It is my hope that by the time you read this you have already made several fun-filled trips to Montana State Parks and have plans to visit more parks this summer. In my trips to the parks this summer, I am very excited about how good the parks facilities look, the friendly parks staff and the number of wonderful comments I’ve heard from park guests.
(Parks - July 01, 2000)

Fund raising efforts by the Friends of Makoshika have paid off with over $97, 000 in donations, grant funds and matching dollars for FWP. Construction on the Makoshika Amphitheater renovation project is now in full swing. The Friends group has hired a Montana Conservation Corps crew to complete access pathways to the recently renovated theater. The Friends are anxious to complete the project before the 9th Annual Dinner Theater on August 18th and 19th. CONTACT MILES CITY.
(Parks - July 01, 2000)

Spring Meadow Lake State Park got a much needed face-lift this summer when the entrance road on Broadwater Avenue was upgraded. The project was done to improve the visitor’s experience at the park and to reduce long-term maintenance costs. Dust blowing into the park will be reduced and annual grading and graveling will be eliminated. Spring Meadow Lake is open year round and the entrance road accommodates heavy traffic serving over 100,000 visitors a year.
(Parks - July 01, 2000)

Whitefish State Park is one of only three public accesses to Whitefish Lake. With resorts, golf courses, and the town of Whitefish in close proximity, visitors come from all over the United States and Canada, making it one of the most heavily used state park sites in northwestern Montana. FWP conducted a visitor survey and held several public meetings, and determined that the primary use of this park should be for camping and boat launching.
(Parks - July 01, 2000)

"Fitting Together Pieces of the Past" a new exhibit at the Ulm Pishkun Visitor Center has been completed thanks to a generous contributions from Great Falls residents Stan and Jane Meyer and the Cascade County Historical Society. The exhibit focuses on the archaeological work done at the park in the early 1990’s by MSU professors Jack Fisher and Tom Roll.
(Parks - July 01, 2000)

At the annual Buzzard Days celebration at Makoshika State Park, the BLM State director Mat Millenbach presented a deed for almost 2,700 acres to FWP Director Pat Graham. As buzzards circled overhead Director Graham commented on how this helps protect and enhance Montana’s largest state park totaling 11,531 badland-studded acres. CONTACT MILES CITY.
(Parks - July 01, 2000)

Tongue River Reservoir’s great fishing and proximity to Billings, Miles City and Sheridan, Wyoming make it the perfect weekend get-a-way spot. These two factors also make it one of Montana’s most remote, yet most heavily visited, state parks. The dam, which was constructed in 1940, and approximately 1000 acres of land surrounding the reservoir, is actually owned by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.
(Parks - July 01, 2000)

A new area for school groups, family reunions, scout troops and company outings for picnics and camping is now open at the park campground. The first phase of this project, completed last year, included a parking area and a vault latrine. The second phase will involve the installation of a drip irrigation system, landscaping and a picnic pavilion.
(Parks - July 01, 2000)

An actual size model of the base of the Washoe Smelter Stack is being built at the base of Smelter Hill in Anaconda. The Interpretive Viewing Stand will consist of interpretive signing, benches, lights, a short recreation trail, landscaping, and coin operated binoculars to safely view the stack. Once constructed, the interpretive viewing stand will provide visitors a significant experience of the physical size of the Washoe Smelter Stack.
(Parks - July 01, 2000)

The annual parks division statewide poster contest for fifth grade students produced winners from around the state. Contestants illustrated the theme "Who Once Made Montana State Parks Home".
(Parks - July 01, 2000)

The Parks Division now has applications available for the FY 2001 Recreational Trails Program and OHV Program grants. The deadline to submit applications is December 15, 2000. Public agencies, private clubs and associations may apply for these grants. The Recreational Trails Program provides funds for development, renovation, maintenance and acquisition of land for trails. Grants can be for as much as 80% of a project’s cost. Approximately $734,000 in grant funds will be available.
(Parks - July 01, 2000)

July 10 is the application deadline for special permits to hunt sandhill cranes. The four limited permit areas to hunt sandhill cranes in Montana are: Central Flyway - Sept. 9-17, 2000 1) Wheatland County and that part of Sweetgrass County north of I-90 (45 permits) Pacific Flyway - Sept. 9-10 and Sept.
(Headlines - June 30, 2000)

- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) have released for public review, the Draft Fisheries Co-management Planning Document containing options for managing the Flathead Lake and River System. The plan is the result of five months of volunteer effort by a 12-person citizen advisory committee that worked with CSKT and FWP. The draft document is available on the FWP web site at http://fwp.state.mt.us/fishing/flatheadfish/ .
(Headlines - June 29, 2000)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission agreed to closed a 19-mile stretch of the upper Big Hole River today to all angling due to extremely low water conditions that threaten the survival the river's native Arctic grayling population. The closure will take effect Saturday, July 1. "The flows and water temperatures in the upper Big Hole River are now at levels detrimental to the river's wild grayling," said FWP Fisheries Division chief Larry Peterman.
(Headlines - June 29, 2000)

Over the course of this July 4th holiday thousands of boaters will be on the water and accidents are bound to happen, says Liz Lodman, Boat Education Coordinator for Fish, Wildlife & Parks. "Wearing a life jacket might be the best move boaters can make," Lodman says. Lodman reminds all boaters that: A U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket is required for each person on board a boat. The life jacket must be in good condition and fit the intended wearer.
(Headlines - June 29, 2000)

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, the Montana Coalition received an Award of Merit from the National Water Safety Congress for its promotion of water safety for children. HMHB was nominated by Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks and the award was presented to Elizabeth Espelin, HMHB's Executive Director at its June FWP Commission meeting. Jeannie Sewell, Boating Law Administrator and Liz Lodman, Boat Education Coordinator presented the award.
(Headlines - June 29, 2000)

While traditional float-tube and belly-boat anglers are not using officially classified "vessels"--and therefore are not required to carry a life jacket-anglers on the new paddle and oar pontoons are using "vessels" and must carry a life jacket. For years boaters have been required to carry a life jacket for each person on board. Children under 12 years of age must wear their life jacket.
(Headlines - June 29, 2000)

In response to numerous complaints about some anglers taking more walleye and trout from Holter Reservoir than the regulations allow, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wardens operated a fish check station last week near the popular fishery north of Helena. More than 350 anglers were contacted at the check station and a number of problems were discovered, according to FWP Warden Captain Terry Hill.
(Headlines - June 27, 2000)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, at its June meeting, approved a river conflict policy developed over the past year with extensive public participation. The primary issue discussed during the June meeting was if the policy should address the transfer of an outfitter's commercial river-use allocation with the sale of the outfitter's business.
(Headlines - June 23, 2000)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission has adopted tentative furberarer trapping and hunting regulations for the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 seasons. Tentative regulations adopted by the commission require trappers to report the harvest of bobcat and fisher, both of which are under trapping district quotas, within 24 hours by calling the FWP regional office in the trapping district where the animal was taken. After hours or weekends the report can be made to an answering service.
(Headlines - June 23, 2000)

With the listing of the lynx as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service comes potential changes to Montana's trapping regulations. The Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks Commission is seeking public input on participating in a "4(d) rule" under the Endangered Species Act in order to protect trappers who capture a lynx by mistake.
(Headlines - June 23, 2000)

The FWP Commission adopted final moose, sheep, goat and mountain lion quotas that are mainly unchanged from last year. Bighorn sheep quotas were increased by 1 to 4 sheep, depending on the district, in the following Sheep Districts: 213-00, 283-02,422-00, 423-00, 424-000. The quota was increased from 1 adult ewe to 10 in Sheep District 680-02 because of an increased number of sheep in that area.
(Headlines - June 23, 2000)

In summer thoughts turn to taking time to do all the things you love to do, or wish you knew how to do. That is just the intent of the "Becoming an Outdoors-Woman" (BOW) workshops sponsored this summer by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. The first will run from July 31 through August 2 and the second from August 4 to August 6.
(Headlines - June 23, 2000)

Thousands of fish that have migrated from low-water streams into irrigation ditches can be saved this year by farmers who gradually reduce their water diversion at the end of each of their irrigation periods, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials said today. "The only steady stream of water in some areas is going to be in irrigation ditches and the trout will seek refuge there," said FWP Water Resources Program Manager Kathleen Williams.
(Headlines - June 23, 2000)

Reports on water levels coming in from some Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks regions around the state paint a grim picture for some of the state's smaller stocked ponds and reservoirs, according to Steve Leathe, regional fisheries manager. "We're seeing conditions in north central Montana similar to those in 1988, one of our worst drought years," Leathe said.
(Headlines - June 23, 2000)

