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Montana Partners Program Conservation Focus Areas

Introduction and Overview degraded landscapes tends to resonated in the U.S. as agencies stretch limited resources even explored a related, but somewhat In a perfect world, there would be further. Indeed, the conservation independent, trend away from top- enough time and money to address paradigm has shifted in scale and down, regulatory-based and expert- every conservation issue. Instead practice from small and reactive to driven resource management we face a growing list of imperiled large and proactive. This approach toward voluntary, incentive-based species, habitat degradation, allows practitioners to implement conservation with broad public elevated risks to intact landscapes landscape conservation before the and community inclusion in land and limited budgets. These opportunity to do so is lost. management programs (Weber constraints demand an overall 2000, Wondolleck and Yaffee approach based on ‘conservation Landscape planning has typically 2000). Today, community-based triage’ defined here as the been a biological endeavor but the conservation has evolved from prioritization of landscapes to which real key to implementing lasting a theoretical argument against limited resources are allocated conservation is working with people actions that exclude humans to to maximize biological return on to maintain rural lifestyles that are integrated approaches that embrace investment (Bottrill et al. 2008, compatible with biological goals. equally the societal and biological 2009). Community-based conservation aspects of conservation (Horwich originated in the 1980s in response and Lyons 2007). Once seen as a defeatist, to criticism of major international conservation triage is now viewed organizations for designing and The Montana Partners for Fish as a new approach that targets implementing conservation with and Wildlife (MT PFW) program limited resources at critical little input from local communities began discussing the merits of conservation issues. In contrast, (Chambers 2007). The rise of conservation focus areas in the providing palliative care to severely community-based conservation also mid 1990’s. In 1999, the MT

43 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Mountain-Prairie Region Strategic Plan

PFW program developed its first strategic plan using intact A 10-step Conservation Focus Area (CFA) approach. habitats as the basis for selecting conservation focus areas. In • Use geographic areas or ecoregions as a foundation for planning. FY 2007, the Montana Step- • Select a representative set of focal species. Down Strategic Plan refined the • Initiate biological planning by compiling in a geographic information conservation planning process. The system all relevant habitat and population data for focal species. 2007 Plan identified geographic • Identify initial overlap in conservation plans between state, federal, planning areas, selected priority and nongovernment partners. focal species for each geographic • Consult with partners to view strengths and weaknesses in planning area, analyzed biological biological data. models and incorporated other • Draft initial set of CFAs. scientifically based conservation • Use landscape intactness and public/private ownership patterns to plans. The process included a robust compare draft CFAs. outreach effort. • Assess existing community-based conservation groups already working in identified CFAs. In FY 2007, this comprehensive, • Evaluate realized and potential future threats to CFAs. multi-step approach initially • Formally select final set of CFAs. identified 18 potential MT PFW conservation focus areas. Final selection was completed by in-depth and wildlife species, in contrast to indicator, species of special concern analysis of the 18 areas using the jurisdictional lines for management and flagship were used collectively following filters; public/private land such as state or county boundaries to move beyond single-species patterns, proximity to FWS field (Bailey 1995). We began by management towards landscape stations, existing community-based dividing Montana into four distinct scale conservation. partnerships, intact landscapes, and areas; Prairie Potholes, Great threats. This led to the selection of Plains, Upper Missouri/Yellowstone For the MT PFW Strategic Plan, 10 priority conservation focus areas Watershed and the Upper Columbia we further refined the Focal encompassing 11% of the private Watershed. Species concept by establishing four lands in Montana. specific selection criteria. Those We then selected focal species include: 1) Landscape Species For the 2012-16 planning cycle, for each distinct geographic (Mills 2007); 2) Species that are MT PFW has adopted a 10-step area. Focal species help provide data rich as described by Service approach for selecting conservation a practical bridge between single- Strategic Habitat Conservation focus areas. These steps provide and multiple-species approaches Model; 3) Species that one or filters for designating the most to wildlife conservation and more of our partners are actively important areas to invest limited management (Mills 2007). However, monitoring to establish biological time and resources. with 1.5 million identified species, outcomes related to restoration, practitioners face major challenges management and protection In application, the PFW program implementing conservation activities at the population level; 4) model of biological planning begins actions in a way that is logistically, Politically, socially, and logistically by locating focus areas within broad financially and politically feasible. attainable on private lands in geographic areas. Geographic areas One viable solution is to develop Montana as determined by the are similar to eco-regions in that inference about the larger MT PFW program and our 2011 they cover relatively large areas community or landscape based on a Science Advisors (Dr. Naugle that contain geographically and subset of species in the system. Six – University of Montana, Dr. climatically distinct assemblages categories of focal species including Vest – Intermountain West Joint of natural communities and fish keystone, trend detector, umbrella, Venture, and Sean Fields – Habitat and Population Evaluation and Assessment Team).

