JEFFERSON CITY – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comments on a draft environmental assessment for a proposal to restore westslope cutthroat trout in Dutchman Creek, a tributary to Prickly Pear Creek in the Elkhorn Mountains near Jefferson City.

Westslope cutthroat trout are native to this area. However, competition with and predation by brook trout have nearly eliminated westslope cutthroat trout in Dutchman Creek. FWP staff estimate brook trout will eliminate remaining westslope cutthroat trout in Dutchman Creek within the next five years if no action is taken.

The proposed project would include three phases:

1. Construction of an upstream fish passage barrier about 1 mile downstream of the Forest Service boundary in spring 2024.
2. Removal of existing brook trout in a 3.5-mile reach of Dutchman Creek upstream of the fish barrier, beginning in fall 2024.
3. Restock the creek with genetically pure westslope cutthroat trout upstream of the fish barrier for three years starting in 2026.

Returning these fish to the stream above the fish passage barrier is intended to provide a long-term genetic reserve of westslope cutthroat trout, Montana’s state fish.

Nonnative brook trout would be removed using a plant-derived fish toxicant called rotenone. Rotenone is routinely used in fisheries management and offers an effective means of eradicating fish that are incompatible with the management goals of a fishery without endangering the surrounding habitat.

A draft environmental assessment has been published for this project and can be viewed online here. Public comments on the draft EA will be accepted through March 18. Comments can be emailed to rspoon@mt.gov or mailed to:

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

Dutchman Creek Native Fish Restoration

Attn: Ron Spoon

PO Box 1137

Townsend, MT 59644

A public meeting on this proposal is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Feb. 29 at the Montana WILD Education Center, 2668 Broadwater Ave., in Helena. Written comments will be accepted at this meeting.