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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on the following environmental assessments (EA). For more information, including how to submit comments, click on the link provided or visit fwp.mt.gov/public-notices.
Fresno Tailwater Fishing Access Site Management Agreement Draft EA checklist
FWP is proposing to renew a Management Agreement with the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (BOR). The agreement is for the management and operations of Fresno Tailwater Fishing Access Site (FAS). Fresno Tailwater FAS is located below the Fresno Dam, 11 miles northwest of Havre. The Fresno Tailwater FAS operated on a 25-year agreement, which expired in 2018. Six acres of BOR recreation site combined with 36 acres of FWP property make up the 42-acre FAS. The purpose of the Fresno Tailwater FAS is to provide an ADA accessible fishing site for the public. The FAS has a gravel boat ramp for river watercraft access, primitive campsites, ADA parking and fishing platform, latrine, and gravel parking area. The proposed new management agreement would be for 20 years and include the current FAS amenities.
Comment deadline: March 7.
Westslope Cutthroat Trout Restoration in Elk Creek Draft EA
FWP proposes to restore native westslope cutthroat trout (WCT) to Elk Creek in the Madison Valley in southwestern Montana. Historically, WCT, Arctic grayling, and mountain whitefish were the only salmonid species in the Madison Valley. The primary threat to WCT in southwestern Montana is competition and predation by non-native species, and the WCT population in Elk Creek has been reduced to occupying 0.8 mile of the headwaters due to competition with nonnative brook trout. Non-native fish upstream of an existing fish barrier will be removed using a piscicide (rotenone) for two consecutive years. After two treatments have been completed and the stream has been verified to be fishless using environmental DNA, WCT will be allowed to repopulate 8 miles of habitat and will serve as a source of aboriginal Madison River WCT for future introductions.
Comment deadline: March 8.
Flathead Lake Dynamic Gravel Beach Shoreline Erosion Protection Draft EA
FWP is proposing to repair any current and future eroding shorelines on FWP property on Flathead Lake utilizing a dynamic gravel beach design as funding permits. A dynamic gravel beach utilizes local cobble of varying sizes to stabilize the shoreline, while absorbing wave action through the movement of smaller top cobble. Project prioritization would be based on current erosion of each site, current rate of shoreline loss, average wind and wave action, which would assist in determining future shoreline loss rate and recreational opportunities of each site.
Comment deadline: March 13.
Beavertail Pond Fishing Access Site Utility Easement EA Checklist
FWP is proposing to establish a utility easement for Missoula Electric Cooperative to bore an underground power connection from an existing utility easement in the FAS to a property north the FAS. The proposed easement will be 20 feet wide and start at an existing Missoula Electric Cooperative easement and to Cramer Creek Road, a total distance of 275 feet. This project will allow the Missoula Electric Cooperative to expand service in the area. The easement and utility expansion and are not anticipated to affect recreation or natural resources at the site.
Comment deadline: March 14.
Tiger Trout Introduction to seven Region 4 Ponds/Reservoirs – Draft EA Checklists
FWP proposes to stock tiger trout into seven Region 4 ponds or reservoirs, including Bair Reservoir, Crow Coulee Reservoir, Hansen Reservoir, Kingsbury Pond, Leningtons Reservoir, Maiden Spring Pond and Upper Carter Pond. The primary goal of the fish introduction would be to provide additional recreational angling opportunities in these waterbodies. A secondary goal would be to provide some biocontrol on nongame species in some cases. Tiger trout are a produced hybrid of brook trout and brown trout. Triploid tiger trout eggs from Wyoming would be used as the source for stocking. They are sterile; therefore, their numbers can be highly managed by stocking practices.
Comment deadline: March 14.
Big Coulee Fish Barrier Enhancement Project Draft EA Checklist
FWP is proposing to enhance a previously constructed fish barrier on Big Coulee to protect a nonhybridized population of westslope cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus lewisi. The fish barrier project site on Big Coulee is located entirely on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Judith-Musselshell Ranger District. The proposed enhancements to the Big Coulee fish barrier include constructing a cast-in-place concrete weir on top of a previously blasted bedrock waterfall and pouring a concrete splash pad at the base of the waterfall to eliminate the formation of a plunge pool. Additionally, drilling, blasting and/or hydraulic hammering of the bedrock directly downstream of the barrier would be performed to grade the streambed in a manner that prevents pooling of water during periods of high stream discharge.
Comment deadline: March 14.
Milltown State Park Overlook Relocation EA Checklist
The proposed project would relocate and reopen the Milltown State Park Overlook providing interpretive insights and recreational amenities to users of Milltown State Park. It would also provide security features to curb public access to geologically unstable areas of the bluff the overlook is locate upon.
Comment deadline: March 14.
Montana Great Outdoors Conservation Easement Phase 2 Draft EA
FWP proposes to purchase a 52,930-acre conservation easement, the Montana Great Outdoors Conservation Easement – Phase 2. This is the second and final phase of a two-phased project totaling 85,752 acres of important timberland and fish and wildlife habitat currently owned by Green Diamond Resource Company in northwest Montana.
Comment deadline: March 15.
FWP is proposing to expand the nonhybridized westslope cutthroat trout (WCT) Oncorhynchus lewisi population in South Fork Willow Creek (Smith River drainage) into its fishless headwaters above a bedrock barrier that currently limits upstream fish movement in the drainage. FWP is proposing translocation of a small number (5-10 adults) of individuals from a nearby population of nonhybridized Smith River WCT to alleviate genetic load and increase fitness and persistence probability of the South Fork Willow Creek population. There is an estimated 4.6 miles of suitable habitat that is presently fishless above the upper bedrock barrier. Expansion and translocation of nonhybridized WCT into the fishless headwaters of upper South Fork Willow Creek would likely secure this population resulting in 4.8 miles of protected WCT habitat and a population of over 2,500 individuals.
Comment deadline: March 15.
Ray Kuhns WMA Forest Habitat Improvement & Fuels Reduction Project Draft EA
FWP proposes to implement a forest habitat improvement and forest fuels reduction project on the Ray Kuhns Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The project would improve forest habitat conditions and reduce hazardous fuels on portions of the Ray Kuhns WMA where the long-term health of the forest stand is declining and/or progressing toward a state that has relatively low value to wildlife.
Comment deadline: March 21.
Makoshika State Park Campground Expansion Draft EA
FWP is proposing to expand existing camping and recreational opportunities at Makoshika State Park by adding up to 16 RV sites with electric hookups, 4 primitive hike/bike campsites and day-use facilities in the Gunner’s Ridge area. The project is proposed to also include a campsite for park hosts, latrines and a playground. The proposed project was initiated in response to numerous visitor and local public comments received and FWP’s recognition of increased overnight visitation at the park. Public comments also identified the desire for access to electricity and water while camping. A draft EA has been prepared and is available for review.
Comment deadline: March 26.
Doney Lake Forest Habitat Improvement Project Draft Supplemental EA
FWP is proposing to implement a 1,136-acre forest habitat improvement project on the Ovando Mountain Unit (OMU) of the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area (BCWMA) located north of the town of Ovando in Powell County. The purpose of the proposed project is to enhance forested wildlife habitat, restore forest conditions to more ecologically appropriate species composition and structure, enhance aspen habitat and reduce susceptibility to severe fire and uncharacteristic insect/disease mortality. With consideration of substantive comments received in response to the initial CEA, FWP determined the CEA did not adequately address the issues raised by the proposed action and that there was a need for substantial, additional information to evaluate the impacts of the proposed action. Toward that end, and pursuant to ARM 12.2.433(6)(b)4 and ARM 12.2.440, et. seq, FWP has prepared this Supplemental Standard EA (SSEA) now available for review.
Comment deadline: March 27.