Fisheries Restoration And Irrigation Mitigation Program

Print

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will administer up to $890,000 in fish restoration and irrigation funding available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The new funding is for voluntary fish screening and passage projects associated with water diversions west of the Continental Divide in Montana. Proposals for Montana projects must be submitted by May 30. Proposals for 2003 must be submitted by July 15, 2002. A team of local, state, tribal and federal reviewers will rank project applications in Montana and recommend projects to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for funding. Applications are available on the FWP web site by clicking on Habitat and then Fish Habitat.

"To be eligible for funding, a fish screening or passage project must be part of an irrigation or water diversion of some kind and benefit fish species native to the project area," said Mark Lere, FWP Habitat Restoration Program Officer. Eligible projects will increase fish survival, reduce fish entering water distribution systems and increase the amount of accessible, productive fish habitat, Lere said.

All applications must include a local state, tribal or federal government sponsor or co-applicant. Project sponsors must identify matching funds equivalent to 35 percent of the design and construction of the project and must assume responsibility for operation and maintenance costs. Matching funds may include in-kind contributions such as easements, materials, equipment or labor.

The Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act of 2000 created the program and Congress appropriated $4 million in 2002 to be divided equally among Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington and used to match local, state and tribal program dollars.

For detailed information or assistance with a project that may be eligible for this funding, contact FWP’s Mark Lere at 406-444-2432 or at mlere@state.mt.us.