Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on the following environmental assessments (EAs), checklist EAs (CEAs) and proposals. For more information, including how to submit comments, click on the link provided or visit fwp.mt.gov/public-notices.
Bull Trout and Westslope Cutthroat Trout Enhancement Draft CEA
FWP is proposing suppression of non-native trout (brown, brook and rainbow trout) and hybrid cutthroat-rainbow trout in East Fork Bull River. This will reduce the non-native competition in an important adfluvial bull trout population and slow the spread of hybridization and reducing its impacts to remaining genetically unaltered westslope cutthroat trout in the Bull River drainage.
Comment deadline: April 15
Recommendations from the Fish Creek Collaborative Trail Planning Effort
FWP is seeking public review and input on recommendations from the Fish Creek Collaborative (FCC) citizen advisory group and its trail planning effort. The group worked on ideas for a multi-use trail system in western Montana's Fish Creek Complex in the fall of 2025 and released its draft recommendations on March 17. The FCC served an advisory role to FWP, and its recommendations are intended to inform potential next steps. The FCC's recommendations were written by the citizen committee, not by FWP, and the package released for public comment reflects their unedited input. The recommendations provide general guidance for the agency but do not provide final approval of any specific projects, which would require additional planning, funding decisions and environmental review as applicable. After the comment period closes, FWP will review and summarize the public comments received on the FCC recommendations. The input will help inform FWP's internal review and consideration of next steps.
Comment deadline: April 17
Makoshika State Park Diversified Lodging Re-establishment Draft CEA
A wildland fire occurred in Makoshika State Park, FWP Region 7, in July of 2025. During the fire, the park lost a yurt, which was used for diversified lodging for visitors. FWP wishes to construct new diversified lodging at Makoshika by providing a cabin for visitors to stay in while they enjoy Makoshika State Park. This project is supported by The Friends of Makoshika Group and the Montana State Parks Foundation.
Comment deadline: April 18
FWP is proposing the construction of a fish barrier on Christiansen Creek in order to preserve a genetically pure strain of Westslope Cutthroat Trout. The Christiansen Creek fish barrier is an FWP Fisheries Division priority project, described in the Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation (WCT) Strategy for the Missouri River Headwaters in southwest Montana. This strategy provides a prioritization framework for conserving extant WCT, with populations that are greater than 99 percent genetically pure being the highest priority. Christiansen Creek is home to a greater than 99 percent WCT population that is threatened by hybrid fish with higher levels of non-native genes immediately downstream. The fish barrier will isolate the WCT in Christiansen Creek and protect it from potential hybridization. The hybrid fish in the system will be removed. Once restoration is complete, the WCT In Christiansen Creek are expected to be secured. The project will be a step in accomplishing the goal of restoring WCT to 20 percent of their historically occupied range, as per the Statewide Fish Management Plan.
The stream likely does not receive much angling pressure due to its size, but once the project is complete, anglers will have access to catch nonhybridized WCT in a stream that is open to public fishing. Further, projects like these will ensure that WCT are not designated as a threatened species in the future, which could bring angling restrictions.
Comment deadline: April 25
Tenmile Creek Fish Barrier Draft CEA
FWP is proposing the construction of a fish barrier on Tenmile Creek in order to preserve a genetically pure strain of Westslope Cutthroat Trout. The Tenmile Creek fish barrier is an FWP Fisheries Division priority project, described in the Westslope Cutthroat Trout Conservation (WCT) Strategy for the Missouri River Headwaters in southwest Montana. This strategy provides a prioritization framework for conserving extant WCT, with populations that are greater than 99 percent genetically pure being the highest priority. Tenmile Creek is home to a greater than 99 percent WCT population that is threatened by hybrid fish with higher levels of non-native genes immediately downstream. The fish barrier will isolate the WCT in Tenmile Creek and protect it from potential hybridization. The hybrid fish in the system will be removed. Once restoration is complete, the WCT In Tenmile Creek are expected to be secured. The project will be a step in accomplishing the goal of restoring WCT to 20 percent of their historically occupied range, as per the Statewide Fish Management Plan.
