Future Fisheries Improvement Projects Approved

Westslope cutthroat trout and Arctic grayling passage will be improved in the Mount Haggin Wildlife Area when four culverts are removed or replaced in the French Creek watershed. A landowner’s streambank on the Musselshell River will be stabilized with natural materials to stop erosion while also creating fish habitat. These projects are two of eight that recently received funding by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission through the Future Fisheries Improvement Program (FFIP). Approximately $427,500 in funding was approved to improve Montana fisheries.

The fisheries improvements include restoration of streams to a natural condition, stream habitat installation, restoring and stabilizing streambanks, improving fish passage through culvert removal or replacement, keeping fish out of irrigation diversions and more. Projects will help both native and non-native fish, including Arctic grayling, bull trout, westslope cutthroat trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, blue sucker, sauger and Northern redbelly dace.

This year’s funding was matched by $1.2 million from outside sources. Landowners, watershed organizations, conservation districts, federal agencies and nonprofits submitted a total of eight proposed projects. The approved projects are located across Montana, including three that are west and five that are east of the Continental Divide.

Applications for the FFIP winter-cycle grants are due Nov. 15 to FWP’s Fish Habitat Bureau. Application forms are available on FWP’s website, fwp.mt.gov/FFIP or at FWP offices.

Any individual or group with a project designed to restore or enhance habitat for wild or native fish may apply for FFIP funding. Applicants are encouraged to work with local FWP fisheries biologists. Landowners and other project partners usually share project costs, extending FFIP dollars.

More information and FFIP applications are available on FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov/FFIP.