Lolo Creek Tenant Meanders Restoration Project - Future Fisheries Decision Notice
Apr 29, 2025 9:39 AM
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is proposing to fund improvements on Lolo Creek, near Lolo. In the project area, which is adjacent to Highway 12 (Earl Tenant campground), the stream was channelized and rip-rapped due to the highway construction. This project would realign 0.5 miles of the creek in a wide segment of valley bottom and relic channel. Wetland and instream habitat restoration and revegetation would be used to reduce flood energy, increase off-channel water storage, and improve fisheries and aquatic habitat. The stream, floodplain, and wetland areas would be reconnected, and a buffer would be created between the stream and the road to allow for channel adjustments. The restoration would be completed in a publicly accessible area and is intended to be a demonstration project. FWP’s action would be funding this project through the Future Fisheries Improvement Program, as well as permitting oversight and fisheries monitoring. The primary project sponsors are Trout Unlimited and the Lolo National Forest; construction is planned for summer or fall 2025.
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-R8-2025-001]
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