The Flathead watershed has been radically altered by hydropower and other land uses. With the construction of Hungry Horse, Bigfork and Kerr dams, the Flathead River system has been divided into isolated populations. The biological effects have become apparent relatively recently.  Many streams in the drainage have become remarkably unstable during the last two decades. Past legal and illegal species introductions are causing problems for the remaining ecosystems.  In the drainage, native bull trout are a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act and westslope cutthroat have been designated by the state as a species of special concern.  This project fosters mitigation to offset the impacts of hydroelectric power to 72 miles of the South Fork of the Flathead River and its tributaries upstream of Hungry Horse Dam.  Key subbasins within the Flathead drainage, which are critical to native species restoration, are experiencing a rapidly progressing change in land ownership and management patterns.  Subdivision and residential development of agricultural and timber lands adjacent to waterways in the drainage pose one of the greatest threats to weak but recoverable stocks of trout species.  Plum Creek Timber Company, a major landholder in the Flathead drainage is currently divesting itself of large tracks of its lakeshore and streamside holdings basin-wide.  Growth of small tract development throughout the area and its tributaries is occurring at a record rate. Immediate to short-term action is required to protect stream and riparian corridors through many of these areas if cost-effective recovery efforts are to be implemented.  

In order to properly address the issues above, other segments of society and other (non-BPA) funding sources must be incorporated into the solution.  A watershed coordinator helps to initiate and facilitate efforts for addressing the issues mentioned above and pulling together a plan for mitigation.  If recovery of the fisheries and wildlife resources is to be successful in the drainage, local involvement is going to provide the greatest chance for success.  Without local support it is unlikely that local governments and individual citizens are going to allow government initiatives to be implemented.  This program fosters "grass roots" public involvement and interagency cooperation to achieve this goal both efficiently and cost effectively.  

This project results in a coordinated effort toward addressing resource concerns and limiting factors within the Flathead River basin from a watershed perspective.  Pilot projects and all other restoration or enhancement projects coordinated under this project will help address the fisheries and wildlife losses caused by Hungry Horse Dam construction and operation.  This project coordinates agencies, landowners, funding sources, and contractors to facilitate on-the-ground actions which benefit resident fish and wildlife.  This project is a crucial first step to implementing on-the-ground habitat improvement and protection measures that help address the following biological objectives as described in the subbasin plan:

1. Improve channel stability…
2. Restore passage/connectivity…
3. Restore habitat diversity…
4. Improve riparian condition…
5. Improve shoreline condition…
6. Protect Class I watersheds…
7. Reduce fine sediments…
8. Reduce lake pollutants…
9. Reduce overgrazing…
10. Reduce rate of land conversion..
11. Restore forest communities…
12. Restore grassland/shrubland communities…
13. Restore hydrograph…

This project accomplishes these tasks by involving landowners, identifying cost-share, involving multiple agencies and/or groups, managing contracts, etc., all necessary components of bringing on-the-ground projects to fruition.  

Past accomplishments of this project include, but are not limited to the following:

• The watershed coordinator has attended, facilitated and/or participated in numerous inter-agency, inter-governmental, watershed group meetings in order to share information and prevent duplication.
• This project has been instrumental in receiving over $1 million in grant dollars and cost share to implement on-the-ground projects.
• This project has worked with numerous landowners, lessees, etc to identify potential projects and implement those projects with sister BPA funded projects as well as other funding sources.
• This project has been instrumental in the initiation and completion of many projects throughout the watershed including multiple riparian fencing, off-channel stock water, fish screens, irrigation efficiency, and stream bank stabilization projects as well as revegetation, road obliteration culvert removal and instream pond removal projects.
• This project has finalized numerous MOAs with private landowners, leasees, and grazing associations to implement stream restoration & on-the-ground restoration and enhancement projects.

This program specifically fulfills the watershed approach and watershed coordination specified in the Fish and Wildlife Program and in the Flathead River Subbasin Plan.  This program also complements ongoing BPA programs.  This program and the watershed coordinator promote local plans which have the best chance to be implemented successfully and are likely to be the most cost-effective long term alternatives for native species recovery, particularly in the light of current anti-government sentiments of the localcommunity.  The Flathead Model Watershed Project is therefore an integral part of on-going mitigation in the Flathead Subbasin.

This project complements other projects such as Secure and Restore Critical Resident Fish Habitat (200200300), Hungry Horse Mitigation/Habitat Improvements (9101903), Hungry Horse Fisheries Mitigation-Flathead Lake Monitoring (9101901), Hungry Horse Mitigation (9101904) and its sister project in the Kootenai River system (9608702).  This project also assists with the implementation of projects implemented with Tribal dollars.  This project coordinates the efforts of these other projects through coordinating with landowners, other agencies and funding sources, contractors, etc.  Projects in the Jocko River, Dayton Creek, Mission/Post Creek, and Valley Creek drainages are planned for this coming year.  Projects include road obliteration, culvert removal, stockwater development, riparian exclosure, etc.