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At the lower Station (4), there was low diversity in the benthic community. None of the taxa <br /> were present in resident population numbers, not even the most tolerant species. It appeared there were <br /> still impacts from management activities in this area. There appeared to be serious stress conditions in <br /> ewe ecosystems sampled, which seemed to intensify in a downstream direction, as indicated by most of <br /> the analysis elements. <br /> o-` When compared with data from samples taken in 1989, it appeared that conditions had not <br /> improved over those found in one or Apri�of 119r89� W� <br /> tj �-q "� a <br /> 1' The potential for fisheries in this stream appeared to be poor, particularly at therwee <br /> stations, where the macroinvertebrate biomass was lower t e would expect in a stream with 185 to <br /> �jveniacroinvertebrates. <br /> alinity. Actually, the alkalinities exc mg 300 mg/I wo d be limiting to some of the most <br /> sens 'I1ie 60 mg/1 sulfate concentration in September at the upper Station (1) l <br /> would be limiting to die most sensitive of die cleanwater species. Many of the species would be limited3 <br /> by sulfate level �Omg/leStation 2, 220 mg/l at Station 3, and 200 mg/I at Station 4. A fifty-year <br /> storm event migdded to the I imiting. factor in these stream reaches. Ilie scarcity of/ <br /> ;�'cleanwater species and indications of instability or the possibility, being limited by chemicals indicated <br /> there would be little, if any, suitable spawning substrate available or the water quality necessary to sustain <br /> W�•�'f `(- die sensitive phases in the life cycle of a salmonid fishery. <br /> "I1he BCI value 89 t Station I in September 1989 indicated good conditions in that stream <br /> reach. However, many of die taxa were not found in resident population numbers, which indicated there <br /> was some stress, even at die upper station. BCI values of 71 at Station 2, 68 at Station 3, and 66 at <br /> Station 4 indicated stress conditions in those stream reaches. In June 1990, at Station 1, conditions were <br /> not as good as they were in September 1989. The BCI of 79 indicated fairly good conditions at both <br /> Stations 1 and 2. The BCI of 68 at Station 3 indicated stress conditions in that stream reach. The BCI <br /> of 63 at Station 4 indicated even more severe stress conditions at that station. It appeared there may be <br /> opportunities for management to improve instream habitat quality, water quality, and perhaps riparian <br /> habitat quality in these aquatic ecosystems. <br /> s-g <br /> ZI <br /> �g <br /> � 3 <br /> 14 <br />