HR: 1330h
AN: NB33M-06 [Abstracts]
TI: Bear Valley Creek, Idaho Mining Enhancement: Fifteen Years Later
AU: * Ray, H L
EM: hray@shoshonebannocktribes.com
AF: Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Fisheries and Wildlife Department PO Box 306, Fort Hall, ID 83203 United States
AU: Bacon, K L
EM: kbacon@shoshonebannocktribes.com
AF: Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Fisheries and Wildlife Department PO Box 306, Fort Hall, ID 83203 United States
AU: Wadsworth, P R
AF: Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Fisheries and Wildlife Department PO Box 306, Fort Hall, ID 83203 United States
AB:
In 1988-89 an enhancement effort was initiated by the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and Bonneville Power Administration in a mined
section of Bear Valley Creek, Idaho. Monitoring and evaluation conducted between 1984 and 2004 above, within, and below the
enhancement area included; changes in densities of non-anadromous salmonids, natural production of Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, recovery of the macroinvertebrates, changes in surface and benthic sediment, and visual vegetation progression. Mean densities of non-anadromous salmonids in pools showed a significant increase from pre to post enhancement within and below the enhancement area. Chinook salmon parr numbers were significantly related to the number of redds the
previous year. Preliminary results indicate that the macroinvertebrate community within the enhancement area may be
recovering. Percent surface fine sediment decreased significantly from pre to post enhancement within and below the
enhancement area. Trends in cumulative percent benthic fine sediment were similar above within and below the enhancement area indicating no new additional incorporation of fine sediment to the benthos. Photo point monitoring in 1989 and 2004 shows
progression of vegetation development within the enhancement area with good cover achieved. Long term monitoring of Bear
Valley Creek indicates recovery from the mining impact and successful enhancement effort.
DE: 1815 Erosion and sedimentation
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly