Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), Region One, is seeking public comment on a project for Wild Horse Island State Park for the purpose of improving forest health and grassland conditions on the island by thinning selected areas of young stands of ponderosa pine. This would help reduce the risk of future bug and disease infestations of these stands and reclaim native Palouse prairie grasslands that have been reduced by encroachment of ponderosa pine. The draft is out for public review through December 2, 2006. For more information or to discuss this proposal, please call Jerry Sawyer at 751-4575 or e-mail to jsawyer@mt.gov.
(Environmental Assessment - Published November 01, 2006 - Archived 05/2007)

The Flathead Reservation Fish and Wildlife Board announced that a report on efforts to meet the goals of the Flathead Lake and River Fisheries Co-management Plan is now available for public comment for a 45-day period. The report covers the results of the first 5 years of the Fisheries Co-management Plan and makes recommendations for mid-term adjustments. Public Comment is due by 12/15/06. The Flathead Lake Co-Management Plan 5 year report is attached. EXPERT REVIEWS AVAILABLE FOR FLATHEAD LAKE CO-MANAGEMENT REPORT Reviews of the Flathead Lake Fisheries Co-management Report by a number of experts in the field of fisheries management are now available. These reviews concern the status of the fish populations in Flathead Lake. These reviews are assembled as an addendum to the five-year midterm review report. This addendum will be a living document and will be added to as the remaining two reviews are received. The following pages contain the expert reviews received by November 1, 2006. BOTH ATTACHMENTS ARE FAIRLY LARGE, IF YOU EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY OPENING THEM, CLICK "SAVE" WHEN PROMPTED. THEN, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOCUMENT.
Public Comment Period Has Closed.
(Management Plan - Published November 01, 2006 - Archived 12/2006)

The STATE OF MONTANA, Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, is seeking proposals from qualified contractors to implement timber harvest and wildfire hazardous fuels reduction, utilizing acceptable forest practices within Lone Pine State Park. This project will be overseen by the State of Montana, FWP and administered, on behalf of the State, by Northwest Management Inc (NMI). NMI is a professional forestry consulting company. Payment to contractors will be made by NMI upon satisfactory completion of each project. A more complete description of the supplies and/or services sought for this project is provided in Section 3, Scope of Project. Proposals submitted in response to this solicitation must comply with the instructions and procedures contained herein.
(Bids & Proposals - Published October 31, 2006 - Archived 11/2006)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is seeking public comment on a proposal to acquire approximately 20 acres of riverfront property along the Clark Fork River in the Alberton Gorge. If acquired, the property would become a part of the Alberton Gorge Recreational Corridor, a seven-mile segment of the Clark Fork River located approximately 30 miles northwest of Missoula. The parcel under consideration (commonly known as the Stranahan Property) is currently owned by conservation buyer Stranie Ventures, LLC, which purchased the land five years ago. The company proposes to sell the land to FWP at the original purchase price.
(Environmental Assessment - Published October 26, 2006 - Archived 04/2007)

Provide and install a 2,000-gallon fish distribution tank on Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) truck for the Big Spring Trout Hatchery per specifications listed in the invitation to bid. F.O.B. ADDRESS: BIG SPRINGS TROUT HATCHERY 2035 FISH HATCHERY RD LEWISTOWN MT 59457
(Bids & Proposals - Published October 23, 2006 - Archived 04/2007)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) invites the public to comment on the proposed purchase of a privately owned 180-acre tract of land and a conservation easement on an additional 1,103-acre private tract in Powell County near Ovando. The purpose of the proposed action is to conserve wildlife habitat for a variety of species near the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area, at the base of Ovando Mountain. Both properties would be accessible to the public for hunting in the fall.
Public Comment Period Has Closed.
(Environmental Assessment - Published October 20, 2006 - Archived 04/2007)

The FWP Commission opened up mule deer hunting to either sex in wildfire-stricken portions of hunting districts 520, 560, 575, and 590. This emergency measure is in response to the devastation to mule deer range caused by recent wildfires.
(Hunting - Published October 20, 2006 - Archived 04/2007)

Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Region 7, has completed an environmental assessment (EA) for the Gartside Fishing Access Site Fishing Pier Replacement Project.
(Legal Notice - Published October 17, 2006 - Archived 04/2007)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks have developed an environmental assessment (EA) for the Gartside Fishing Access Site Fishing Pier Replacement Project. The proposed area of construction consists of 1 acre located on the west end of Gartside Reservoir one mile north of Crane, Mt. on Hwy 16. The proposed project includes repairing the damaged fishing pier. The proposed project is predicted to begin and be completed in the spring of 2008.
Public Comment Period Has Closed.
(Environmental Assessment - Published October 17, 2006 - Archived 12/2006)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) proposes to purchase a permanent road easement across private land for the purpose of providing public access to land owned and administered by the Ashland Ranger District of the Custer National Forest (U.S. Forest Service) in Powder River County. The proposed easement is located on an existing two-track road that exits from the Beaver Creek County Road about 23 miles east and north of Ashland. The easement crosses one-half mile of private land before connecting to an existing developed road network on the national forest. FWP has received an $18,000 grant from the Montana Fish and Conservation Wildlife Trust to purchase the easement. The Rooney family has agreed to accept $18,000 for the easement for this amount. The road easement will provide year-round access to the national forest for public recreation and for all other legal uses of the national forest land. FWP further proposes to purchase the easement and to transfer the road easement, or administrative authority for the road easement, to the U. S. Forest Service.
Public Comment Period Has Closed.
(Environmental Assessment - Published October 17, 2006 - Archived 04/2007)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) invites the public to comment on the proposed purchase of a privately owned 367.92-acre tract of land in Ravalli County near Lyman Creek within the Sula State Forest and the Bitterroot National Forest. If the proposed action is approved and the land is acquired by FWP, the property would be exchanged with the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) for tracts of equal value located within and adjacent to FWP’s Calf Creek and Threemile Wildlife Management Areas, also in Ravalli County. Once in DNRC ownership the Lyman Creek property would be accessible to the public and managed by DNRC.
(Environmental Assessment - Published October 16, 2006 - Archived 04/2007)

Attached is the Decision Notice for the Shields River Proposed Fishing Access Site Acquisition Environmental Assessment (EA). Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) proposes to accept, by donation, a 23.6-acre property parcel along the Shields River in Park County, to be managed as a Fishing Access Site. The primary benefits of this site acquisition are providing formal public access to the Shields River with no fee purchase required to obtain the property.
(Decision Notice - Published October 13, 2006 - Archived 04/2007)

Ash and debris flows have caused habitat degradation in the Upper and Lower Deer creeks in Sweet Grass County damaged by recent fires. This Environmental Assessment proposes to move Yellowstone cutthroat trout portions of these creeks to Harney, Thiel or Barlow creeks in Carbon County until the habitat recovers.
(Environmental Assessment - Published October 13, 2006 - Archived 04/2007)

October 2006 Commission Meeting Agenda - meeting to be held in Miles City
(Commission Agendas - Published October 10, 2006 - Archived 04/2007)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks proposes to acquire an easement for about 62 acres on Lower Spring Creek from Mark Machler. The proposed Easement will include approximately 62 acres just north of the Lewistown city limits. Within the Easement boundary, a walk-in recreation corridor along the creek will be established as a Fishing Access Site along with a parking area. The property is located adjacent to US 191 and contains about 0.7 miles of Big Spring Creek. A major benefit regarding purchase of this easement is the potential to re-meander Big Spring Creek through this straightened stream reach. A separate environmental assessment will be completed prior to any construction or stream restoration activity.
Public Comment Period Has Closed.
(Environmental Assessment - Published October 10, 2006 - Archived 04/2007)

The Missouri Headwaters Legacy Trail and Bridge Approach Project has been proposed by Gene Townsend, Mayor of Three Forks, MT and will be funded through the Transportation Equity Act, Recreational Trails Program, National Park Service Lewis and Clark Trail Grant Program, private donations and in-kind volunteered community services. The proposed project consists of two parts. The first component will involve the construction of bridge abutments on the Milwaukee Road Fishing Access Site and the installation of a pedestrian bridge that will span the Madison River. The bridge would complete the connection of an existing pedestrian trail system between the community of Three Forks, MT and southern boundary of Missouri Headwaters State Park. The second component of the project is the completion of a ¼ mile trail leading from the southern boundary of Missouri Headwaters State Park to the Park entrance. The overall project will allow pedestrian and bicycle traffic to safely access the Park and avoid highway use and conflicts with motor vehicles. This Draft EA is available for review in Helena at the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park’s (FWP) Headquarters, the State Library, and the Environmental Quality Council. It also may be obtained from FWP at the address provided above, or viewed on FWP’s website: http://www.fwp.mt.gov. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks invites you to comment on the attached proposal. Public comment on the proposal will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on October 31, 2006. Comments should be sent to: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, c/o Missouri Headwaters Legacy Trail, 1400 S. 19th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59718. Or e-mailed to: rheagney@mt.gov
(Environmental Assessment - Published October 03, 2006 - Archived 04/2007)