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Westslope Cutthroat Trout Enhancement Through Rainbow and Hybrid Trout Removal Draft EA

Feb 3, 2023 12:00 PM

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public input on the proposed continuation of a project to benefit native westslope cutthroat trout in tributaries in the Middle and North forks of the Flathead River near Coram in Flathead County.FWP is proposing to continue removing and relocating hybrid and rainbow trout from the mouths and channels of Abbot, Sekokini, Rabe, Ivy, and Third creeks to Pine Grove Community Pond in Kalispell. This effort would reduce threats to westslope cutthroat trout persistence while still providing angling opportunities.The introduction of non-native species like rainbow trout seriously threaten native cutthroat trout through hybridization (interbreeding) and competition for resources. Currently, genetically unaltered westslope cutthroat trout exist in less than 10% of their historic range in the U.S. and less than 20% of their historic range in Canada.The proposed project would incorporate lessons learned from past projects in FWP’s ongoing effort to conserve native westslope cutthroat trout by reducing negative impacts from non-native rainbow and hybrid trout in the affected river system. FWP would continue to monitor the efficacy of the proposed project by tracking the rate that hybridization continues to spread in the affected river system, the population’s genetic structure in streams targeted for suppression, and the relative number of spawning hybrid and rainbow trout captured at targeted sites.

Related Documents

 

Public Comment Opportunity

FWP asks that comments on this draft environmental assessment be submitted to either of the following addresses by 5:00 pm on February 17, 2023:

                        Amber Steed                                          or         ASteed@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 Amber Steed at the email address above or via phone: (406) 751-4541.