Fisheries Habitat Project Completed on Lower Madison River

NorthWestern Energy, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and the Bureau of Land Management, in partnership with River Design Group, have completed a project to improve trout habitat in an area of the lower Madison River.

Trout numbers in the lower Madison River are at historic lows due in part to low population recruitment and limited spawning and rearing habitats.

This fall, crews expanded an island to enhance side-channel habitat complexity and improve flows to maintain gravels used by trout for spawning. The project also included constructing an additional side channel for added habitat complex...