North Fork Blackfoot River WCT Conservation project--Decision Notice
Nov 9, 2020 12:00 AM
FWP has issued a Decision Notice (DN) for its proposal to conduct the North Fork Blackfoot River Westslope Cutthroat Trout (WCT) Conservation Project.
As detailed in the draft Environmental Assessment (EA), the objective of this project is to establish a secure population of nonhybridized to slightly hybridized (< 10% hybridization) WCT in the North Fork Blackfoot River upstream of the North Fork Falls. Secondarily, the project would eliminate a source of nonnative genes that threaten native WCT in the North Fork Blackfoot River watershed downstream of the barrier falls. Native fish restoration in the project area would require removing the existing fishery (comprised of hybrids of rainbow trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, and WCT) using two commonly used formulations of liquid rotenone (a naturally-derived piscicide substance used to kill fish), used in stream reclamations in Montana. This would be followed by stocking of genetically pure WCT in the project area. Upon completion of the public involvement process and by inclusion of information in the decision notice, FWP accepts the draft EA as final and selects the proposed action (Alternative 1) to proceed with the project. The decision document also includes public comment, along with FWP’s responses.
Related Attachments
Contact Information
Sharon Rose | Region 2 FWP | 3201 Spurgin Rd., Missoula, MT 59804 | 406-542-5540 | shrose@mt.gov