DECISION NOTICE RLBH, LLC Private Pond License Review FWP-DN-FSH-R3-24-029

May 31, 2024 4:58 PM

A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock Rainbow Trout in an unnamed private pond. Rainbow Trout are not native to the drainage, but the Madison River already contains Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout. The 1.14-surface acre pond is located near Varney Road about 0.5 miles east of the Madison River. The pond is fed by a groundwater well located at the site. The outlet consists of a screened Argi-Drain control structure. The outflow of the pond is directed into a ditch that eventually reaches the Madison River. However, risk of escapement is low because of the screened outlet structure. Rainbow Trout could be removed from the pond via chemical treatments or through senescence. The project is sponsored by the private landowner, and the license would be active for 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.