Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) invites public review of its proposal to acquire fee title to 320 acres from a private party (Doug & Annette Rehbein), as an addition to FWP’s adjacent 34,721-acre Fish Creek Wildlife Management Area, located south of Tarkio in Mineral County.  This private property has unique ecological importance to the Fish Creek watershed as valuable habitat and as a corridor for wildlife movement and dispersal.  The acquisition would include 1.3 miles of West Fork Fish Creek, also protecting associated riparian, wetland and floodplain areas that support many wildlife species as well as native fish.  A draft environmental assessment (EA) has been prepared describing this proposal.

The EA may be obtained by mail from Region 2 FWP, 3201 Spurgin Rd., Missoula 59804; by phoning 406-542-5540; by emailing shrose@mt.gov; or by viewing FWP’s Internet website http://fwp.mt.gov (“Public Notices,” beginning October 8).  Comments may be made on FWP’s website or may be directed to Sharon Rose at the mail, phone or email addresses above.

The direct web link for this EA and opportunity to comment online is:

http://fwp.mt.gov/news/publicNotices/environmentalAssessments/plans/pn_0019.html

FWP will hold a public hearing in Alberton on Tuesday, October 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Alberton Community Center (701 Railroad Ave) to discuss the proposal and take public comment.

Comments must be received by FWP no later than November 6, 2015.