• Home
  • How We Work
  • Where We Work
  • News Room
  • About Us
  • My Nature Page

The Nature Conservancy in Africa - Conservation in Africa

The Nature Conservancy in Asia Pacific - Conservation in Asia-Pacific

The Nature Conservancy in the Caribbean - Conservation in the Caribbean

The Nature Conservancy in Central America - Conservation in Central America

The Nature Conservancy in North America - Conservation in North America

The Nature Conservancy in the United States - Conservation in the United States

The Nature Conservancy in South America - Conservation in South America

River rocks

 

Arctic grayling

Adfluvial Arctic Grayling

Lake-dwelling grayling in the Centennial are native and genetically distinct from fluvial Arctic grayling. The Centennial population has been the brood source of grayling planted in many western Montana lakes where they are not native. 

Arctic grayling are spring spawners and broadcast their eggs over gravel bottoms in moving streams.

MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks has more on grayling in their field guide.

 

Wetlands of Red Rock Lakes

One of the last known native populations of lake-dwelling, or adfluvial, Arctic grayling in Montana are getting a boost in Montana’s Centennial Valley.

In Alaska Basin, high up on the Centennial Valley’s east end, Red Rock Creek is the main spawning tributary for the Red Rock Lakes population of native adfluvial Arctic grayling. This creek, the uppermost headwaters of the Missouri River, flows into lakes and wetlands of the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

At the invitation of area landowners, Conservancy staff are developing a restoration plan for the entire length of Red Rock Creek. Their efforts are focused on reducing erosion and sedimentation which causes problems for grayling during spawning.

In 2007, Conservancy volunteers planted thousands of native willows along the stream to stabilize the eroding streambanks. Staff are also developing grazing plans that minimize overgrazing and keep cattle away from stream banks during spawning periods.

 

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): © Jim Steinberg (Red Rock Lake); © U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Arctic grayling).