A three tiered process was then developed for each geographic area to further refine our Focal Species selection. These tiers are defined as: Tier 1 (Primary Species): A species that meets all four categories for prioritization; Tier 2 (Secondary Species): A species that does not meet one of the four categories used for prioritization, or is a Tier 1 species for only a small segment of larger geographic area (e.g., grizzly bear on the Rocky 44 Montana

Table I lists the MT PFW 2012-16 Strategic Plan focal species by tier. Prairie Pothole Great Plains Upper Missouri Upper Columbia TIER 1 Sage-grouse Sage-grouse Sage-grouse Grizzly bears Bull trout Mallard Arctic grayling TIER 2 Piping plover B.T. prairie dog B.T. prairie dog Pallid sturgeon Ws. C. trout Ws. C. trout Ws. C. trout Trumpeter swan Trumpeter swan Bull trout Grizzly bears TIER 3 L. B. curlew L. B. curlew L. B. curlew L. B. curlew Grizzly bears Y.S.C trout Mixed Grass Mixed Grass Grassland Bird Grassland Bird Suite* Suite* Mountain plover Mountain plover * McCowan’s longspur, Chestnut-collared longspur, Sprague’s pipit & Baird’s sparrow

Mountain Front within the prairie pothole area), trumpeter swan in the Centennial Valley within the upper Missouri area, and Westslope cutthroat trout in the Blackfoot Watershed in the upper Columbia area); Tier 3 (Science Need): A Landscape Species lacking empirical data to apply the Strategic Habitat Conservation Model for on-the-ground delivery within a geographic area.

Once geographic areas and focal species had been selected, biological planning and conservation design follow. Biological planning is the systematic application of scientific knowledge about species and habitat conservation (Johnson et al. 2009c). Planning includes Figure 1. Range-wide breeding sage-grouse density areas represent spa- articulating measurable population tial locations of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the known breeding popula- objectives for selected focal species, tion differentiated by color. Because colors are additive, red and orange identifying what may be limiting represents 50% of the breeding population in 10% of the range. populations below desired levels specific models, associated habitat linking biological outcomes to and compiling models that describe objectives and maps of biodiversity habitat outcomes. how populations are expected to and species richness. The maps respond to specific conservation are produced by applying empirical Figure 1 tells us where to work actions (on-the-ground delivery). models to spatial data (Johnson et in a landscape but it doesn’t Conservation design is a rigorous al. 2009c). The empirical models address limiting factors. GIS-based mapping process displayed in a spatial data format Furthermore, it does not link that predicts patterns in the will be the basis for prioritizing biological outcomes to habitat landscape and develops species- conservation delivery as well as outcomes. Our goal is to complete 45 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Mountain-Prairie Region Strategic Plan

The next step involved consultation with other conservation professionals. First, the MT PFW program draft focus areas were compared to other biologically- based conservation plans that cover the same geographic areas. One example is the Montana Comprehensive Wildlife Plan. Key conservation partners were asked to review data layers and discuss data gaps prior to selecting the focus areas.

