Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Open File Report 417. Dec. 2000) that developed a ground and surface water map of the Big Hole basin. The focus of the current investigation is to establish a water budget (where water comes into the system and where it leaves) for the upper basin and create a computer model for estimating flow regimes under different precipitation, snow pack and irrigation scenarios. The model will assist in determining what types of water quantity projects may prove most beneficial for maintaining flows. Current work seems to have slowed due to funding issues.

Water Chemistry Studies have been advancing in cooperation with MT Tech graduate students and Dr. Chris Gammons. Collecting water chemistry data has three main purposes 1) to determine current water health 2) to track water quality trends over time and 3) to determine meeting state and federal standards for water use and the TMDL (water quality management) planning process.

Diurnal and longitudinal variations in water quality on the Big Hole River and tributaries during the drought of August 2000, Gammons, Ridenour, Wenz - locations as township, range section. Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Open File Report 424. May 2001.

A chemical survey of irrigation and return flow waters in the Big Hole river basin of Southwest Montana, May 1999 Phillip. Thesis of MT Tech.

A seasonal and spatial chemical study of the Big Hole River, Southwest Montana, May 2002 Ridenour. Thesis of MT Tech.

Metals Study by Wenz and Gammons. The metals project is a good reliable data set and shows no significant contamination (beyond EPA standards). MN and FE levels approach the secondary contaminant in the upper basin which could be coming from ground water and natural but this is uncertain.

Conservation Partnership Initiative

Status: The BHRF led the development of an 18 month planning grant whose over all objective is to facilitate federal, state, and non-profit entities to plan for improved fishery habitat (in particular for improved Arctic grayling populations), riparian functioning and productive and profitable ranching industry in the Big Hole River watershed. The project has four major components: improved understanding of how to educate for and implement grazing conservation practices, an improved scientific and public understanding of Arctic grayling population decline, improved understanding of how to improve irrigation efficiency and to prioritize and identify habitat (riparian and fishery) restoration projects.

Next Steps: Arctic grayling symposium planning has begun. Date of August 22-27, 2005 has been set for both a public and scientific forum. First meeting planned on inventory work to assist with understanding the magnitude of future changes and CCAA implementation. Need to survey ranching community to help organize educational program(s) for assisting CCAA participants in implementation of conservation plans.

Expected resource needs to accomplish next steps: Funds for this work are set until July 2006.