Watershed Restoration Coalition Of The Upper Clark Fork

THE WATERSHED RESTORATION COALITION OF THE UPPER CLARK FORK WILL UPGRADE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AT RACETRACK LAKE DAM, A HIGH-ALTITUDE ALPINE LAKE IN THE UPPER CLARK FORK RIVER BASIN IN WESTERN MONTANA. RACETRACK LAKE AND CREEK SUPPORT ABUNDANT WILDLIFE, A DIVERSE FISHERY OF NATIVE AND WILD AQUATIC SPECIES, AND AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS IN THE DEER LODGE VALLEY. THE CURRENT DAM HEADGATE AND ASSOCIATED CONTROL SYSTEMS LIMIT ACCURATE CONTROL OF RELEASES FROM THE LAKE, OFTEN LEADING TO COMPLETE DEWATERING OF THE LOWER REACHES OF RACETRACK CREEK, CRITICALLY STRESSING RIPARIAN AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS. BY UPGRADING THE OUTLET GATE AND AUTOMATING MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEMS, THE COALITION WILL ENABLE EFFICIENT, RELIABLE, AND STABLE INSTREAM FLOWS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, IMPROVING ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN THE CREEK, AND SUPPORTING DOWNSTREAM AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS. RACETRACK CREEK IS A PRIORITY 1 WATERSHED UNDER MONTANAS 2024 UPPER CLARK FORK RIVER BASIN AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL RESOURCES RESTORATION PLAN AND THE 2018 PRIORITIZATION OF AREAS IN THE UPPER CLARK FORK RIVER BASIN FOR FISHERY ENHANCEMENT.

THE UPPER CLARK FORK RIVER STREAMFLOW GROUP, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WATERSHED RESTORATION COALITION, WILL ADDRESS WATER USE CHALLENGES IN THE UPPER CLARK FORK RIVER WATERSHED, IN WESTERN MONTANA. THE GROUP WILL COLLABORATIVELY IDENTIFYING PRIORITIES FOR FLOW RESTORATION AND SOLUTIONS TO CHRONIC DEWATERING BY EXPANDING GROUP ENGAGEMENT, CREATING A MATRIX OF PROPOSED FLOW RESTORATION PRIORITIES, AND DRAFTING A FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE GROUP. DUE TO AN INCREASE IN FREQUENCY, SEVERITY, AND INTENSITY OF DROUGHT AND OVER-APPROPRIATION OF WATER RIGHTS, THE UPPER CLARK FORK IS THE SITE OF FREQUENT FISH KILLS DUE TO POOR WATER QUALITY AND CHRONIC STREAM DEWATERING. THE GROUPS PLANNING EFFORTS WILL FOCUS ON DIRECT THREATS TO AQUATIC RESOURCES, LIVELIHOODS, COMMUNITY WELL-BEING, AND TRIBAL INTERESTS. PARTICIPANTS IN THIS GROUP INCLUDE PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND IRRIGATORS IN THE DEER LODGE VALLEY, THE WATERSHED RESTORATION COALITION, CLARK FORK COALITION, TROUT UNLIMITED, THE CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES, MONTANA STATE AGENCIES, THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, MONTANA TECH, AND THE ATLANTIC RICHFIELD CORPORATION.