Region 2 FWP has issued a Decision Notice to proceed with its proposal to renew a lease of pasture on its Blackfoot Clearwater Wildlife Management Area (BCWMA) located in Powell County. The proposed lease between FWP and the Two Creek Ranch (Lessee) would exchange grazing on 1,050 acres of primarily non-native pasture on the BCWMA, for implementation of a rest-rotation grazing system on 1,000 acres of privately managed native grasslands that provide important elk winter forage. Additionally, infrastructure maintenance and weed treatment on the BCWMA would be performed by the Lessee. FWP will recommend to the FWP Commission at its May 9 meeting that FWP be allowed to proceed with this lease.
(Decision Notices - 05/07/2013)

Region 2 FWP has issued a Decision Notice to proceed with its proposal to acquire 3 conservation easements (Murray Douglas, Murray Creek, and Douglas Creek) on approximately 10,760 acres of private land north of Drummond in Powell County. The purpose is to secure critical fish and wildlife habitat and to maintain compatible recreational opportunities and hunting access for the public. A draft environmental assessment, management plan, and socio-economic assessment for this proposal were available for public review from March 22 to April 22, 2013. All but one comment received from the public and at the public hearing expressed support for this proposal; the one did not specifically express support or opposition. FWP will recommend to the FWP Commission at its May 9 meeting that FWP be allowed to proceed with the CE acquisitions.
(Decision Notices - 05/02/2013)

A Decision Notice has been prepared for the environmental assessment entitled: Upper Big Hole River Arctic Grayling Assisted Re-Colonization Project near Jackson, Montana. This project proposes to use remote streamside incubators to facilitate re-colonization of Arctic grayling into the Upper Big Hole River near Jackson, MT. Comments were received from 5 individuals/organization during a 30-day comment period ending on April 8, 2013.
(Decision Notices - 04/12/2013)

The enclosed Decision Notice has been prepared to consider a coordinated rest-rotation grazing program on Wall Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) near Cameron, MT, for a five-year term to extend April 2013 through October 2015. The program, which began in 1982, consists of a spring and fall grazing fee-grazing agreement with the Wall Creek Grazing Association (WCGA). The proposed grazing program would encompass 6,149 acres owned by FWP, 918 acres that FWP leases from Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), and 300 acres owned by the BLM. There are an additional 9,503 acres of Forest Service land incorporated in this coordinated grazing system. Total acreage affected by the proposed action is 16,870 acres. Slight modifications to the Draft Environmental Assessment have been made as noted in the FWP response. The Draft Environmental Assessment, together with this Decision Notice, will serve as the final document for this proposal. It is my decision, based on the Environmental Assessment and public comment, to approve the implementation of Alternative B for renewal of the grazing lease on Wall Creek WMA for a five year period, and that there will be no significant impacts on the human and physical environments associated with this project. I therefore conclude that the Environmental Assessment is the appropriate level of analysis, and that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required. The Decision Notice may also be obtained from FWP at the address provided above, or viewed on FWP’s Internet website: http://www.fwp.mt.gov.
(Decision Notices - 04/05/2013)

A Decision Notice has been prepared to maintain a coordinated rest-rotation grazing program on Fleecer Wildlife Management Area (WMA) near Divide, MT, for a 6-year term to extend April 2013 through October 2018. The program, which began in 1982 and has been in effect in its current format since 1987, consists of a spring grazing and fall grazing exchange agreement with two area ranches.
(Decision Notices - 03/26/2013)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MFWP) Region 6 has issued a Decision Notice for the Fresno Reservoir Wildlife Management Area Grazing Lease Extension. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is proposing to extend the grazing lease on the Fresno Reservoir Wildlife Management Area (WMA) for two years ending September 15th, 2014. Grazing would continue to be managed under the current rest-rotation grazing system. During this extension, a new management plan for this WMA will be developed evaluating habitat conditions, role of livestock grazing, and management priorities for this area. The Fresno Reservoir WMA is located in western Hill County approximately 23 miles northwest of the city of Havre. It is northwest of Fresno Reservoir along the western edge of the Milk River. Extension of this grazing lease for another two years under the current system would not result in any foreseeable significant impacts to the vegetation or wildlife on the WMA, nor would it have any foreseeable significant individual or cumulative impacts on the physical or human environment. After review of this proposal and the public comments submitted it is our decision to accept the Decision Notice and Draft Environmental Assessment as final and to recommend the extension of the grazing lease on the Fresno Reservoir WMA.
(Decision Notices - 03/26/2013)

