Summary of river restoration program projects : Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 1990-1994

56 Pages·1994·1.1 MB·English

by  ALCON Ecological Consulting (Firm)

S ALCON Ecoioeicai
333*9162Consultin£ (Firm)
P2srrp Suromary of river
1994 restoration
proeram projects
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SUMMARY OF
RIVER RESTORATION PROGRAM PROJECTS
MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE 6 PARKS
1990 - 1994
Fisheries Division
1420 East 6th Avenue
Helena, MT 59620
Prepared by:
ALCON Ecological Consulting
713 Tower
Helena, MT 59607
November 1994
MONTANASTATELIBRARY
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Summaryofnverrestorationprogrampro
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CONTEMTS
Page
Program Summary 1
Project Descriptions 7
Appendix A - River Restoration Act Rules A-1
Appendix B - River Restoration Categorical Exclusions B-1
Appendix C - Grant Application Form C-1
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MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE & PARKS
Fisheries Division
River Restoration Program
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Program Summary
The River Restoration Program (RRP) was initiated by the 1989
Montana Legislature; they recognized that the conservation of
rivers and their fisheries is of vital social and economic
importance to Montana. House Bill 754 established a fund using
license dollars and donations to help ensure that Montana rivers
and streams will continue to provide high quality fishing to the
State of Montana and its people.
Rules were developed to administer the RRP in 1990 following
standard public review procedures. The rules were approved by the
Secretary of State and are found in the Administrative Rules of
Montana, i.e., 17.7.1101 through 17.7.1112 (Appendix A).
Additionally, rules were developed to categorically exclude certain
RRP projects from the need to prepare an Environmental Assessment
to meet the requirements of the Montana Environmental Policy Act.
These rules (12.2.454) were approved by the Secretary of State in
August, 1994 (Appendix B) The form presently used by applicants
.
seeking River Restoration Grants is included as Appendix C.
Montana has two laws designed to protect and preserve rivers and
streams in their natural or existing state. The Stream Protection
Act of 1963 and the Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act of
1975 require entities proposing projects that may physically alter
or affect a river or stream to first obtain a permit that specifies
measures required to protect the stream.
Prior to initiation of these acts, projects were often designed
without consideration for fish habitat and some blocked spawning
migrations. Additionally, certain land management activities that
occur near streams sometimes degrade river fish habitat. Such
activities as subdivision development, livestock use, logging,
dewatering and streamflow manipulations have all degraded fish
habitat. The RRP provides reliable funding to restore fish and
wildlife habitat through physical projects designed to improve
rivers and their associated lands. The Department works
cooperatively with individuals, landowners, private groups,
conservation districts, and local, state and federal governmental
agencies to implement specific river restoration projects.
The RRP fund was established by earmarking fifty cents from each
resident and one dollar from each non-resident fishing license
sold. The program generates approximately $110,000 annually and to
date has netted $556,453. Additionally, the 1993 Montana
Legislature authorized the Department to budget $200,000 of federal
aid dollars towards RRP projects. To date, applicants have been

awarded $623,698 from the program. Table 1 siimmarizes program
funding and activities for each fiscal year since inception of the
program through November 1, 1994.
TABLE 1. River Restoration Program Funding and Accounting
Fiscal
Year
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stabilization - 12; irrigation diversion modifications - 7; bank
stabilization - 4; fish passage - 3; spawning channel - 1; and
watershed restoration that involves a variety of treatments to
improve fish habitat, water quality and land management - 3.
Projects authorized for funding to date will have far reaching
impacts on fish populations. When the 52 projects are completed,
they will have directly enhanced fish habitat on 44.7 miles of
rivers and streams. These projects will enhance spawning
conditions and facilities, improve water quality, promote bank
cover, reduce loss of fish to irrigation diversions and provide
fish passage to spawning grounds. It is estimated that 141 miles
of rivers and streams and three lakes will contain enhanced
populations of fish as a result of the RRP. Of significance, these
projects will be supplemented with over 1.2 million dollars of
matching funds, grants, cost sharing and in-kind services. In
several cases, the RRP funds were the catalyst needed to generate
other sources of funds required to initiate projects.
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