MT FUTURE FISHERIES IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

FUTURE FISHERIES IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PROJECT FUNDING APPROVED

Approximately $818,000 in funding was approved recently by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park Commission for 25 Future Fisheries Improvement Program projects. The funding will be matched by more than $1 million from outside sources.

The FWP Commission made its final decision on funding requests based on recommendations from a 14-member citizen panel. Sponsors of approved projects enter into an agreement with FWP to maintain project improvements through responsible land-management practices.

The commission approved funding for projects in Madison, Missoula, Lewis and Clark, Ravalli, Beaverhead, Carbon, Park, Liberty, Phillips, Jefferson, Stillwater and Lincoln counties. The improvements will help Arctic grayling, westslope cutthroat trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, bull trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, yellow perch and largemouth bass.

Funding on one project on a reach of Trail Creek, which enters the Yellowstone River south of Livingston, requires an angling closure from Cabin Creek to its headwaters when the project is complete to allow Yellowstone cutthroat trout time to repopulate the stream.

Other work includes riparian fencing and re-vegetation; stream channel enhancement; spawning habitat improvements in ponds and reservoirs; stream bank stabilization using natural materials; fish passage improvements; a fish screen on an irrigation diversion; relocation of corrals off of a stream channel; and barriers installed to protect a genetically pure population of Yellowstone cutthroat trout.

Applications for the next regular round of funding are due January 1, 2007. Application forms are available from all FWP regional offices. The application is also on FWP’s web page on the Future Fisheries web page.

Any individual or group with a project designed to restore or enhance habitat for wild or native fish may apply for Future Fisheries Improvement Program funding. Applicants are encouraged to work with local FWP fisheries biologists. Landowners and other project partners usually share project costs to extend Future Fisheries Improvement Program dollars.

For more information on the Future Fisheries Improvement Program, call (406) 444-2449, or write to: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Future Fisheries Improvement Program, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.