Goals, objectives, and action items have been developed to address each of the resource concerns for Fiscal Year 2000. A rapid aerial assessment was also recently completed. The Shields River and it's tributaries are classified by the state of Montana as a B-1 Stream under the Montana Water Quality Act. Recent water quality sampling shows some elevated levels of metals such as cadmium, lead, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc. No source has been identified.
Nutrients are generally well below threshold levels.
The Shields River has more pre-1900 appropriated water rights than available stream flows from mid July through August. This leads to irrigation water shortages and some tributaries and the mainstem of the Shields to be dewatered. Estimated irrigation efficiencies for the flood-irrigated land is about 30 percent, while the sprinkler irrigated land is about 60 percent. Overall irrigation efficiencies for the watershed are about 40 percent because of the large acreage of flood irrigated lands and the overall efficiencies of the conveyance systems. Off-stream storage sites have been identified.