Middle Clark Fork River

The Middle Clark Fork River flows approximately 105 miles from its confluence with the Blackfoot River near Missoula, Montana downstream to the Flathead River.  Due to historic resource extraction activities, fish population surveys throughout tributaries of the Middle Clark Fork basin in 1999-2004 indicated that as few as four tributaries support fluvial bull trout populations. 

The Middle Clark Fork River  is can be viewed as a lynchpin in the entire Clark River system, connecting relatively healthy populations of native fish in portions of the Blackfoot River and other Upper Clark Fork River tributaries to populations in the Lower Clark Fork and Flathead River basin.  Many tributaries to the river are located largely on lands managed by the Lolo National Forest, while others – like Fish Creek – are former industrial timber lands.  Working with the Forest Service, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks and local conservation groups, TU has embarked on an aggressive effort to protect and improve the Middle Clark Fork River’s bull trout and westslope cutthroat populations through road decommisioning, culvert removal, logjam construction projects, and other large scale habitat restoration efforts. 

The following are completed or active projects in the Middle Clark Fork River:

• Cedar Creek Habitat Improvement
• Dry Creek Fish Passage Enhancement
• Fish Creek Watershed Rehabilitation
• Rattlesnake Creek Water Quality Monitoring
• Roadside Revegetation Program
• Sixmile Creek Fish Passage Enhancement
• St. Regis River Culvert Analysis
• Trout Creek Habitat Improvement