Native Fisheries Research and Monitoring in Glacier National Park, Montana: 2008 Summary Report

D'Angelo, Vincent; Muhlfeld, Clint

The Transboundary Flathead River basin in Montana (USA) and British Columbia (Canada) hosts one of the most diverse and unique aquatic ecosystems throughout North America. Migratory bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) and non‐hybridized westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi; WCT) migrate from Flathead Lake upstream to the Canadian headwaters to spawn and rear, representing some of the last remaining strongholds in the basin. However, proposed open‐pit coal mining and coalbed methane (CBM) drilling in the Canadian headwaters threaten water quality, invertebrate communities, and migratory fish populations downstream to Glacier National Park (GNP) and Flathead Lake. In response to these threats, a multi‐agency, long‐term research and monitoring program was initiated in 2005 to examine water and sediment chemistry, contaminant levels, aquatic habitat, and the distribution and genetic diversity of native fishes. In 2008, basin‐wide fisheries surveys were initiated and data were collected at 119 sites in Canada and GNP. A total of 62 reaches, distributed among 21 streams and 12 habitat patches were sampled from June‐September 2008 in GNP. WCT (N = 227) were widely distributed throughout the study area; WCT were detected in 47 reaches, 17 streams and 11 habitat patches. Bull trout (N = 13) were detected in 8 reaches, 6 streams and 4 habitat patches and were generally found in headwater streams in the Bowman and Kintla drainages. Bull trout and WCT occurred in sympatry in just one reach. Continuation of these collaborative investigations will provide necessary baseline data to inform conservation and management decisions impacting this diverse and sensitive transboundary system.

Native Fisheries Research and Monitoring in Glacier National Park, Montana: 2008 Summary Report

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