Friday, March 18, 2005
Montana Future Fisheries Program Grants Approved
More
than $433,000 in funding was approved recently by the Montana Fish, Wildlife
& Park Commission for 21 Future Fisheries Improvement Program projects. The
funding will be matched by more than $1.2 million from outside sources.
The FWP Commission made its final decision on funding requests based on
recommendations from a 14-member citizen panel. Sponsors of approved
projects enter into an agreement with FWP to maintain project improvements
through responsible land-management practices.
The commission approved funding for projects in Madison, Jefferson,
Missoula, Stillwater, Beaverhead, Carbon, Deer Lodge, Powell, Park, Sanders,
Flathead, Lincoln, Blain, Phillips, Valley, Ravalli, and Liberty counties.
The improvements will help yellow perch, sauger, walleye, Arctic grayling,
westslope cutthroat trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, bull trout, brown
trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, and prairie fishes. Work includes
riparian fencing and re-vegetation; stream channel and spawning habitat
improvements; installation of hiding and rearing cover; stream bank
stabilization using natural materials; fish passage improvements; fish
screens on irrigation diversions; water management that improves stream
flows, and installation of a barrier to protect a genetically pure
population of Yellowstone cutthroat trout.
Applications for the next regular round of funding are due July 1. Special
drought funding proposals to help maintain flows in streams and rivers are
due April 1.
Application forms are available from all FWP regional offices. The
application is also on FWP’s web page,
Future
Fisheries Program.
Any individual or group with a project designed to restore or enhance
habitat for wild or native fish may apply for Future Fisheries Improvement
Program funding. Applicants are encouraged to work with local FWP fisheries
biologists. Landowners and other project partners usually share project
costs, which extends Future Fisheries Improvement Program dollars.
For more information on the Future Fisheries Improvement Program, call (406)
444-2449 or write to: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Future Fisheries
Improvement Program, P.O. Box 200701, Helena.
Click Here To Return To The Previous Page