Mitigation for the Construction and Operation of Libby Dam

that Grave Creek be a high priority for Total Mean Daily Load allocation (TMDL). Grave
Creek also provides water for westslope cutthroat trout habitat, agriculture and other
riparian dependent resources. Timber harvest and road construction in the headwaters and
agriculture, grazing, riparian vegetation losses, channel manipulation, and residential and
industrial encroachment in lower reaches have impacted the lower three miles of Grave
Creek by reducing stream stability, the quality and quantity of available fish habitat, and the
composition of the riparian community. Therefore, lower Grave Creek is much less stable
than it was historically, which has likely resulted in a reduction of salmonid productivity
and carrying capacity from historic conditions. Restoration activities on Grave and Libby
creeks are consistent with those strategies identified in the Fisheries Mitigation and
Implementation Plan for the Losses attributable to the Construction and Operation of Libby
Dam (MFWP, CSKT and KTOI 1998) and the Kootenai Subbasin Plan (KTOI and MFWP
2004).
Stream restoration efforts when applied appropriately can be successful at restoring
streams to an equilibrium state. However, there are several critical fundamental issues that
must be resolved prior to the design and implementation of any restoration project (Rosgen
1996). These include a clear definition and causes of the problems, an understanding of the
future potential of the stream type as conditioned by the watershed and valley features, and
an understanding of the probable stable form of the stream under the current hydrology and
sediment regime (Rosgen 1996). The restoration projects described below were designed
and implemented after considering these issues and other recommendations found in Rosgen
(1996). The following sections discuss the results of the restoration activities and
monitoring results.
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