We then developed a draft of potential MT PFW focus areas. For this plan, the PFW program and its partners identified 18 potential focus areas across Montana. Next, draft focus areas were evaluated by assessing landscape intactness and public-private ownership patterns. Figure 2. Number of grizzly bear conflicts within the Blackfoot focus area If focus areas have equivalent pre (1998-2003) and post (2003 to present) with conflict reduction activities values after the sixth step, priority implemented. is given to landscapes with large tracts of native vegetation that that link for all Tier 1 species during mortalities were management are embedded within ≥50 percent this five year strategic planning related, where bears are removed public ownership or where private timeline. For example, an explicit due to livestock depredation landowners own relatively large objective for greater sage-grouse (Servheen, 2011). Research shows parcels. in the Glaciated Shale Plain Focus that these mortalities are a direct Area might read; “Increase the result of human/grizzly bear The next filter involved assessing Sage-Grouse Populations by conflicts. By mapping the known viable community-based 10% over the next five years.” conflicts within the Blackfoot River conservation groups working Accomplishing this biological Watershed Focus Area and working within the identified focus outcome will entail implementing proactively to address those issues areas. We believe working with grazing management on 30,000 we can track biological outcomes watershed, place-based interest acres of privately owned sage- in the form of reduced conflicts and or other non-profit organizations steppe habitat resulting in a 5 cm mortalities. MT PFW program is a key component to a successful average increase in cover height. conservation delivery activities that private lands program. When This will equate to an 8% increase address conflict reduction include high biological values align with in nest success and a 10% increase removal of dead livestock carcasses, community values there is fertile in the sage-grouse population protecting spring calving areas and ground for effective conservation (Walker et al. 2007, Doherty et al. installing power fencing around delivery at the landscape scale. 2009). apiaries (bee hives).

Another example of linking conservation delivery to biological objectives is our work with grizzly bears in the upper Columbia and prairie pothole geographic areas. The Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) grizzly bear population is increasing at an annual rate of 3% and the overall population is estimated at approximately 900 bears (Servheen, 2011). There were 232 mortalities documented between 2000 and 2010 with 49% of those deaths occurring on private lands (Servheen, 2011). Eighteen percent of the Biologcally Significant Areas Based on Focal Species 46 Montana

Ten final Montana PFW program Focus Areas.

At this point, threats are assessed. covering 23% of Montana’s land Selecting specific places to Evaluating potential habitat ownership (12 percent public and work using a biologically-based, fragmentation threats from 11 percent private). The PFW thorough, and systematic approach residential subdivision, energy program will set targets and goals is critical to implementing development and sodbusting is to restore and enhance habitats community-based landscape an important step in focus area on the private land, working with conservation. The Montana PFW selection process. We put this step partners who will make their program believes that selection towards the end of the process emphasis the public land within the of appropriate focus areas based as we believe using threats focus areas. on scientifically-sound strategies too early in the planning stage constitutes approximately 20 typically leads to reactive rather Over the next 5 years, the ten MT percent of the recipe for success. than proactive conservation PFW focus areas will include a Site The remaining 80 percent of this and poses the risk of bypassing Specific Plan that displays empirical new conservation paradigm and conservation opportunities within models in spatial data form. its value in practice come from intact landscapes. The MT PFW These plans will be the basis for hiring staff with specific skills and focus area selection process prioritizing conservation delivery aligning the program with goal- addressed threats only after actions that link biological outcomes oriented partners who assist in previous filters had been used to habitat outcomes. The Kootenai implementation of these common and all other biological, scale and River Focus Area has completed goals. ownership factors were equal. This the first step in the process by approach generated focus areas developing population objectives with high biological values and low for bull trout, identifying private or moderate threat levels. The lands habitat limiting factors and focus area model seeks to abate prioritizing on-the-ground projects. threats by delivering proactive The plan also reviews limiting conservation and working in factors influencing population relatively intact areas to address objectives, identifies selection threats before they create criteria for on-the-ground habitat irreversible resource damage. The restoration projects and develops a final step in the process was formal protocol to monitor success. selection of focus areas. The PFW program selected 10 focus areas 47 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Mountain-Prairie Region Strategic Plan

