On Saturday, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Director Christy Clark, FWP staff and local stakeholders cut the ribbon on the brand-new Reed’s Slough Wildlife Viewing Area.

“Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ commitment to expanding public access opportunities has always been a top priority,” Director Clark said. “We owe it to Montanans to protect rivers and wild lands while increasing opportunities for the public to recreate. The Reed’s Slough Viewing Area is a perfect example of our hardworking staff working with local groups to expand access throughout our state.”

Reed’s Slough not only provides exceptional wildlife-viewing opportunities, but it expands public access for Montanans and provides an educational venue for local schools to learn more about migratory waterfowl and other animals that depend on the wetlands.

Reed’s Slough is protected by conservation easements from two different families – the Cummings family (western half of the slough donated in 1996) and the Danford family (eastern half of the slough donated in 2021).

In October 2022, the Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the Danford Pond Wildlife Viewing Area Conservation Easement acquisition and construction.?In spring of 2024, construction of the wildlife viewing area began.