1. Use Attainability Analysis City of Conrad Ann Harrie and Bob Bukantis WQS Section, MT DEQ June 28, 2007

2. The Situation Conrad WWTP discharges into unnamed tributary Tributary flows into Dry Fork of Marias River (DFMR) Both are classified as B-2, part of Marias Watershed Suggested reclassification of receiving waters (unnamed tributary) from B-2 to E-2 Community looking to reduce cost of WWTP upgrade by avoiding unnecessarily stringent effluent limits

3. Changing Classifications DFMR changes from B-2 to B-3 less than ½ mile from confluence (1981) Must show the tributary and receiving waters were originally misclassified (75-5-302,MCA) Significant differences between B-2 and E-2

4. Designated Uses for B-2, B-3 and E-2 Designated UseB-2B-3E-2 Aquatic Life * Fishes (salmonid) * Fishes (non-salmonid) Agriculture Industry Drinking Water Wildlife Recreation *Indicates marginal use

5. Preliminary Site Visit – April 2006 Source: "The Inland Fishes of New York State" by C. Lavett Smith, published by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 1985.

6. The Study Objectives Determine whether tributary was ephemeral or perennial Determine existing & potential use support Provide quality data

7. Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6 # # # # # # Site 1 Above confluence, DFMR Site 3 Unnamed tributary Site 4 Unnamed tributary below discharge Site 5 Discharge pipe Site 6 Above lagoons Site 2 Downstream of confluence, DFMR B-2 B-3

8. Data Collection Flow Fish Temperature Photos Water Quality Sampling Study period: June-October, 2006

9. Site 6 Flow Temperature logger Macroinvertebrates Water samples

10. Around the Lagoons

11. Site 5 Flow (supplied by Conrad) Water samples

12. After the Pipe

13. Conrad Sand & Gravel

14. Site 4 Flow Temperature logger Macroinvertebrates Fish Water samples

15. Site 3 Flow Temperature logger Macroinvertebrates Fish Water samples

16. The Confluence

17. Confluence Continued

18. Site 1 Flow Temperature logger Macroinvertebrates Fish Water samples

19. Site 2 Flow Temperature logger Macroinvertebrates Fish Water samples

22. Brown Trout Lethal Limit (27.2) Rainbow Trout Lethal Limit (24.3)

23. Fish and Aquatic Life Fish and aquatic life were found throughout the DFMR and the unnamed tributary Fishes found: fathead minnowspottail shiner brook sticklebackbrassy minnow longnose dace lake chub white sucker NO salmonids

24. Other Uses Industry Agriculture Recreation – potentially Drinking water - potentially

25. Overview of Findings Original classification suggestion was E-2 Flow & conductivity data suggest perennial flow E-2 classification not appropriate Tolerant fish & other aquatic life Water temperatures too high for marginal propagation & growth of salmonids Suggest reclassifying tributary to B-3 Suggest that cutoff for B-3 be moved upstream to Hwy 91

26. Options Reclassify the waterbody to a B-3 to reflect existing conditions - Data supports this (temperature, fish) - Conrad supports this Retain current B-2 classification

27. Thoughts/Suggestions? References: Bear, E.A. May 2005. Effects of temperature on survival and growth of westslope cutthroat trout and rainbow trout: implications for conservation and restoration. Thesis for degree in Fish and Wildlife Management, Montana State University. Raleigh, R. F., L. D. Zuckerman, and P. C. Nelson. 1986. Habitat suitability index models and instream flow suitability curves: Brown trout, revised. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Biol. Rep. 82(10.124). 65 pp. [First printed as: FWS/OBS-82/10.71, September 1984-J.