of prairie to cropland and wetland TNC; and private landowners. Upper Missouri Coteau Focus Area drainage have occurred to a lesser extent on the Coteau than other The PFW Program will develop a parts of the focus area, but are Site Specific Plan for mallards and still significant threats. The focus piping plovers by year two of this area provides critical habitat planning effort. PFW program for numerous Federal trust restoration activities will be species including migratory birds guided by the plan and will likely (waterfowl, shorebirds, wading concentrate on restoring wetland birds, colonial nesting birds, and grassland systems that will grassland passerines) and Federally have tangible biological outcomes listed threatened, endangered, and for mallards. Specific activities The Upper Missouri Coteau candidate species such as piping Focus Area is located in extreme will likely also include seeding plover (Threatened) and Sprague’s marginal cropland back to native northeast Montana. This region pipit (Candidate). was entirely glaciated and is part prairie species, and developing of the prairie pothole region of the prescribed grazing systems to The Upper Missouri Coteau Focus enhance grassland and wetland Midwest United States and Canada. Area encompasses about 1 million The landscape was dominated by habitat. Project activities will also acres. It is predominantly in private be designed specifically to directly rolling mixed-grass native prairie ownership, with an interspersion and glaciated pothole wetlands. The benefit piping plovers. These of State school section lands and include removal of mammalian region has an agricultural-based national wildlife refuge lands economy with small grain farming predator den sites (abandoned (Medicine Lake National Wildlife buildings, junk piles, rock piles) and livestock ranching as the Refuge and Waterfowl Production dominant land uses. near nesting beaches, creation of Areas). Ownership is 91% private new nesting beaches by spreading A significant amount of native and 9% public. prairie has been converted to gravel along select shorelines of alkali lakes, and development of cropland and wetland drainage Key partners in the Upper Missouri has been a common occurrence. prescribed grazing systems to Coteau include the USDA Natural restrict cattle access to nesting A portion of the Missouri Coteau Resources Conservation Service lies in the northern and eastern beaches during the nesting and (NRCS); Fort Peck Tribes; Montana brood-rearing seasons. portions of the focus area. The Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP); Coteau is very rolling with a very North American Wetlands high wetland density. Conversion Conservation Act (NAWCA); DU;

Wetland habitat restoration project. USFWS photo. 48 Montana

PRIORITY UPPER MISSOURI COTEAU FOCAL SPECIES TIER 1 Mallard, Piping Plover TIER 2 TIER 3 Long-billed Curlew, Mixed Grass Grassland Bird Suite

Upper Missouri Coteau Focus Area Five Year Targets

• Wetland Acres Restored/Enhanced 500 acres • Upland Acres Restored/Enhanced 7,500 acres • Stream Miles Restored/Enhanced 2.0 miles • Fish Passage 0

Partnerships • # of Agreements 40 • Cost-Share Ratio 1:1 • Technical Assistance 120 total staff days

Removal of junk pile (artificial predator den sites) along Piping Plover nesting beach. USFWS photo.

49 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Mountain-Prairie Region Strategic Plan

grizzly bear, gray wolf, swift fox, of private land, National Wildlife Milk River Basin Focus Area and black-tailed prairie dog along Refuge lands (Bowdoin NWR) with a myriad of grassland birds. and Waterfowl Production Areas, Today, the Milk River focus area BLM, State school section lands remains a critically important and private non-profit conservation landscape for numerous Federal lands. Ownership is comprised of trust species. Black-tailed prairie 65% private land and 35% public dogs and greater sage-grouse are land. common. The focus area provides critical habitat for a number of Key partners in the Milk River declining migratory bird species Basin include; MFWP, DU, including; long-billed curlew, Pheasants Forever (PF), Bureau of The Milk River Basin Focus Area, McCown’s longspur, chestnut- Land Management, TNC, NRCS, located in north central Montana, collared longspur, Sprague’s pipit, Tribes and private landowners. is part of a larger landscape known and Baird’s sparrow. Recent locally as the “Hi-Line.” The telemetry studies show that the North American Wetland region is bordered on the south by Milk River Basin is a key corridor Conservation Act (NAWCA) the Milk River and on the north for greater sage- grouse and funding has been an important by prairie Canada. This focus pronghorn antelope during seasonal conservation delivery funding area has relatively high densities north-south migrations. Canadian source for habitat projects in the of palustrine wetlands and intact populations of sage-grouse and Milk River Basin. We expect this tracts of mixed-grass native prairie. pronghorn were documented trend to continue. A Standard Ranching and farming are the migrating through the Milk River Grant proposal submitted for primary land-uses. Oil and gas Basin Focus Area to the Missouri the 2012 funding cycle recently production is increasing throughout River Breaks in the winter of 2011. received the highest score in the the focus area. Nation. The Milk River Basin Focus Area Prior to European settlement, encompasses about 2.5 million The Milk River Basin field biologist this “sea of grass” was inhabited acres. Land ownership is a mixture position is currently vacant. by bison, pronghorn, elk, deer,

Arial photo of the Milk River Basin. USFWS photo. 50 Montana

Prairie grassland restoration project in the Milk River Basin Focus Area. USFWS Photo.

