BLM-(MT), Fish Impediment Inventory Along Montanaâ¿¿s HiLine, North Central Montana District

Background: With over 3.0 million acres of BLM lands in the HiLine portion of the Montana/Dakotaâ¿¿s BLM, numerous important prairie streams and rivers are found on these lands. These streams provide a home to numerous species of native warm water species, including a number of Montana species of special concern and potentially the endangered Pallid Sturgeon. Fish barriers/impediments negatively impact these warm water fisheries in the form of dams, low water crossings and improperly installed culverts. These barriers prevent native fish passage to historic spawning habitat and is extremely detrimental and limiting to fish populations in these prairie streams. The District has dozens of major creeks that provide over 1,000 miles of prairie stream habitat and several thousand miles of smaller drainages. Objectives: BLM Montana-Dakotas has funding available to collaborate with a partner, to develop an inventory of fish barriers along rivers and streams in the HiLine portion of Montana. These are in turn connected to major rivers such as the Missouri and Milk Rivers. This inventory is the first, crucial step in preparation of benefitting these warm water species through habitat improvement on these rivers and streams. This project will ultimately restore connectivity for prairie fish that are currently limited in their movements and reproductive potential. According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, this project will benefit BLM Special Status Species such as the Iowa darter, pearl dace, sauger, sturgeon chub, Northern Redbelly X Finescale dace, as well as, potentially paddlefish and pallid sturgeon. The Nickwall Project that was completed in 2016 on the Redwater River was an example of how the BLM and MFWP worked closely together to install fish- friendly passage that opened up dozens of miles of river to the fish migrating out of the Missouri River. As other funding becomes available, additional fisheries-related projects will be added to this agreement, as proposals are put forward by the BLM or the recipient. These projects will likely include restoration projects, fisheries surveys and/or anything else appropriate that would fit within the scope of restoring fish passage to prairie streams along the HiLine area of Montana. Public Benefit: 1. Utilization of the knowledge that results from this inventory would direct future barrier removal or modifications to improve passage for a diverse number of warm water fish species, including a number of BLM Special Status Species. 2. The resulting modifications for fish passage will benefit anglers in the form of improved fish populations. 3. Project products in the form of mapping and inventory documents will be available to the general public through each agency.