In-stream flow restoration in action

O'Brien Creek is an important tributary of the Bitterroot River, located just outside of Missoula near Blue Mountain.  The O'Brien Creek watershed is an area of about 25 square miles (16,200 acres) and contains important native fish habitat and spawning grounds.  The Coalition leases the senior water right on O'Brien Creek, and protects it instream for fisheries.  Each summer, we place up-to-date stream flow information on our website to help water users monitor the creek levels.  Visit the O'Brien Creek monitoring page or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any questions.

O'Brien Creek: USFWS Proposed Critical Habitat for Bull Trout

The O'Brien watershed encompasses an area of approximately 25 square miles (16,200 acres) and is located about 4 miles west of Missoula, near Blue Mountain. Watershed ownership is primarily National Forest, with the lower 3 miles surrounded by private ownership. O’Brien Creek is an important stream for native Westslope Cutthroat Trout spawning and rearing, and is also designated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as Proposed Critical Bull Trout Habitat.  The bull trout is listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

The Clark Fork Coalition leases the senior water right on O'Brien Creek and protects it instream for fisheries.  If you are a resident in lower O'Brien Creek, and you do not have a water right, then you should not be using O'Brien Creek water.  Don't know if you have a water right?  Call Andy Fischer for assistance at 542-0539 OR search the DNRC website.

Learn more about how the CFC is adding water to streams across the Clark Fork basin at our Working with Water webpage.

August 2012 Update

I've received a 'call for water.'  What exactly does that mean?

2012 Streamflow and Call Levels on O'Brien Creek

Historic (2007-2011) Streamflow and Call Levels on O'Brien Creek

Water Right Holder List, Groups, and Information

Background:

• Fisheries: Native fisheries habitat (Westslope Cutthroat Trout resident habitat & Bull Trout incidental / historic habitat)
• Impacts: The lower 3 miles of developed landscape has created a number of conditions that have negatively affected fish populations. Instream habitat complexity has been severely compromised due to:

- Channel straightening

- Removal of large woody debris

- Low flows during spawning seasons

• Status: The lower 1.5 miles is listed by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks as a chronically dewatered stream, one in which dewatering is a significant problem in virtually all years.

Our Work:

• A total of 3.35 cubic feet per second of water is protected in O'Brien Creek.
• The Coalition monitors streamflow and water quality at three locations on O'Brien Creek.

Streamflow Restoration on O'Brien Creek

Project Details

(corresponding to numbered map locations)

1 - O'Brien Creek, Upper:

Duration:  6 Years (2003 - present)

Flow Rate Protected:  None, Monitoring for Baseline Information

Location: 3 miles upstream from confluence with the Bitterroot River

Value:  This monitoring point is upstream from all irrigation diversions and developed land, giving a picture of relatively unaltered conditions of O'Brien Creek.

2 - O'Brien Creek, Middle:

Duration:  10 Years  (2003 - 2013)

Flow Rate Protected:  3.35 Cubic Feet per Second

Location:  1.5 miles upstream from confluence with the Bitterroot River

Value:  This monitoring point is near the historic point of diversion of the Coalition’s leased water right.  This is the point where we can ‘make call’ or protect the historically diverted streamflow amount in O’Brien Creek.

3 - O'Brien Creek Lower/Mouth:

Duration:  6 Years (2003 - present)

Flow Rate Protected:  End of protected reach for 3.35 cubic feet per second water right

Location: At the mouth of O'Brien Creek and the Bitterroot River

Value:  This monitoring point is at the end of the ‘protected reach' for instream flow lease.  The 3.35 cfs of water is protected to this point.

We have installed an automated gage near Blue Mountain Road that records stream height every 30 minutes.  We take manual streamflow measurements to calibrate this gage to estimate streamflow.  The graphs below show the average daily streamflow as recorded by our automated gage.  We plan to update this data weekly during low flow periods.

The Coalition updated the streamflow measurement data on the Coalition’s website nearly every week in 2011.  We're happy to report that we had almost 300 views of that specific page.  It’s wonderful to see how engaged and interested the community is in their water resources and fisheries.

We welcome feedback to help with future water management in the watershed and to assist folks with water conservation practices.  These practices include the planting of more drought tolerant and fire resistant vegetation or installation of rain barrels to decrease water reliance on O’Brien Creek.  We'd be happy to assist in pursuing these options if you are interested and  may be able to help with both funding of buying the plants as well as organizing volunteers to help with installation and plantings.  If you have any questions, contact Andy at 542-0539 x210 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .