FWP seeks public comment on proposed projects, conservation leases, other items
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on several draft proposed projects, conservation leases and other items. For more information, including how to submit comments, click on the links provided or visit fwp.mt.gov/public-notices.
Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Arctic Grayling Restoration in Winslow Creek, Red Rock River Drainage
FWP proposes to restore and maintain native westslope cutthroat trout (WCT) and Arctic grayling in Winslow Creek. Winslow Creek is a tributary to the Red Rock River in the Centennial Valley in southwest Montana. Historically, WCT, Arctic grayling and mountain whitefish were the only salmonid species in the Centennial Valley. In Winslow Creek, WCT were native and Arctic grayling likely used the stream seasonally. However, introductions of rainbow trout eliminated the conservation population of WCT through hybridization, and barriers to migration have eliminated access to the stream for grayling. Rocky Mountain sculpin Cottus bondi are also present in Winslow Creek. A conservation population is defined as viable assemblage of WCT that have most recently tested genetically as ≥90 percent WCT. Within the conservation population designation, a core population is defined as containing <1 percent introgression from nonnative species.
Comments due April 20.
A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, and westslope cutthroat trout in an unnamed private pond. The pond is 1.5 surface acres and is located in Toole County. The pond is located on a coulee that drains into Fowler Coulee near the town of Ledger, with no known presence of fish existing in the pond. The pond is fed by overland snow melt and drainage from nearby fields. The outflow and overflow flow into another pond approximately 300 yards to the south. That pond is currently permitted. The pond is located 2.9 miles from Fowler Coulee Creek which 10.7 miles until it reaches Pondera Coulee, a tributary to the lower Marias.
Most trout species are not native to Pondera Coulee drainage or the lower Marias River however, risk of escapement is low and associated risks are minimal, given existing presence in drainage. Westslope cutthroat trout are native to Montana, but conservation populations are not present in drainage, presenting no adverse genetic effects with wild fish. Fish could be removed from the pond via chemical treatments or stocking can be stopped to let the fish age out. The project is sponsored by the private landowner and the license would be active for a period of 10 years from the year of issuance (2024). The license can be renewed for additional 10-year intervals at the end of each term and the license is transferable.
Comments due April 20.
Rambo Spring Pond License Review
A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, and westslope cutthroat trout in an unnamed private pond. The pond is approximately one surface acre and is located in Pondera County. The pond is located on a coulee of a tributary to the Dry Fork Marias River near the town of Ledge, with no known presence of fish existing in the pond. The pond is fed by overland snow melt and drainage from nearby fields. There is no established outlet, but there is a slight overflow channel that navigates water into the coulee. The overflow discharge is rare and flows approximately 2.1 miles down the unnamed coulee to the Dry Fork of the Marias, which flows about 7 miles into the Marias River upstream of Tiber Reservoir. Northern redbelly dace have been documented in the lower portion of the Dry Fork of the Marias and is the only documented Montana Species of Special Concern. Most trout species are not native to Dry Fork Marias River, however, risk of escapement is low and associated risks are minimal, given existing presence in drainage. Westslope cutthroat trout are native to Montana, but conservation populations are not present in drainage, presenting no adverse genetic effects with wild fish. Fish could be removed from the pond via chemical treatments, or stocking can be stopped to let the fish age out. The project is sponsored by the private landowner and the license would be active for a period of 10 years from the year of issuance (2024). The license can be renewed for additional 10-year intervals at the end of each term and the license is transferable.
Comments due April 20.
Public Comment Hearing on Proposed Repeal of Big Game Management Policy
In the matter of the repeal of ARM 12.9.101 Big Game Management Policy. Public comment hearing will be held on April 19 at 10 a.m.
Comments due April 22.
Terry Private Pond Application Draft CEA
A landowner is applying for a private fish pond license and proposes to stock rainbow and brook trout. The seasonal runoff fed pond is 1.5 surface acres and located 3.5 miles northwest of Big Sandy. The pond was excavated, and an unscreened overflow serves as the outlet for the pond. Although Big Sandy Creek is in the vicinity of the pond, the risks with stocking the pond with hatchery-reared rainbow and brook trout are minimal. The project is sponsored by the private landowner, and the license would be active for a period of 10 years from the year of issuance (2024). The license can be renewed for additional 10-year intervals at the end of each term, and the license is transferable.
Comments due April 22.
