Glacier National Park Fisheries Inventory and Monitoring Program Report 2013

Downs, Christopher; Muhn, Nathan; Mckeon, Brian

Annual report of activities from the fisheries program, including aquatic invasive species, at Glacier NP for 2013. In 2009, Glacier National Park (GNP) began development of a monitoring program for native salmonids inhabiting park streams. The intent of the program is to establish baseline abundance levels in key streams that will serve as useful benchmarks for monitoring changes in populations over time. We continued this work through 2013, conducting sampling in 13 streams. Many of the streams also support amphibians, such as tailed frogs Ascaphus truei and spotted frogs Rana pretiosa. We noted presence or absence along with relative abundance of amphibians in our surveys. These data will prove useful in evaluating changes in distribution of these amphibians over time. Wild Creek (St. Mary tributary) supports one of the only remaining genetically pure wct populations on the east side of the park, yet maintains seasonal connectivity to the mainstem St. Mary River. In general, the largest threat currently facing migratory native fish species on the east side of the park is the unscreened St. Mary River irrigation diversion near Babb, part of the Milk River Irrigation Project. The most significant threat to native fish on the west side of the park comes from invasive non-native species, such as rainbow and lake trout. Some culverts along the Camas Road on the west side of the park may be important isolating mechanisms, protecting genetically pure westslope cutthroat from downstream populations of rainbow trout. However, management and conservation of native fish in the North and Middle forks Flathead River remains complicated due to the presence of migratory and resident populations of native salmonids, and expanding distribution of non-native fish species. Additionally, research this year included testing and developing snorkeling techniques to monitor stream-dwelling fish. We snorkeled eight streams to evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, and efficiency of snorkeling compared to electrofishing. Smaller streams with greater habitat complexity (i.e. lots of large woody debris) were more difficult to effectively survey using snorkeling techniques than larger streams with lower habitat complexity. Streams such as upper McDonald Creek and the lower reaches of Akokala Creek appear well suited to snorkel surveys.

Glacier National Park Fisheries Inventory and Monitoring Program Report 2013

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