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

Willow Creek Land Company II, LLC private pond license review

A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock Yellowstone cutthroat trout in an unnamed private pond. The pond is a 2.45-surface-acre pond located at the end of Falls Creek Road in Park County. The pond is near Clyde Park approximately 0.21 mile east of an unnamed tributary to Falls Creek, which is a tributary to the Shields River. There is no documentation of fish within Falls Creek. The pond is fed by a groundwater well located at the site. The outlet consists of an Argi-Drain control structure. The discharge flows out onto a dry swale with no chance to reach state waters. Risk of escapement is minimal. Fish that do escape the pond will be stranded on dry ground with no chance of reaching state waters. Yellowstone cutthroat trout are native to the Shields River basin. Yellowstone cutthroat Trout could be removed from the pond via chemical treatments or through senescence. The project is sponsored by the private landowner and the license would be active for a period of 10 years from the year of issuance (2024). The license can be renewed for additional 10-year intervals at the end of each term and the license is transferable.

Comments due July 9.

Hull private pond license review

A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock rainbow trout in an unnamed private pond. The pond is 0.34-surface acre, constructed by excavation, and located off East River Road, near the small communities of Pine Creek and Pray, in Park County. The pond is located approximately 0.1 mile (100 yards) east of Elbow Creek, which is a tributary to the Yellowstone River. Brown trout, rainbow trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, and mountain whitefish have been documented in lower Elbow Creek and in the Yellowstone River. The pond has no inlet or outlet. The pond is filled via spigot and hose, which is fed by a groundwater well located at the site. The pond is filled manually by the landowner. There is no outlet from the pond. If water were to crest the pond edges, it would flow into adjacent fields before reaching Elbow Creek. Risk of escapement is minimal. Fish that do escape the pond will be stranded on dry ground with no chance of reaching state waters. Rainbow trout have been documented in lower Elbow Creek and are present in the Yellowstone River. The rainbow trout could be removed from the pond via chemical treatments or through senescence. The project is sponsored by the private landowner and the license would be active for a period of 10 years from the year of issuance (2024). The license can be renewed for additional 10-year intervals at the end of each term and the license is transferable.

Comments due July 9.

Translocation of westslope cutthroat trout within the Thompson River drainage to Big Hole Creek draft EA

FWP is proposing to transfer non-hybridized westslope cutthroat trout to suitable fishless habitat in the headwaters of Big Hole Creek (Thompson River drainage) from multiple populations across the Thompson River drainage.

Comments due July 9.

Lox private pond application EA

A landowner is applying for a private fish pond license and proposes to stock rainbow trout and Yellowstone cutthroat trout. The pond is an off-stream reservoir supplied by groundwater sources. The private pond is approximately 0.1 surface acre and located near (approximately 1 km) Bear and Rock creeks and Red Lodge. The risks of stocking the pond with hatchery-reared rainbow trout and Yellowstone cutthroat trout are minimal and escapement by natural means is highly unlikely. Additionally, Rock Creek has established populations of non-native rainbow trout that are managed as sport fish.

The project is sponsored by the private landowner, and the license would be active for a period of 10 years from the year of issuance (2024). The license can be renewed for additional 10-year intervals at the end of each term, and the license is transferable.

Comments due July 12.

Pyrenees Rescue Center Trust private pond application EA

A landowner is applying for a private fish pond license and proposes to stock Yellowstone cutthroat trout. The pond is located on private land near Barlow Creek, which is a tributary to West Red Lodge Creek. The pond is supplied by groundwater sources and contains a domestic groundwater water right for fishery purposes (43D 30018332). The private pond is approximately 0.3 surface acres and approximately 1.2 miles southeast of Luther, Carbon County. The outlet of the pond is a screened (approximately3/4-inch mesh) 10-inch culvert pipe with a two-foot drop. In addition, it is an earthen dam pond and fish escapement is likely during both normal operations and high flow events. Fish surveys in West Red Lodge Creek have documented both non-native sport fish (e.g., brown trout, brook trout) and native Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the east fork of West Red Lodge Creek. Although non-native salmonids are present, the fisheries management goals for this drainage include reducing the numbers of rainbow, brown, and brook trout where Yellowstone cutthroat trout could be negatively affected. The risks with stocking the pond with hatchery-reared Yellowstone cutthroat trout is minimal as escapement is likely but Barlow Creek experiences intermittent flows in drier years.

The project is sponsored by the private landowner, and the license would be active for a period of 10 years from the year of issuance (2024). The license can be renewed for additional 10-year intervals at the end of each term, and the license is transferable. Private landowner would stock pond upon approval of the private pond license application.

Comments due July 16.

Saddlehorn private pond EA

A private landowner is proposing to stock a newly constructed pond on their property on Barn Dance Trail near Bigfork. The landowner is seeking a permit to stock rainbow trout and westslope cutthroat trout into the private pond.

Comments due July 18.