Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office

BILLINGS – BOZEMAN – GREAT FALLS – LEWISTOWN June 2015

National Fishing and Boating Week June 6-14 was National Fishing and Boating Week. The focus is to highlight the importance of recreational fishing and boating in enhancing the quality of life for those that choose to engage. Not coincidentally, it also is when most state’s offer their Free Fishing Days.

Today’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife In support of National “…to conserve, restore, Service can trace its roots back to Fishing and Boating Week, and enhance aquatic the U.S. Commission on Fish and staff from the Montana Fish systems to provide for Fisheries which was created by and Wildlife Conservation Congress in 1871. During the Office (MTFWCO) increased recreational 1930s the Bureaus of Fisheries and participated in two separate fishing opportunities Biological Survey were transferred Kid’s Fishing Day events; one nationwide…” to the Department of Interior, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, • • • where they were combined in Great Falls and the other at 1940 to form the U.S. Fish and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife In 1995, President William Wildlife Service. Subsequently, in Service’s Bozeman Fish Jefferson Clinton issued 1956, the Fish and Wildlife Act Technology Center. Executive Order 12962. established two bureaus: the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Both events were well This Executive Order and the Bureau of Sport Fisheries attended with many kids highlights the Federal experiencing the joy of and Wildlife. Then, in 1970, the Government’s recognition of catching their first fish. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries and commitment to was transferred to the Department See also “Kids catch fish plus fun” recreational fishing and sound of Commerce and renamed the aquatic habitats. National Marine Fisheries Service, whereas the Bureau of Sport Special thanks to: Fisheries was retained within the Malmstrom Air Force Base, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Montana Fish Wildlife and Thus, there is a long standing Parks, Ennis National Fish record of the U.S. Fish and Hatchery, and the Bozeman Wildlife Service recognizing the Fish Technology Center. importance of recreational fishing and the benefits it affords the American public.

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Airmen look on as from Ennis National Fish Hatchery are released in

Powwow Pond, Malmstrom Air Force Base, in advance of the Kid’s Fishing Day event.

Photo: USFWS

Red Rock Lakes NWR Arctic Grayling: Elk Springs Creek was once a This diversion may have resulted immigration, emigration, or both historically important spawning in Swan Lake serving as a barrier are limiting. tributary for Arctic grayling. of sorts due to potentially Today, this spring creek is eerily inhospitable habitat for Working in partnership with Red devoid of this species. immigrating adults and/or Rock Lakes National Wildlife emigrating fry. Refuge and Montana Fish Wildlife The prevailing hypothesis relates and Parks, we utilized remote site to an early 1900s re-routing of the The study efforts include early incubators (RSI) to rear Arctic streams course to flow into Swan larval drift evaluations, as well grayling eggs. Emergent fry will Lake and then out to Upper Red as, studying young-of-year be followed to gain insights into rock Lake (see map on next page). movement within the Elk Springs larval drift behavior. Creek system to assess if

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Red Rock Lakes NWR Arctic

Grayling (Cont.):

In order to further understand effort to restore Elk Springs Arctic grayling early life-history Creek into its historical behavior in this system, channel to improve/restore approximately 33 yearling connectivity to Upper grayling, the result of last year’s Red Rock Lake. Jason Marsh deploying one of several stationary Passive Integrated Transponder tag RSI efforts, were implanted with PIT (passive integrated reading arrays. These arrays will monitor Arctic Grayling movements within, in, and out transponder) tags. These tags, of Elks Springs and Picnic creeks. Photo: USFWS coupled with PIT tag reading arrays at strategic locations (see map below) will provide valuable insights into yearling movements and behavior.

These efforts are part of the preliminary data collection efforts necessary to allow the Montana FWCO to assist the refuge with subsequent monitoring of a planned

3 Approximate location of PIT tag reading arrays Air Force and USFWS collaborate on Natural Resource Management under the Sikes Act: While National Arbor Day was officially April 24, 2015, Malmstrom Air Force Base and the Montana FWCO recognized the importance and intent of the day, founded by J. Sterling Morton, by planting trees in June.

The 2015 Arbor Day tree See also: planting event occurred 18-19 “Planting my first tree on Arbor Day” June with an Arbor Day Tree City Proclamation ceremony culminating the events on June 19.

A total of 19 trees were “There is no aristocracy in trees. They are not planted: 8 Colorado spruce haughty. They will thrive near the humblest (4’-5’ tall), 4 Colorado spruce cabin on our fertile prairies, just as well and (8-10’ tall), and 8 Canada Red become just as refreshing to the eye and as Chokecherries (10’ tall). fruitful as they will in the shadow of a king’s

In addition to Montana palace.” FWCO staff, there were 30 volunteers, both civilian and — J. Sterling Morton Air Force from various squadrons, who made this event possible.

USFWS biologist, Dr. Elin

Pierce, (right foreground) and some of the civilian

and Air Force volunteers standing beside a few of the

newly planted trees.

