MT FWP PRESENTATION ON BIGHORN RIVER AND … fwp presentation on bighorn river and lake management. long-term working group. january 2008. bighorn river flows 0 ... catfish . 1.8 0.2

MT FWP PRESENTATION ON BIGHORN RIVER AND LAKE MANAGEMENT

LONG-TERM WORKING GROUP

JANUARY 2008

BIGHORN RIVER FLOWS

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7FL

OW

(cfs

)

BIGHORN FLOW RECOMENDATIONS

Target Minimum Flow – 2,500 cfs

Preferred Min. Fisheries Flow – 2,000 cfs

Absolute Min. Fisheries Flow - 1,500 cfs

BIGHORN DROUGHT FLOWS

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Con

tinuo

us D

ays

<2000 <1600 1300

1330 DAYS

338

Bighorn Lake ElevationMay 20-September 5

3560

3570

3580

3590

3600

3610

3620

3630

3640

3650

3660

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

% Time Exceeded

Elev

atio

n (fe

et)

Horseshoe Bend Safe Boat Launch

Ok-A-Beh & Barry’s Landing Safe Boat Launch

76%

99%

1967-2006

Lake Level Duration Curve During Recreation Season

1,900 cfs12/2007

1,500 cfs7/2007

1,900 cfs12/2007

1,500 cfs7/2007

1,900 cfs12/2007

1,500 cfs7/2007

1,900 cfs12/2007

1,500 cfs7/2007

1,900 cfs12/2007

1,500 cfs7/2007

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

10000

BR

OW

N T

RO

UT

PER

MIL

E

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 0 1 2 3 4 5* 6* 7

BROWN TROUT - UPPER SECTION

AGE 1 AGE 2 AGE 3 AGE 4+ 2006 2007

10+

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

NU

MB

ER P

ER M

ILE

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

BROWN TROUT - LOWER SECTION

AGE 1 AGE 2 AGE 3 AGE 4+ 2005 2006 2007

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

NU

MB

ER P

ER M

ILE

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99* 0* 1* 2 3 4 5* 6* 7*

RAINBOW - UPPER SECTION

AGE 1 AGE 2 AGE 3 AGE 4 AGE 5+ 2006 2007

13+11"+ 15"+

15"+

10"+ 12"+

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

NU

MB

ER P

ER M

ILE

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

RAINBOW - LOWER SECTION

AGE 1 AGE 2 AGE 3 AGE 4 AGE 5+ AGE 1 2005 2006 2007

FALL GILL NETTING

NUMBER PER NET

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Lower Reservoir

WALLEYE 1.3 0.3 ___ 0.8 0.2 4.8 2.2 5.7

SAUGER ___ 2.0 ___ 0.2 ___ ___ 1.8 4.7 SMALLMOUTH

BASS 1.3 ___ ___ 0.2 0.3 4.0 2.0 3.5

CHANNEL CATFISH

1.8 0.2 ___ 0.2 0.8 0.6 1.2 0.2

BURBOT 0.2 ___ ___ ___ ___ 0.2 0.2 0.7 BROWN TROUT

1.2 0.3 ___ 1.3 0.5 0.3 0.8 0.7

Upper Reservoir

WALLEYE

14.0 ___ ___ 0.6 6.7 1.5 7.3

SAUGER 2.0 ___ ___ 0.6 0.5 17.2 14.5 SMALLMOUTH

BASS 1.0 ___ ___ 0.1 1.2 0.5 3.5

CHANNEL CATFISH

1.8 ___ ___ 0.8 7.8 2.2 5.7

BURBOT 0.2 ___ ___ ___ ___ 0.3 0.5 BROWN TR 0.5 ___ ___ 0.7 2.5 0.2 1.3

SPRING GILL NETTING

NUMBER PER NET

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Lower Reservoir

WALLEYE 1.5 1.8 1.0 2.2 3.3 SAUGER 0.2 ___ ___ 0.3 2.3

SMALLMOUTH BASS

0.2 ___ 0.2 2.0 ___

CHANNEL CATFISH

0.5 ___ ___ 0.3 1.5

BURBOT 0.2 0.2 ___ ___ 1.2 BROWN TROUT

0.6 ___ 1.0 0.5 1.7

Upper Reservoir

WALLEYE 0.8 1.3 0.2 0.2 1.5 SAUGER ___ ___ ___ 6.2 17.0

SMALLMOUTH BASS

0.2 0.5 ___ ___ ___

CHANNEL CATFISH

0.5 ___ ___ 6.3 5.5

BURBOT ___ ___ 0.3 1.5 0.8 BROWN TR ___ ___ ___ 0.5 1.2