B&C French Habitat Conservation Lease Proposal
FWP proposes to purchase a 40-year habitat conservation lease on 11,612 acres of land owned and operated by the B&C French family. The basic intent of the Conservation Lease Program is to retain substantial blocks of high priority native or restored wildlife habitats while keeping working agricultural lands as working lands.
Comments due April 23.
Mark French Habitat Conservation Lease Proposal
FWP proposes to purchase a 40-year habitat conservation lease on 308 acres of land owned and operated by Mark French. The basic intent of the Conservation Lease Program is to retain substantial blocks of high priority native or restored wildlife habitats while keeping working agricultural lands as working lands.
Comments due April 23.
Hartman Habitat Conservation Lease Proposal
FWP proposes to purchase a 40-year habitat conservation lease on 1,526 acres of land owned by Hartman Land and Livestock. The basic intent of the Conservation Lease Program is to retain substantial blocks of high priority native or restored wildlife habitats while keeping working agricultural lands as working lands.
Comments due April 23.
Triangle Telephone Cooperative Association, Inc. (TTCA) is proposing to replace existing telecommunications facilities with fiber optic cables in rural Sweet Grass and Park counties. The proposed project will go through Grey Bear and Springdale Bridge fishing access sites along the Yellowstone River and will encumber approximately 0.88 acres across the two sites. The current copper facilities in the area are reaching capacity to serve the area due to growth and aging facilities. These improvements will provide state-of-the-art telecommunications capacity, as well as future growth capabilities. The project is expected to provide improved telecommunications capacity for state and local residents.
Comments due April 25.
A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock rainbow trout and brown trout. FWP is required to review the potential impacts of issuing a Private Fish Pond License. The pond is located on an ephemeral drainage that feeds into Cottonwood Creek. From there Cottonwood Creek flows into Murphy Coulee, Armells Creek, and eventually the Missouri River near Fred Robinson Bridge. The pond has a manmade dam and collects water from a very small drainage upstream. Cottonwood Creek, Murphy Coulee, and Armells Creek do not have Montana State Species of Special Concern present or valuable sportfishing opportunities. Rainbow trout and brown trout would not be able to persist in these streams, so any escapement impacts would be very minimal and short term in duration. During an extreme high flow event there is a slight chance that rainbow trout or brown trout could make it all the way to the Missouri River. There are already other sources of rainbow and brown trout in the Missouri River below Moroney Dam, and any trout escapement from this pond would not be expected to have any additional impacts to the system. The outlet pipe is already screened to prevent escapement.
The project is sponsored by the private landowner and the license would be active for a period of 10 years from the year of issuance (2024). The license can be renewed for additional 10-year intervals at the end of each term and the license is transferable.
Comments due April 26.
A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout. FWP is required to review the potential impacts of issuing a Private Fish Pond License. The pond is located on an ephemeral drainage that feeds into Dog Creek. The pond has a manmade dam, and the drainage upstream has two additional small reservoirs. The outlet will be an overflow pipe. Water from the outlet flows approximately half a mile before joining Dog Creek. Dog Creek has a typical prairie fish assemblage with no documented Montana Species of Special Concern or sportfish present.
Risk of escapement is likely. The outlet pipe is very small and could not handle large flow events. It is only slightly lower in elevation than the spillway. It is likely that during high flows trout would escape to Dog Creek, but they would not be able to persist because of poor habitat conditions and dewatering. Impacts would be minimal and short in duration.
The project is sponsored by the private landowner and the license would be active for a period of 10 years from the year of issuance (2024). The license can be renewed for additional 10-year intervals at the end of each term and the license is transferable.
Comments due April 26.
Exterior Surface Treatment Plan for Historic Buildings at Bannack State Park
Bannack State Park was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961 and is a unique historical resource enjoyed by approximately 50,000 visitors each year. While every effort is made to retain the original fabric of the townsite, time, the elements, and use take their toll on the buildings. The approach to the treatment of the historic buildings at Bannack adopted by FWP’s heritage program and park staff that balances the needs of visitors with the protection of this important cultural resource is historic preservation, rather than rehabilitation, restoration, or reconstruction. Preservation is defined by the Secretary of the Interior as “the act or process of applying measures necessary to sustain the existing form, integrity, and materials of an historic property. Work, including preliminary measures to protect and stabilize the property, generally focuses upon the ongoing maintenance and repair of historic materials and features rather than extensive replacement and new construction. The limited and sensitive upgrading of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and other code-required work to make properties functional is appropriate within a preservation project. However, new exterior additions are not within the scope of this treatment.”
