BLM Wyoming Grant: Upper Muddy Creek Watershed Improvement Project

A. Legislative Authority: Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-579)

B. Project Background Information:
Populations of Colorado River cutthroat trout, flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker, and roundtail chub historically occupied portions of upper Muddy Creek watershed in southern Carbon County, Wyoming. These once viable populations have experienced population declines and are now classified as BLM sensitive fish species (BLM Sensitive Species Policy and (6840) List 2002). The cause of these population declines has been attributed to habitat loss (e.g., barriers to movement), angling harvest, and the introduction of non-native fish species.

The BLM, along with the WGFD and USFS have been actively involved in the development and implementation of conservation plans for Colorado River cutthroat trout, bluehead sucker, flannelmouth sucker, and roundtail chub. These plans lay out the process by which stream habitat in the upper Muddy Creek watershed will be improved in order to allow populations of sensitive fish species to persist in this drainage.

C. Project Objective:
Improper sizing and placement of an existing culvert at a road crossing has led to vertical stream instability of Muddy Creek downstream of the culvert, causing down-cutting and head-ward erosion. As a result of this instability, a large plunge pool has formed which currently inhibits fish passage. In order for native fish to have access to 13 of the 19 miles of treated stream the culvert must be removed and the stream must be reclaimed to allow fish passage.

Specific project objectives are four fold; 1) construct right-sized in-stream fish habitat improvement structures for sensitive (6840) warm water fish species, armor headcuts and hydrologic nick points using rock masonry and induced meandering techniques, 2) work with other RFO staff to remove decrepit fences in the upper Muddy Creek watershed, 3) help complete aspen removal in a prescribed burn area, then 4) assist with hauling the aspen to an existing beaver population for dam materials. Potentially, if time allows, assist with the retrofitting of an existing spring exclosure in the same area. Early July or August would be optimal time of year to work on this project. Execution of tasks is expected to take 6-7 days.

D. Benefits:
Removal of barriers and the development of appropriately sized low-tech habitat improvement structures will improve the ability of sensitive warm water fish species to move more freely through the system and ideally enable population increases. Enhancement of the aspen component anywhere within the Muddy Creek watershed affords considerable water return to watershed as it affects big game, non-game, the water table and immediately affects use of the landscape by all animals. Retrofitting spring developments that have outgrown their original design or have been neglected for one reason or another has proven effective for keeping grazing pressure off the riparian area whether from livestock or big game.

Students will be learning about the species ecology of warm water fish, the synecology of the Muddy Creek watershed, the Endangered Species Act, and administrative execution of the guiding principles of that act; through the use of rock masonry techniques. Students will learn how ancient cultures in semi-arid and arid landscaped optimize water harvesting and minimized erosion impacts using low-tech masonry methods; project area also has a unique history of coordinated resource management activity – as project area is a special management area where the BLM and Game & Fish cooperatively managing a BLM allotment, discussion of how this arrangement was forged, from a policy and land management stand point, is quite educational.

E. Statement of Joint Objectives/Project Management Plan:

1) Recipient agrees to:

a. To assist BLM Biologists with preparation for the removal and restoration of an existing culvert that is acting as a fish barrier.
b. Assist with construct in-stream structures on Muddy Creek per guidance and instruction from BLM Biologist.

c. Provide trained sawyers to assist BLM Forester and Biologists with the removal of standing dead or dying aspen in an area previous prescribed burn.

d. To execute Standard Form 1114-5 Group Volunteer Services Agreement Form.

2) BLM agrees to:

a. Provide all the construction material for the in stream habitat structures.

b. Provide at least 8 hours of educational information: 6840 species information, principles of low-tech induced meandering of streams, wildlife fence conversion principles, inter-agency cooperation & coordinated resource management, aspen & beaver ecology.

c. Provide all equipment for fence or exclosure tear downs and removal.

d. Provide truck & trailers for aspen hauling for damn material.

e. Provide project orientation and educational instruction as throughout duration of the tour.

f. Provide a communications plan.

g. Provide safety measures to recipient equal to those for BLM employees-per Group Volunteer Services Agreement Form.

h. To provide performance evaluation in writing to recipient regarding the overall experience and tasks completed.

3) BLM & Recipient mutually agree to:

a. To work closely and cooperatively to complete project .

b. To provide at least 1 full day of orientation for supervisors prior to rest of Crew arriving regarding the specifics of each project, specifics of camping/overnight arrangements, communications plan and safety procedures.

c. This project shall be performed on a cost-share basis with the recipient providing 50 percent through in-kind services and BLM providing 50 percent of the financial burden.