Belmont Creek, a second-order stream, originates on the Lolo
National Forest with base flows of approximately 13 cfs. Belmont
Creek flows 11 miles southeast through a checkerboard ownership
pattern of public and private lands before entering the
Blackfoot River at river mile 21.9. Two undersize culverts were
placed in Belmont Creek in the 1960's that blocked fish
migrations in most stream flow conditions. Concentrations of
bull trout were documented at the culverts for over 20 years
indicating a passage problem. In order to prioritize restoration
resources, we developed a fisheries-based restoration priority
scorecard, based on biological, social and financial
considerations, for 83 impaired tributaries of the Blackfoot
River. Belmont Creek ranked 7 of 83 streams surveyed. The large
amount of fill placed over the culverts and the difficulty with
the site for bridging prolonged a solution to the problem. In
1994, a site about 1/4 mile above the culvert crossing was used
to construct a bridge and facilitate rem