HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on environmental assessments (EAs), conservation leases and other department projects. For more information, including how to submit comments, click on the links provided or visit fwp.mt.gov/public-notices.

Twomile Coulee Creek Pond License Review Draft Environmental Assessment

A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock rainbow trout, brown trout and westslope cutthroat trout in a private pond. The pond is roughly 18 surface acres and is located on near Oilmont. The pond is an impoundment of Twomile Coulee Creek, which is part of the Willow Creek drainage. This pond was previously permitted for rainbow trout stocking but it has not been stocked in over a decade and it is not believed to contain any fish. The landowner states potential of minnow species. The pond is fed by overland snow melt and seasonal runoff in Twomile Coulee Creek. There is no established outlet but there is a slight spillway channel that navigates water into the drainage in highwater events. The overflow discharge is rare but could flow down Twomile Coulee Creek for 1.2 miles until its confluence with Willow Creek.

Comment deadline: Nov. 14

Shop Pond License Review Draft Environmental Assessment

A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock rainbow trout, brown trout, and westslope cutthroat trout in an unnamed private pond. The pond is roughly 2.8 surface acres and is located near Oilmont. The pond is located on an unnamed coulee of Twomile Coulee Creek, which is part of the Willow Creek drainage. There is no confirmed presence of fish existing in the pond but landowner states potential of minnow species. The pond is fed by overland snow melt and drainage from nearby fields. There is no established outlet but there is a slight spillway channel that navigates water into the coulee. The overflow discharge is rare and would flow 850 feet down the unnamed coulee to Twomile Coulee Creek which is 1.2 miles upstream of Willow Creek. Willow Creek is a seasonally dry tributary to Tiber Reservoir.

Comment deadline: Nov. 14

Arrington Ranch Pond License Review Draft Environmental Assessment

A private landowner is applying for a 1-year Temporary Fish Pond License and proposes stocking rainbow trout and/or brown trout in a private pond. The pond is roughly 5.25 surface acres and is located near Canyon Creek. The pond is believed to be natural and is sourced by groundwater. This pond has not been approved for fish stocking previously, and it is not believed to contain any fish. There is no inlet or established outlet. At extreme high-water levels, water would drain to the northeast toward an irrigation ditch that eventually drains to a field and does not return to any streams. Additionally, there is another nearby irrigation ditch that could spill into the pond at extreme high flows and/or with irrigation ditch damage. The irrigation ditch is sourced from Little Prickly Pear Creek, however, escapement from the pond to the irrigation ditch is unlikely.

Comment deadline: Nov. 14