Draft Environmental Assessment Sullivan Private Pond FWP-CEA-FSH-R4-24-016

A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock brook trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and largemouth bass. FWP is required to review the potential impacts of issuing a Private Fish Pond License. The pond is located on an ephemeral drainage that feeds into an unnamed tributary of South Fork McDonald Creek. The pond has a manmade dam and is fed by overflow from a nearby solar tank. The landowner intends to install a screened pipe below the rock spillway as an outlet for the pond. There is no documented fish presence in the drainage the pond is on, or the unnamed tributary it feeds into. South Fork McDonald Creek in this area has a prairie fish assemblage. Species documented in South Fork McDonald Creek are lake chub, longnose dace, longnose sucker, white sucker and mountain sucker. South Fork McDonald Creek does not provide popular sportfishing. Surveys in nearby Tyler Creek have documented Northern Redbelly Dace, a Montana Species of Special Concern. It is very likely that Northern Redbelly Dace are present in South Fork McDonald Creek and the unnamed tributary the pond drainage flows into.

 

Risk of escapement is minimal if the outlet pipe is properly sized and screened. The pond is high in the drainage and will only occasionally see large runoff events that could lead to escapement. It is possible that trout or bass get washed downstream into the unnamed tributary, or South Fork McDonald Creek itself. High sediment loads appear to preclude trout from becoming established in this drainage, therefor risks associated with trout escapement are minimal and short term in duration. Largemouth bass are piscivorous and if they escape could predate upon Northern Redbelly Dace and other species. These impacts would be anticipated to have a short-term impact, as it is unlikely that largemouth bass would persist long term in the drainage.

 

The project is sponsored by the private landowner and the license would be active for a period of 10-years from the year of issuance (2024). The license can be renewed for additional 10-year intervals at the end of each term and the license is transferable.

 

Related Documents: Draft Environmental Assessment Sullivan Private Pond FWP-CEA-FSH-R4-24-016

 

Public Comment Opportunity:

Deadline: Comments must be received by 5 p.m. on May 10^th, 2024

 

Email comments to:  clsmith@mt.gov

Mail comments to: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Attn: Clint Smith, PO Box 938, Lewistown, MT 59457