Habitat is the KEY to fish and wildlife management in Montana.  Habitat is simply the place where an organism lives.  To survive, animals must have an “address” that includes food, water, shelter (or cover), and space. These elements must be arranged in such a way that all the elements are available to the animal. Our fish and wildlife resources cannot exist without habitat.

Habitat for our fisheries resources consists of a three-legged stool of essential elements.  These three elements are:

1. Water Quantity
   adequate water flow in our streams and satisfactory water levels in our lakes and reservoirs;
2. Water Quality
   water of suitable quality to sustain healthy populations of aquatic life and;
3. Physical Habitat
   streambeds, stream banks, riparian areas and cover that combine to form a favorable environment.