Poorman Creek Phase 3 Restoration - Future Fisheries Decision Notice

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is proposing to fund improvements on Poorman Creek, near Lincoln. This project would address an area with entrenchment, lack of instream and riparian habitat, channel instability, and bank erosion. Approximately 1200 feet of channel would be restored using channel reconstruction, instream habitat (step pools, vegetated wood matrix, large woody debris structures). Tailings piles would be removed from the floodplain, opening channel access. The goal is to reestablish floodplain connectivity and function, improve instream and riparian habitat, correct chronic bank erosion, and restore a self-maintaining stream system. Project actions are expected to increase trout abundance and enhance fishing opportunities within Poorman Creek while also increasing trout recruitment to the Blackfoot River. This restoration effort will contribute to FWP’s fisheries management objectives in the upper Blackfoot River watershed. FWP’s action would be funding this project through the Future Fisheries Improvement Program. The project sponsor is the Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited and construction is planned for summer 2025 to fall 2026.

The Draft EA was made available for public review and comment from March 31, 2025 to April 15, 2025.  The Draft EA was posted on FWP’s Public Notice webpage: https://fwp.mt.gov/news/public-notices.  The Draft EA was also made available for public review on the Environmental Quality Council or EQC website: https://leg.mt.gov/mepa/search/, by individual request, and through notice to identified interested parties. No comments were received during the advertised period.

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 Draft EA, without modification, and approves the proposed action.

[FWP-DN-FSH-R8-2025-004]

RELATED DOCUMENTS:

Poorman Creek Phase 3 Decision Notice