Martinsdale Land and Cattle Pond Decision Notice

A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock brown trout, rainbow trout and Yellowstone cutthroat trout. FWP is required to review the potential impacts of issuing a Private Fish Pond License. The pond was originally permitted in 2020 for rainbow trout and brown trout. A new permit is required to add Yellowstone cutthroat trout to the species allowed to be stocked in this pond. The pond is located approximately 300-feet from RM 6.1 of the North Fork Musselshell River on the abandoned Gillis (Sandeno) Ditch in HUC6-Lower North Fork Musselshell River/HUC5-North Fork Musselshell River/HUC4-Upper Musselshell River. Rainbow trout and brown trout are both present in the North Fork Musselshell River drainage.

The primary water source for the pond is groundwater. The pond inlet consists of an abandoned irrigation ditch/channel that may activate during periods of high flow via the ditch. The pond outlet returns to the historic channel/irrigation ditch, where it then flows downstream for approximately 0.7 miles before returning to the North Fork Musselshell at RM 5.3. There is no pond outlet control, but the outlet channel of the pond will be screened. Within the proposed pond, reproduction of the proposed species would not be expected due to a lack of suitable habitat. If the proposed species were to escape downstream to the North Fork Musselshell River, successful reproduction would be anticipated.

Yellowstone cutthroat trout are present in the headwaters of East Fork Haymaker Creek, isolated above numerous on-stream impoundments and a seasonally dry channel. Westslope Cutthroat trout are not believed to be aboriginal to the drainage but are present in some reservoirs and headwaters in the drainage as a result of stocking. Other Montana State Species of Concern present in the Upper Musselshell drainage are northern redbelly dace and redbelly x finescale dace hybrids (chrosomid dace). Associated risks to known SOC stemming from stocked trout are considered low to nonexistent given the proposed species presence in the drainage and existing barriers preventing escaped fish from accessing critical habitats. The potential genetic impacts to downstream fish populations are considered negligible. Non-native trout populations are present in the North Fork Musselshell River drainage. Genetic impacts to those populations would be expected to be minimal and of no concern. Nearby westslope and Yellowstone cutthroat trout populations in the Upper Musselshell River drainage are protected via anthropogenic and natural barriers.

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.

Based on the environmental review provided in the Draft EA, and in accordance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and policies, FWP determined the proposed action (Alternative 2), will not have significant adverse impacts on the human environment associated with the proposed action and constitutes a reasonable and appropriate strategy to achieve identified objectives. Therefore, preparation of an EIS is unnecessary. FWP hereby adopts the Draft EA as final and approves the Alternative 2, the proposed action.

With this DN, FWP hereby adopts the Final EA and approves the proposed action.

Related Documents:  Martinsdale Land and Cattle Pond Decision Notice