Moore Creek Restoration Project

About Moore Creek

Originating in the southeastern flanks of the Tobacco Roots Mountain Range, Moore Creek collects a number of smaller tributaries in its descent towards the Town of Ennis, flows through the middle of town, and then flows another 10 miles through the Madison Valley bottomlands largely managed as seasonal pasture for livestock. The creek is colloquially known as “Poop Creek” given its 150-year history of Europeans settling and establishing along its banks. Unfortunately, the name is also fitting today as the creek is listed for E. Coli from both cattle and human sources. It is also the stream within the Madison Watershed that has more recognized impairments than any other.

Phase 1 - Restoring Sinuosity and Bringing Back a Wetland
New Stream Channel Design for Phase 1, Including Reaches 1 & 2

Overview

The project reach comprises approximately a 0.3 mile section of Moore Creek that is straightened, incised, and devoid of woody vegetation. The restoration plan involves the construction of 0.53 mile of stream and floodplain features with a focus on: a.) restoring eroding streambanks; b.) re-establishing channel cross-sections dimensions, plan form and longitudinal profile dimensions; and c.) increasing floodplain connectivity. Project completion will also result in the restoration of approximately 6 acres of previously drained wetland area.

The picture to the right, shows the pre-restoration condition of Moore Creek, with obvious signs of bank erosion and an incised channel.

  1. Shape the constructed channel to the appropriate dimensions of a sinuous stream type, incorporating riffle, run, pool, and glide habitat features, based on reference reach data collected on streams of similar channel morphology.
  2. Convert existing upland plant communities to wetlands by constructing an inset floodplain and restoring floodplain connectivity.
  3. Fill the existing channel to floodplain elevation to restore wetland hydrology.
  4. Increase aquatic habitat complexity by increasing the quality and frequency of pools.
  5. Incorporate vegetated wood matrix and brush structures for bank stabilization and pool habitat development.
  6. Incorporate willow cuttings into bank structures to provide bank stabilization and stream vegetation cover and shade.
  7. Incorporate willow cuttings into floodplain willow trenches to diversify the floodplain and encourage growth of native riparian vegetation.
  8. Implement a grazing management plan including fencing enclosures, water gaps, and stream crossings to protect sensitive riparian areas and vegetation.
  9. Install riparian fencing along the corridor

Goals

Restore Eroding Streambanks

The straightened stream channel will be re-shaped to a sinuous channel, slowing down water and reducing sedimentation into the stream. There will also be native riparian vegetation and brush structures, including thousands of willows, along the banks to help with stabilization.

Improve Grazing Distribution and Access in Project Area

The restoration corridor will include riparian fencing with added fencing enclosures, water gaps, and stream crossing to protect sensitive riparian areas and vegetation. A grazing management plan  was also developed by NRCS discussing the timing and rotation of grazing.

Restore Floodplain Connectivity and Historic Wetland

Previously drained emergent and scrub-shrub wetland will be restored by filling the existing channel to floodplain elevation, and aligning the new channel with the floodplain.

Project Benefits

Large-Scale Impacts to the Madison Watershed

The new stream channel will help reduce…

  1. Sediment Loading
  2. Temperature
  3. Nutrient Loading

The restored wetland and reconnected floodplain will…

  1. Increase water storage
  2. Provide a filter for nutrients and sediments
  3. Diversify vegetation and improve aquatic and terrestrial habitat
  4. Reduce current rates of bank erosion and migration

Public Benefits for Recreation

  1. Increased public fishing opportunity in the form of wild fish abundance in Ennis Reservoir
  2. Improved water quality in Ennis Reservoir
  3. Expanded trail system, including interpretive signage explaining project details and partner contributions
Project Gallery

Excavators marking new stream channel placement

Beginning phases of channel construction

New stream channel, featuring groundwater infiltration

New stream channel, featuring secured willow cutting and native alluvium

Recently harvested willows, planted along stream channel

Backfilling stream channel to secure willow plantings

Newly constructed stream channel and floodplain

Aerial imagery of pre-construction straightened stream channel

Lower end of the project site

Restoration and Collaboration

The Moore Creek Restoration project has brought together a diverse group of partners who are all in on restoring this important community resource.

This project involves collaboration from our landowner partners Pat Goggins and the Goggins Ranch and Starry Night Lodging, of whose properties the project will take place on.

Project support and funding was provided by NorthWestern Energy, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MT DEQ), the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (MT FWP), and the Madison River Foundation.

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