North Burnt Fork, MGY Ranch

Restoration of streamside habitat

Location

North Burnt Fork Creek

Goals

Return North Burnt Fork Creek to a natural, functioning relationship with surrounding land, Minimize streamside erosion in the project area, Provide adequate water levels for native streamside plants and fish to thrive, and Maintain sufficient livestock water access to the creek while minimizing negative impacts

Reasoning

This section of stream suffers from extensive bank erosion and lacks abundant native vegetation along its banks. In some areas, the stream is 6 feet below its historical floodplain (or its natural connection with surrounding land). One of the primary causes is a lack of native vegetation that would reduce erosion of silt into the stream. This natural vegetation would also provide shade, preventing harmfully warm water temperatures.

Project Description

The Bitterroot Water Partnership and MGY Ranch are coordinating a restoration project along North Burnt Fork Creek, just south of Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. BWP will work with the landowner and contractors to reconnect North Burnt Fork creek to its underground floodplain. Reconnecting the floodplain will raise water levels to provide cooler, deeper pools for fish; support replanting of native plants to minimize erosion; and provide areas for the creek to deposit sediment along the floodplain rather than downstream into the Bitterroot. This project will improve fish and wildlife habitat along the creek while maintaining sufficient water access for livestock.

Specific Objectives:
– Return the creek to a natural relationship with surrounding land: meaning it is connected with the surrounding landscape, rather than streaming up to 6 feet below the land level, disrupting natural functions
– Reduce erosion in and around the streamside, preserving surrounding land
– Provide adequate water levels and cool pools for native streamside plants and fish to thrive.
– Maintain livestock water access to the creek while minimizing their detrimental impacts to the fragile habitat

Benefits:
– Prevent roughly 74 tons of sediment from polluting the stream each year.
– Restore 2 acres of critical streamside habitat for fish, wildlife, and the landowner
– Continued improvement of native fish habitat in a priority stream, building upon success of BWP and other organizations’ restoration efforts in the creek.

Timeline

2025 – 2026

Partners

Supported by Trout Unlimited

Cost

Approximately $90,000