The stream likely does not receive much angling pressure due to its size, but once the project is complete, anglers will have access to catch nonhybridized WCT in a stream that is open to public fishing. Further, projects like these will ensure that WCT are not designated as a threatened species in the future, which could bring angling restrictions.
Comment deadline: April 25
Upper O'Brien Creek Restoration Project Draft CEA
The Clark Fork Coalition is proposing to restore a section of upper O'Brien Creek and the relocation of a single-track road. The purpose of this project is to reduce sedimentation, improve aquatic habitat and reestablish floodplain connection in Upper O'Brien Creek by moving the existing forestry road and improving instream habitat and riparian habitat. Upper O'Brien Creek is listed by the Montana DEQ as impaired for aquatic life and lists the probable source as the Forest Service roads. This project would address the lack of instream habitat with the addition of woody debris in the stream and would address the sedimentation issue by moving the eroding road away from the stream, reshaping eroding banks and reestablishing floodplain connection and restoring riparian wetlands.
Comment deadline: April 25
Madison River Side Channel Restoration – Hyde Creek Draft CEA
The Madison River Foundation is proposing to restore degraded side channel (Hyde Creek) to the Madison River to enhance trout recruitment on the Madison River by creating new side channel spawning habitat. The project benefits are expected to increase fish abundance, improve floodplain function and aquatic habitat function and are expected to have a benefit to the public for both stream recreation and angling.
Comment deadline: April 25
Lower Grant Creek Restoration Draft CEA
The Clark Fork Coalition is proposing a stream and riparian restoration project on Lower Grant Creek, which is a tributary to the Clark fork River and is located in Missoula. The project will specifically focus on Lower Grant Creek near Kelly Island with the goal of restoring floodplain connectivity, improving riparian vegetation and increasing channel complexity. The project will include 2,534 feet of bank treatment, 4,609 feet of fencing, constructed wetlands and a grazing management plan to protect the newly improved riparian habitat. The improved riparian habitat will also shade the river and help provide thermal refugia for fish species. Much of the project will involve restoring riparian habitat in what is currently an agricultural corridor.
Comment deadline: April 25
The 2026 recommended Recreational Trails Program (RTP) awards are open for public comment. FWP administers RTP, a federally funded program which provides funding for trail and trail-related projects across the state. Eligible projects include development and rehabilitation work on urban, rural, and backcountry trails; planning and construction of community trails; snowmobile and cross-country ski trail maintenance and grooming operations; and a variety of trail stewardship and safety education programs. This year, FWP received 49 RTP applications requesting over $3 million. The conditional awards total $1,501,595.25.
Comment deadline: April 28
FWP is planning to prepare an environmental analysis on a proposal to purchase a conservation easement within Lincoln, Mineral and Sanders counties. FWP is working with The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and Stimson Lumber Company (Stimson) on a proposed project to place 20,824 acres of highly productive timberland under conservation easement.
The proposed conservation easement, to be held by FWP, would ensure the opportunity for landowners to sustainably harvest wood products, preclude residential or commercial development of these timberlands, protect important wildlife habitat and associated key landscape connectivity and provide permanent, free public access to the incorporated affected property. The U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Program and grant funding raised by TPL would be likely funding sources if this proposal were to proceed to completion.
This project would conserve a year-round habitat and a movement corridor for elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer and moose as well as critical habitat for bull trout, grizzly bear and Canada lynx, species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. CE terms would preclude the human-wildlife conflicts that come with residential development of properties within wildlife habitat, especially those with grizzly bears, black bears and mountain lions. The property currently provides over 6,000 days per year of public hunting access that would be secured in perpetuity under this proposal. The project shares 115 miles of border with U.S. Forest Service and state lands as well as 15 miles of border with privately conserved lands.
Comment deadline: April 30