This letter is to notify you that I have made a decision regarding Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks implementation of a grazing lease renewal on the Blackleaf Wildlife Management Area (BLWMA). My decision is to move forward with the proposed action. The lease will allow the removal of current vegetation by grazing as a management tool to enhance the subsequent availability and palatability of fall and spring forage on the BLWMA as described in the Environmental Assessment and proposed grazing plan.
(Decision Notices - 03/25/2013)

The enclosed Decision Notice has been prepared for the proposal to renew a grazing lease on the Robb/Ledford Wildlife Management Area (WMA) with the Ledford Creek Grazing Association (Association) for a 3-year term to begin Spring 2010 through October 2012. The EA presents four grazing alternatives that have all been developed to address changes from the current lease needed to fully meet the objectives for the WMA The proposed lease would encompass 17,302 FWP owned acres, 10,796 acres FWP leases from Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), 680 acres owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and 3,600 acres owned by DNRC known as the McGuire section that is sub-leased to the Association. Total acres involved in the R/L System are 32,378. It is my decision to proceed with a modification to Alternative A that reduces the grazing season by 1 week, requires strict adherence to movement dates out of the lower pastures, has a life of three years, and will provide for increased vegetation and wildlife surveys.
(Decision Notices - 03/21/2013)

The Isaac Homestead WMA was purchased by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MFWP) to provide hunting opportunities while also maintaining wildlife populations and the unique riparian ecosystem in a viable and healthy condition. The proposed action is to continue a share-crop agreement on ~125 acres of the WMA with a long-time, competent lessee. The fields in the proposed project area have traditionally been utilized for agricultural production. The lessee will cultivate and retain a portion of the grain crop harvest, leaving the remaining crop standing for wildlife use during winter months. The benefit and purpose of the lease is to provide winter habitat and forage, primarily for pheasants, deer, and turkeys. Standing crops also benefit migrating waterfowl and a variety of other wildlife species. The area is open to public hunting during all commission-approved seasons, and provides opportunity for deer, upland game bird, and waterfowl hunting. Utilizing the EA and public comment, a decision must be rendered by MFWP which addresses the concerns and issues identified for this proposed action. MFWP’s analysis supports the agricultural lease of Isaac Homestead WMA as proposed. We find there to be no significant impacts on the human and physical environments associated with this project. Therefore, we conclude that the Environmental Assessment is the appropriate level of analysis, and that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required. After review of this proposal, it is our decision to accept the draft EA as supplemented by this Decision Notice as final, and to recommend the continuation of the agricultural lease for Isaac Homestead WMA.
(Decision Notices - 03/14/2013)

The Isaac Homestead WMA was purchased by Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks (MFWP) to provide hunting opportunities while also maintaining wildlife populations and the unique riparian ecosystem in a viable and healthy condition. The pastures in the proposed project area currently contain stands of rank, minimally productive vegetation that is too thick to provide ideal nesting and brood rearing habitat for pheasants and other bird species. The proposed action is to temporarily allow grazing during the winter season (Jan 15 – Mar 15), when usage of the WMA is at its lowest. Grazing will allow plants to restore vigor and seedlings to establish. The result will be healthy plant communities that are diverse, provide excellent nesting and brood rearing cover for birds, and improved forage for a variety of wildlife species. Utilizing the EA and public comment, a decision must be rendered by FWP which addresses the concerns and issues identified for this proposed action. FWP’s analysis supports the agricultural lease of Isaac Homestead WMA as proposed. We find there to be no significant impacts on the human and physical environments associated with this project. Therefore, we conclude that the Environmental Assessment is the appropriate level of analysis, and that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required. After review of this proposal, it is our decision to accept the draft EA as supplemented by this Decision Notice as final, and to recommend the continuation of the grazing lease for Isaac Homestead WMA.
(Decision Notices - 03/14/2013)