At its September 8 meeting in Helena, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission approved 29 projects for funding through Montana's Future Fisheries Improvement Program.

The Commission's decision approves the use of $354,114 in fishing license dollars, which will be matched with money from federal and other funding sources, to pay for approved projects in 16 different Montana counties. The total cost of the improvements is approximately $1.2 million. All the projects were recommended for funding by FWP's Future Fisheries Review Panel in July. Projects approved for funding include:

Beaverhead County Poindexter Slough

Blaine County Salmo Reservoir

Broadwater County Staubach Creek

Chouteau County Big Coulee Creek

Deer Lodge County Lost Creek, Racetrack Creek

Granite County Middle Fork Rock Creek, Trout Creek

Lake County Ronan Spring Creek

Lewis & Clark County Canyon Ferry Reservoir, Cottonwood Creek, Elk Creek, Little Prickly Pear Ck (2)

Lincoln County Grave Creek

Madison County Spring Creek

Meagher County South Fork of Smith River

Missoula County Clark Fork River, Ninemile Creek, O'Brien Creek

Park County Daisy Dean Creek, Shields River (2)

Powell County Cottonwood Creek, Rock & Kleinschmidt Cks, Monture Creek, Pearson Creek

Sanders County Prospect Creek

Stillwater County Bad Canyon Creek

The Future Fisheries Review Panel is appointed by FWP Director Patrick Graham to review lake and stream restoration proposals and to select projects eligible for funding under the Future Fisheries Improvement Program, created by the 1995 Legislature. The program is intended to provide for the protection and enhancement of Montana fisheries through voluntary restoration of habitats for populations of wild fish, with an emphasis on native species.

Information on the Future Fisheries Improvement Program can be obtained by sending requests to Glenn Phillips, Habitat Protection Bureau, FWP Fisheries Division, PO Box 200701, Helena MT 59620-0701, or via e-mail: gphillips@state.mt.us.