Adaptive Management & Monitoring
Regions 1 & 4, Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS)
FY02 Plans
October 1, 2001
Project Category: Watershed, Soils, and Riparian
Project Title: Do Fires Favor Nonnative Fishes?
Project Leader: Michael K. Young
Participating Research Contacts: Russ Thurow
Participating Forests/Grassland Contacts: Mike Jakober and Rob Brassfield, Bitterroot National Forest; Robert Rose, Dan Garcia, and Tom Montoya, Salmon-Challis National Forest.
Funds - Total Project Cost and Timeframe (1-5 years):
2001: $30,000
Carryover: $0
2002: $59,786
2003-2005: $80,468(remaining costs...itemize if available)
Progress in 2001:
We completed fish community and habitat sampling of over 20 reaches, about half of which were adjacent to burns, that have been historically sampled by personnel from the Bitterroot National Forest and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. As a companion to this study, these personnel are also sampling another 20 reaches. The logistics of field sampling were demanding, as was the identification of all reaches, but all tasks were completed without incident. Dramatic changes in habitat as a consequence of slope failures and debris torrents on many of the burned streams and concurrent reductions in the fish fauna were readily described by this year's sampling. It has resulted in an unprecedented opportunity to evaluate fire effects on fish communities on a large scale.
Plans for 2002:
The objective is to repeat all sampling done in 2001, and to measure additional parameters that may be related to the hypothesized changes in fish communities. Knowledge of the systems gained in 2001 should facilitate the work in 2002.
Products and/or tech transfer expected in 2002:
Report on initial findings. Also, a presentation at the annual meeting of the Montana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society.
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