The Coalition implements a monitoring and evaluation plan to measure the effectiveness of each streamflow restoration project. The three-part monitoring program assesses the biologic, hydrologic, and social impacts of each streamflow restoration project, enabling us to a.) ensure that the agreed upon water is in the stream, b.) demonstrate the benefits of increased streamflows, and c.) evaluate the social and economic impacts of our work by meeting individually with participating landowners and partner groups to get their feedback and suggestions for improvement. Our projects are evaluated not only on the results of the monitoring program, but also on the number of relationships developed and outreach efforts utilized with water users in the project area. Success is also be defined by generating interest in streamflow restoration, and by developing additional instream flow water leases.
Our monitoring program has arisen from Montana's unique circumstances for water rights transactions. Measuring and monitoring streamflows, assessing biological impacts, and enforcing our water rights rests solely on the Coalition whereas in other northwestern states, state agencies share in these responsibilities. As a result, we've developed a full-service grassroots approach to water transactions and are a model for other small groups operating under similar circumstances with limited resources.
Biologic Monitoring
The biologic monitoring program assesses the biological response of instream flow transactions. Biological assessment techniques provide an overview of the aquatic health of the ecosystem. The equipment and methodologies we currently implement are described below.
Macroinvertebrate Sampling:
In 2008 MWT began sampling benthic macroinvertebrates in our project streams. Benthic macroinvertebrates are animals without backbones that are larger than 1/2 millimeter and are a primary food source for fish. Macroinvertebrates are good indicators of stream health, providing a direct measure of the status and functioning of the overall integrity of the stream. Their limited migration patterns also make them good indicators of localized, site-specific impacts. Staff members collect macroinvertebrates from the stream in a net and then sort them, with the help of volunteers, to assess the ecological condition of the stream.
Fish Shocking:
Fish shocking is a technique used to survey fish populations and species in stream sections. Fish shocking has been conducted on a few project streams in collaboration with biologists from either the MT Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks or U.S Forest Service to gather baseline data and measure the success of our instream flow transactions. Fish are sampled by temporarily stunning them with an electrical current that is passed through the water. The stunned fish are held in a bucket and are measured, size relates to age, and identified once the entire stream sampling reach has been shocked. The fish are then released back to the stream unharmed. Fish shocking also yields fish-per-mile population estimates and it is possible to compare population estimates over time by sampling the same stream reach during the same season in different years.
Underwater Census-Snorkeling:
This assessment is an underwater census that measures fish populations by snorkeling a selected reach to produce cost-effective, non-invasive results. The Coalition staff has received snorkel training from experienced professionals. The design of the snorkel methodology depends on the objectives of each transaction and is project specific.
Hydrologic Monitoring
Our hydrologic monitoring program is essential to our work because it ensures that our contracted water is instream, and enables us to assess the benefits of increased flows. During irrigation season, from April to October each year, Coalition staff conducts weekly hydrologic and biologic monitoring of of each project site. The various techniques and equipment we use are described below, and are site specific.
Discharge Measurements:
We use a Marsh-McBirney or Pygmy brand flow meter to take discharge measurements throughout the irrigation season. These manual flow meters measure the amount of water flowing down the project stream or diversion ditch. We establish strategic cross-sections for all water transactions to measure the delivery of the agreed upon water. Discharge measurements follow USGS protocol for open channel flow measurements.
Staff Gauge Installation:
For long-term instream flow transactions, we install manually-read staff gages on project streams. Stage discharge rating curves are developed for each gage location using a minimum of three discharge measurements. Stage-discharge relation (rating curve) is obtained from stage readings from the staff gage plotted against the measurements of discharge using a current meter over a range of varying gage heights at the gauged site.
Automated Monitoring Instruments:
With the help of automated monitoring instruments, such as TruTracks or Aquarods, we have been able to expand our monitoring network without over-extending our resources. These instruments are installed in our more remote project streams by Coalition staff and remain in the stream, taking continuous water level and temperature measurements. We download data from the instruments monthly, rather than manually measuring streamflows bi-weekly, and use the data to derive streamflow and track changes over time.
Wetted Perimeter:
Wetted Perimeter is a method developed by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks for setting biologic minimum flows to support healthy populations of fish. Reaching these recommended flows also ensures adequate pool and riffle habitat, which are critical for spawning and feeding. Coalition staff has undergone Wetted Perimeter training and by adopting this method, we will be able to refine our flow targets to the amount of water required instream, and then seek out water to address flow deficits.
Water Quality:
In 2008, the Montana Water Trust (now part of the Clark Fork Coalition) began monitoring for water quality on our project streams. We use a muliparameter water quality tester to sample temperature, pH, ORP (oxidation reduction potential), SC (specific conductivity), DO (dissolved oxygen), and TDS (total dissolved solids). Water quality is an important piece of the fishery health puzzle and will help to guide the Coalition's flow augmentation efforts to focus on supplementing streamflow with clean water. For our present projects, we use this instrument to verify that our water is of the desired quality. For new projects, we will gauge whether the water is, aside from volume, going to improve the receiving stream. The Coalition will also be able to track changes in water quality over time and investigate any large observed changes.
