Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2013MT283B

Student Fellowship: Investigating Upstream Channel Response to Dam Removal, Black Foot River MT

Institute: Montana
Year Established: 2013 Start Date: 2013-03-01 End Date: 2014-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $500 Total Non-Federal Funds: $220

Principal Investigators: Robert Livesay

Abstract: Many of Montana's 2,895 state regulated dams are reaching the end of their operational design. In some cases removal is the most cost effective and environmentally conscious choice for these dams. Dam removals over the past five years in the Pacific Northwest include Milltown Dam (MT), Condit Dam (WA), Marmot Dam (OR), Glines Canyon and Elwha Dam (Wa). This study will address the Milltown dam removal. The ecological implications of dam removal are an important management concern. For example, dam removal can impact habitat for threatened salmonid species such as Bull and Cutthroat Trout. As river ecology is dictated by its morphology, understanding the geomorphic implications of a dam removal is important. Several ongoing studies have generated data on Milton Dam removal and this study will build on this previous research with emphasis on the geomorphic changes over time resulting from the dam removal.