MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking public input on several new proposals and environmental assessments, including projects on fishing pond licensing, construction access, fishing area development, stream restoration and a statewide beaver transplant program.
For more information, including how to submit comments, click on the link provided or visit fwp.mt.gov/public-notices.
Public Comment: Application for a Private Fishing Pond License
A private landowner applies for a private fish pond license and proposes to stock Westslope cutthroat trout and sterile (triploid) rainbow trout in an existing artificial, self-contained pond that is adjacent to, but not connected to, a perennial stream by surface water or within the 100-year floodplain of Petty Creek.
Comment deadline: October 21st
Sportsman's Bridge FAS Temporary Construction Access Checklist EA
FWP proposes to provide temporary and limited access to portions of the Sportsman's Bridge Fishing Access Site (FAS). Contractors will need more space than is available in the existing highway right-of-way to safely exit large trucks from the project area while facilitating replacement of the aging Highway 82 bridge. Traffic delays on Oldenburg Road and Highway 82 would be significantly reduced and safety would be increased for travelers and construction equipment operators.
Comment deadline: October 22nd
Proposed lease and development of the 26 Mile Fishing Access Site
FWP proposes to obtain a free recreational permit from the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) to construct a FAS on the Upper Yellowstone River on property adjacent to mile marker 26 on MT Highway 89. The site is located approximately 5 miles south of Emigrant in Park County on public land managed by MDT. The site, commonly referred to as “26-Mile,” has long been in public use, primarily for boat launches and boat takeaways. Over time, several informal boat ramps, roads and parking areas were created on the MDT property. Resource damage, waste pollution and public safety concerns have increased in recent years, particularly after the 2022 flood that left parts of the riverbank dangerously steep.
Comment deadline: October 25th
Ninemile Creek Restoration Phase 7 Draft Checklist EA – Future Fisheries Improvement Program
FWP proposes to provide funding from the Future Fisheries Improvement Program for a project on Ninemile Creek, a tributary of the Clark Fork River that provides spawning, nursery and wintering grounds for migratory recreational fish species. In the project area, flood plain reconnection and channel improvement would be addressed through a restoration project. This benefits the fish species, stream function, anglers and the public who recreate at the site.
Comment deadline: October 26th
Draft Montana Beaver Transplant Program EA
FWP is considering a new program that would provide guidance on how to transplant beavers into appropriate areas and ecosystems across the state. FWP staff have developed a draft EA that evaluates a proposal to establish a Montana Beaver Transplant Program (MBTP).
Comment deadline: October 27th