Draft Environmental Assessment Proposed Bad Rock Canyon Wildlife Management Area Acquisition

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) seeks public comment on a proposal to purchase approximately 772 acres of forest along 1.3 miles of the Flathead River near Columbia Falls to protect water quality and important fish and wildlife habitat, while providing free public recreation access. The property is highly developable and threatened by the rapidly growing city of Columbia Falls, but would be protected as a Wildlife Management Area under this proposal. The Columbia Falls Aluminum Company (CFAC), a subsidiary of Glencore, a multi-national company, has decided to dispose of this property. The property is winter range for elk, moose, and white-tailed deer. Completion of this project would safeguard vital habitat and a travel corridor for bull trout and grizzly bears, Endangered Species Act-listed Threatened species found on the property.

Related Documents

Bad Rock Canyon Proposed Wildlife Management Area Acquisition (PDF)

Bad Rock Canyon Conservation Project Scoping Notice (FWP Public Notice)

Public Comment Opportunity

FWP has scheduled a virtual public hearing August 26, 2021 at 6:00 pm to provide interested organizations and private individuals an opportunity to ask questions about the proposed project and submit public comment. The online meeting will be livestreamed on the FWP website via Zoom (https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/regions/region1) and the FWP YouTube channel. Instructions for participating in the virtual meeting will be posted online beforehand.

FWP asks that comments on this draft environmental assessment be submitted to either of the following addresses by 5:00 pm on September 8, 2021:

                        Kris Tempel                                         or         ktempel@mt.gov         

                        Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

                        490 North Meridian Road

                        Kalispell, MT 59901

 

If you have any questions regarding this project or the draft environmental assessment, please contact Kris Tempel at the email address above or via phone: (406) 249-7481.