The public will have an opportunity to comment in July on a proposed land exchange that would put Alberton Gorge near Missoula, a popular fishing and whitewater recreation area, into public ownership. The land exchange is a collaborative effort involving Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, The U.S. Forest Service, Montana Power Company and River Network, a private nonprofit river conservation organization.
(Headlines - June 23, 2000)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is developing rosters of individuals who are interested in being considered for game damage deer hunts later this year. According to Don Childress, FWP's Wildlife Division administrator, in most years there are areas where unexpected game damage problems occur and, as a result, general hunting seasons do not adequately address the problem. "Damage to everything from row crops to haystacks occurs.
(Headlines - June 23, 2000)

Montana's Wolf Management Advisory Council held its first meeting in Helena, June 14. The Council was appointed by Governor Marc Racicot through Executive Order to help Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks develop a Wolf Management Plan in anticipation of the wolf's eventual delisting under the federal Endangered Species Act.
(Headlines - June 23, 2000)

Two antelope does were taken illegally in Hunting District 690 near Chinook early in the week of June 11, and one antelope fawn was abandoned as a result. The fawn could not be captured. When an orphaned animal can be captured, it may be sent to the Helena Wildlife Shelter for release later. There is a potential reward of up to $1000 for information on this crime.
(Headlines - June 23, 2000)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks announced $164,000 in Off-Highway Vehicle Grants will be available in 2001. This grant money can be used to maintain existing OHV trails, for education, and noxious weed control. The grant money is generated from state gasoline tax and registration of OHV's. For information or a grant application packet call 444-7317. Fifteen applications from various organizations and agencies were submitted in 2000.
(Headlines - June 23, 2000)

If your trails club or agency needs money to create, complete, renovate or maintain a recreational trail, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) has money to help get the job done! The Recreational Trails Program, one part of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA 21), will provide $734,000 for Montana trails. FWP's State Parks Division administers these funds with advice from the citizen's State Trails Advisory Committee.
(Headlines - June 23, 2000)

Montana's Wolf Management Advisory Council held its first meeting in Helena, June 14. The Council was appointed by Governor Marc Racicot through Executive Order to help Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks develop a Wolf Management Plan in anticipation of the wolf's eventual delisting under the federal Endangered Species Act.
(Headlines - June 20, 2000)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet in Helena, June 15, at the Scott Hart Auditorium, 302 North Roberts and June 16, at the FWP headquarters building, 1420 East Sixth. The meetings will begin at 8 a.m.
(Headlines - June 09, 2000)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is developing rosters of individuals who are interested in being considered for game damage deer hunts later this year. According to Don Childress, FWP's Wildlife Division administrator, in most years there are areas where unexpected game damage problems occur and, as a result, general hunting seasons do not adequately address the problem. "Damage to everything from row crops to haystacks occurs and for a variety of reasons.
(Headlines - June 09, 2000)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Enforcement Division reminds owners of wolves or wolf hybrids of 50 percent wolf or more that the animals are required by Montana law to be permanently tattooed. A number is assigned by FWP and within 15 days after the number is assigned, the animal must be tattooed, the tattoo certified by a veterinarian and paper work sent back to FWP. According to FWP, about 250 of these animals are registered in Montana today.
(Headlines - June 09, 2000)

Invasive weeds are tightening their grip on millions of acres of land in Montana, including critical wildlife habitat, according to Adam Brooks, weed management coordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. "Any human activity from farming to road construction can contribute to the spread of noxious weeds," Brooks says.
(Headlines - June 09, 2000)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is sending drought warning letters for the first time since 1994 to water users with junior water rights on streams important to Montana's fisheries. Letters are going to junior water users in the Yellowstone, Missouri, and Little Missouri river basins and on some of the 12 blue ribbon streams on which FWP holds in-stream water rights.
(Headlines - June 09, 2000)

A cow elk was taken illegally on May 17 near Clancy, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Warden Sergeant Mike Ottman. The animal appeared to have been killed at another location and then moved onto Forest Service land off of Warm Springs Creek Road. All that remained at the crime scene was the boned-out carcass. This crime was discovered and reported to TIP-MONT by a citizen. Anyone with information on this or other wildlife crimes should call TIP-MONT at 1-800-6668.
(Headlines - June 09, 2000)