Montana's Comprehensive Strategy team recently created a Five-year Action Plan (
2.3 MB). The plan seeks to accomplish work in seven community types that harbor 16 species and five animal groups with inventory needs.
To carry out the plan, FWP will devote its State Wildlife Grant resources to:
- community-based habitat work in Big Hole Valley in southwestern Montana and the Milk River Valley in northeastern Montana;
- species restoration, with a focus on Arctic grayling and westslope cutthroat trout restoration in the southwestern Montana; and the mountain plover, burrowing owl and prairie dog in the sagebrush country of eastern Montana;
- survey and inventory work, which will concentrate on prairie fish surveys, fresh water mussels and general fish, wildlife and plant monitoring statewide.
Here is a look at the Action Plan's priorities "At A Glance".
Conserving Community Types is a high-leverage strategy to address the conservation concerns of whole ecological communities or species groupings.
- Grassland Complexes
- Aspen Galleries (a component of the Mixed Broadleaf Forest)
- Riparian and Wetlands
- Sagebrush and Salt Flats
- Mountain Streams
- Prairie Rivers and Streams
Species needs will be specifically addressed through focus areas, community types, and individually.
A thorough understanding of Montana's fish and wildlife populations depends on accurate scientific information.
- Mussels
- Prairie Fish
- Reptiles
- Shorebirds/Waterbirds
- Bats
State Wildlife Grants is the nation’s core program for keeping common species common and preventing rare species from becoming endangered. About $7.5 million has been delivered to Montana since 2000.