Comments due April 27.
Isaac Homestead Wildlife Management Area Addition Draft Checklist EA
FWP proposes an approximate 414-acre addition to the Isaac Homestead Wildlife Management Area (WMA) by fee title acquisition. The WMA is located west of Hysham and is comprised of two separate units. Legal public is secured access to the west unit by way of county roads. Legal public access (without crossing private land) to the east unit can only be achieved via the Yellowstone River. The main objective of this project is to create a contiguous WMA, thereby securing department and public access to the east unit of the WMA.
Comments due May 5.
Extension of Comment Period on Proposed Repeal
In the matter of the repeal of ARM 12.2.306 department liaison. Public comment hearing will be held on May 3 at 9 a.m.
Comments due May 6.
71 Ranch Prairie Dog Conservation Lease Draft EA Checklist
FWP is seeking public comment for a proposed 10-year Prairie Dog Conservation Lease Agreement in Garfield and Rosebud counties. The proposed lease encompasses 2,975 acres near Ingomar. FWP recognizes prairie dogs as a critical part of the ecosystem while cognizant of the challenges they present to landowners. To advance the conservation of prairie dogs and to help work toward black-footed ferret recovery goals, FWP has developed a voluntary, incentive-based habitat conservation lease. This Prairie Dog Conservation Lease would conserve prairie dog colonies and their habitat while continuing to support traditional agricultural activities, primarily livestock grazing.
Comments due May 7.
Gregg Ranch Habitat Conservation Lease
FWP is proposing a 40-year habitat conservation lease on 3,825 acres of land owned by the Gregg Ranch in Garfield County. Conservation leases are incentive-based, voluntary agreements offered by FWP to help conserve priority wildlife habitats on private lands while also supporting working agricultural lands and public hunting and recreation opportunity.
Comments due May 7.
Swede and Shirley Pfaffinger Habitat Conservation Lease
FWP is proposing a 40-year habitat conservation lease on 7,915 acres of land owned by Swede and Shirley Pfaffinger in Treasure and Rosebud counties.
Comments due May 7.
Denim Fogle Habitat Conservation Lease
FWP is proposing a 40-year habitat conservation lease on 7,791 acres of land owned by Denim Fogle in Garfield County.
Comments due May 7.
Tooke Ranch Habitat Conservation Lease
FWP is proposing a 40-year habitat conservation lease on 7,091 acres of land owned by the Tooke Ranch in Carter County.
Comments due May 7.
Barbara and David Maus Habitat Conservation Lease
FWP is proposing a 40-year habitat conservation lease on 3,368 acres of land owned by Barbara and David Maus in Wibaux County.
Comments due May 8.
Alisa Maus Habitat Conservation Lease
FWP is proposing a 40-year habitat conservation lease on 321 acres of land owned by Alisa Maus in Wibaux County.
Comments due May 8.
Rebecca Heberle Habitat Conservation Lease
FWP is proposing a 40-year habitat conservation lease on 8,507 acres of land owned by Rebecca Heberle in Yellowstone County.
Comments due May 8.
Hofeldt Private Pond Application Draft CEA
A landowner is applying for a private fish pond license and proposes to stock rainbow trout. The seasonal runoff fed pond is 3.5 surface acres and located 6 miles north of Lloyd. The pond was constructed with an earthen dam and an earthen spillway serves as the outlet for the pond. Although Bean Creek is in the vicinity of the pond, the risks with stocking the pond with hatchery-reared rainbow trout are minimal. The project is sponsored by the private landowner, and the license would be active for a period of 10 years from the year of issuance (2024). The license can be renewed for additional 10-year intervals at the end of each term, and the license is transferable.
Comments due May 8.
Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed Amendment – Montana Wildlife Habitat Improvement Act
In the matter of the amendment of ARM 12.9.1601, 12.9.1602, 12.9.1603, 12.9.1604, 12.9.1605, and 12.9.1606 pertaining to Montana Wildlife Habitat Improvement Act Termination Date and Eligible Expenditures. Public comment hearing will be held on May 2, 2024 @ 10 am. There is no link for the zoom hearing. Those who want to participate will need to call in. For the phone number and password, click here.
Comments due May 14.
