Fish and Wildlife Commission to meet April 14

From Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will hold a meeting April 14 at Montana WILD in Helena and will take up a wide array of issues including final decisions on several no wake zone proposals, consideration of various lease agreements, and regulation proposals.  

The meeting will start at 8:30 a.m. and be available via a live video stream from all FWP regional offices, where the public can also make comment. Audio of the meeting will be streamed live via fwp.mt.gov.  

The full agenda includes the commission making final decisions on petitions for no wake zones on the Cromwell Channel on Flathead Lake, the Madison River arm on Ennis Lake, Duck Creek Bay on Fort Peck Reservoir and Bay of Park Grove at the Fort Peck Dredge Cuts.  

Additionally, the commission will make final decisions on lease agreements for the placement of aquatic invasive species decontamination stations at the Silos near Canyon Ferry Reservoir and at Galata near Tiber Reservoir.  

Other final decisions are: 

• Cabinet Gorge Reservoir bridge construction closure  

• Skyles Lake land transfer project  

• Glendive Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture Paddlefish Grant Committee   

• Grizzly bear hunting regulations date correction  

• 2017 migratory bird (waterfowl, sandhill cranes, mourning doves and snipe) regulations 

• 2017 elk and deer permits outside biennial quota ranges  

• The Nature Conservancy recreation management area access biennial rule  

• Grant Marsh Wildlife Management Area addition 

• Grazing lease renewal on Vandalia Wildlife Management Area   

• Farming leases on Elk Island Wildlife Management Area  

The commission will also consider endorsing the following items: 

• Musselshell River Fishing Access Site lease  

• Teton River instream flow water right lease  

• Captain Clark Fishing Access Site road acquisition   

• 2017 CSKT waterfowl and upland game bird hunting regulations 

• Continuation of Middle Madison Valley trumpeter swan reintroduction  

• Keogh Conservation Easement purchase of additional rights  

•  Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area conifer expansion treatment 

The commission will hear proposals on the following items: 

• 2017 mountain lion quotas 

• 2017/2018 wolf hunting seasons quotas and HD boundaries and SB 200 quotas 

The commission will also hear an informational presentation on the legislative audit of FWP’s brucellosis management program. 

The commission will hold a work session at FWP Headquarters, 1420 E. 6th Ave, Helena MT on April 12 at 3 p.m., to provide information to the incoming commissioners on meeting protocol. No public comment will be taken at the work session.

For the complete meeting agenda and related cover sheets, go to the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov; under “Quick Links” click “Commission.”   

FWP ensures its meetings are fully accessible to those with special needs. To request arrangements, call FWP at 406-444-3186.