Photo: USAF

See also:

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Air Force and USFWS As part of the process, the Crow Tribal collaboration (cont.): minnows must be disease free Support for WEED CONTROL: and the state fish board must As part of our ongoing approve the transfer. As of Yellowstone invasive weed control work at this writing, the minnows : Malmstrom Air Force base, have passed disease testing Montana FWCO biologists and we are waiting on the Approximately 1,700 juvenile Robbin Wagner and Michael state fish board’s approval. Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Melton focused their efforts There is also preliminary (Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri) on targeting Whitetop planning to exploring were released into Shiveley (Cardaria spp.) in June. alternative methods to be Creek (700) and Lost Creek used in conjunction with (1,000). This species is Whitetop is exotic mustard electrofishing for removing recognized as a species of likely introduced to the US in invasive Goldfish (Carassius special concern by the Crow contaminated alfalfa seeds. auratus) from the pond. Tribe. Since 2002, This plant grows in a variety Options being considered are; Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout of soil types with moderate an array of modified fyke nets, conservation and restoration moisture. short set gill nets, and/or large has been a conservation Our current control method is minnow traps. partnership between the the application of Telar® at Crow Tribe and Montana the manufacturer’s prescribed FWCO. rate.

POWWOW POND: Montana FWCO biologists have been coordinating with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks to pursue stocking Fathead Minnows (Pimephales promelas) as an additional prey base for the Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) in the pond.

Native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout seeking cover shortly after being stocked in Shiveley Creek, Crow Reservation, Montana.

Photo: USAF 5

Fish Passage: Much of June was spent preparing agreement packages with Montana Fish Wildlife and Park and the U.S. Forest Service’s Custer- National Fish Passage Program Gallatin and Bighorn National • • • Forests. Following are brief The National Fish Passage Program (NFPP) is a voluntary, descriptions of these new non-regulatory initiative in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service projects: that provides financial and technical assistance to remove or bypass artificial migratory barriers to help improve population levels.

Odell Creek, Montana: If you want more information or are interested in partnering on a Montana NFPP eligible project, please contact George This project will remove an Jordan, Montana FWCO project leader. unused and undersized 6’ diameter, approximately 50’ long culvert crossing O’Dell Creek, a tributary to the . Once removed, a natural channel will be constructed for aquatic organism passage.

Sixteenmile Creek, Montana: This project will provide fish passage and connectivity along two unnamed tributaries to the South Fork Sixteenmile Creek by replacing two perched culverts within the larger seven mile Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi) restoration project area. One of two perched culverts in the Sixteenmile Creek drainage to be replaced.

Photo: USFS 6

Fish Passage (cont.).

Musselshell River, Montana: When completed this project Egge Diversion Dam on the will remove the Egge Musselshell River, Montana Diversion Dam and restore natural flow patterns and Photo: Montana FWP bank lines of the Musselshell River. This will create approximately 24 miles of connected river between Painted Robe and Big Coulee creeks.

French Creek, Montana: The goal of this project is to Perched culvert in French Creek d to be removed. remove a perched culvert and replace it with a step-pool Photo: Montana FWP structure to restore Arctic Grayling and Westslope Cutthroat Trout passage to 3.5 miles of upstream habitats.

Canyon Creek, Wyoming: This project will remove perched culverts and replace them with a bottomless concrete box to reconnect Culvert barriers under native Yellowstone Cutthroat Forest Service Road 25, Trout habitat, restore natural Bighorn National Forest, channel geometry, and lower WY. sediment delivery to stream. Photo: USFS

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For more information, click on the following logos Or feel free to contact any of the Montana FWCO Team members below:

George Jordan Andrew Gilham Robbin Wagner Project Leader Pathway’s Intern Fisheries Biologist 2900 4th Ave. North, Room 301 4052 Bridger Canyon Road 335 Airport Road 61 Billings, MT 59101 Bozeman, MT 59715 Lewistown, MT 59715 Phone: 406-247-7365 Phone: 406-585-9010 Phone: 406-535-2800 ext 23 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Jim Mogen Jason Marsh Michael (Josh) Melton Fisheries Biologist Seasonal Biotech Fish and Wildlife Biologist 4052 Bridger Canyon Road 4052 Bridger Canyon Road 335 Airport Road 61 Bozeman, MT 59715 Bozeman, MT 59715 Lewistown, MT 59715 Phone: 406-585-9010 Phone: 406-585-9010 Phone: 406-535-2800 ext 22 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Judy Kobus-Fisk Mat Erickson Elin Pierce Administrative Support Officer Seasonal Biotech Fish and Wildlife Biologist 4052 Bridger Canyon Road 4052 Bridger Canyon Road Malmstrom Air Force Base Bozeman, MT 59715 Bozeman, MT 59715 Great Falls, MT 59715 Phone: 406-585-9010 Phone: 406-585-9010 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

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