Budget uncertainties dictate that the position will remain vacant for an undetermined time period. This situation will impact PFW PRIORITY MILK RIVER BASIN FOCAL SPECIES conservation delivery activities. TIER 1 Greater sage-grouse, Mallard A robust partnership exists in this focus area and the coalition will be TIER 2 Piping Plover, exploring creative ways to maintain Black-tailed Prairie Dog momentum. One option could be to TIER 3 Long-billed Curlew, pool resources to establish a shared Mixed Grass Grassland Bird Suite, position in the Milk River Basin. Mountain Plover PFW activities will concentrate on restoring and enhancing wetland and native prairie habitat for migratory birds as Milk River Basin Focus Area Five Year Plan well as candidate, threatened and endangered species. • Wetland Acres Restored/Enhanced 250 acres • Upland Acres Restored/Enhanced 1,000 acres Under the MT PFW Focal Species • Stream Miles Restored/Enhanced 5 miles criteria; two Tier 1 focal species • Fish Passage 0 have been selected for the Milk River Basin; greater sage-grouse Partnerships and mallard. The site specific plan • # of Agreements 25 developed for the Milk River Basin • Cost-Share Ratio 1:1.5 will link habitat projects to explicit • Technical Assistance 60 total staff days population objectives for these two species. Refer to the MT PFW Strategic Plan Introduction for a detailed explanation on the process used to select and prioritize focal species. 51 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Mountain-Prairie Region Strategic Plan

remarkable. It includes some of the Sun and Teton Watershed Rocky Mountain Front Focus Area the best remaining grizzly bear groups, the Rocky Mountain Front habitat in the lower-48 States. Weed Roundtable, the Boone and Breeding and migratory use by Crockett Club, and the NAWCA migratory birds is unmatched. program. Livestock ranching has been the primary land-use since settlement. The MT PFW program, working closely with many partners on the The Rocky Mountain Front Focus Front will develop a Site Specific Area encompasses about 2.6 million Plan for grizzly bears over the next acres. This focus area is a mixture 3 years. PFW restoration activities of public and private land, including will be guided by the plan and will The Rocky Mountain Front Focus Service Waterfowl Production likely concentrate on restoring Area is a spectacular and expansive Areas; Montana Fish, Wildlife riparian habitats that will have landscape at the juncture of the and Parks Wildlife Management tangible biological outcomes for Rocky Mountains and the western Areas and Department of Natural grizzly bears. We will also focus margin of the Northern Great Resources and Conservation lands; our efforts on wetland restoration Plains. The abrupt change from Blackfeet tribal lands; TNC and and upland management projects rolling native grasslands to rugged Boone and Crockett Club’s private including invasive species mountain topography produces preserves; and privately owned management benefiting mallards significant elevational and climatic ranch and farm land. Ownership is and grizzly bears. Restoration gradients, creating amazing 49% private and 51% public. projects will also focus on in-stream species and habitat diversity. The habitats important to bull trout and transition from alpine tundra and Key partners in the area include westslope cutthroat trout. montane forest to foothills and mid- the USDA - Forest Service, USDA grass prairie includes incredible - NRCS, Blackfeet Nation, MFWP, stream and riparian habitat. Montana Department of Natural Glaciated wetlands are scattered Resources and Conservation, TNC, throughout the Rocky Mountain county conservation districts, four Front. The species diversity is county weed control districts,

Private landowners with previous Service Director, Sam Hamilton. USFWS photo. 52 Montana

PRIORITY ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT FOCAL SPECIES TIER 1 Bull Trout, Grizzly Bears, Mallards TIER 2 Westslope Cutthroat Trout TIER 3 Long-Billed Curlew

Rocky Mountain Front Focus Area Five Year Plan

• Wetland Acres Restored/Enhanced 75 acres • Upland Acres Restored/Enhanced 4,000 acres • Stream Miles Restored/Enhanced 6.0 miles • Fish Passage 0

Partnerships • # of Agreements 25 • Cost-Share Ratio 1:1 • Technical Assistance 120 total staff days

Rocky Mountain Front. USFWS photo. 53 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Mountain-Prairie Region Strategic Plan

also home to healthy populations of Kootenai Conservation Program, Upper Kootenai River Watershed native westslope cutthroat trout, British Columbia, CA. Focus Area grizzly bear (Federally threatened The MT PFW program has under ESA), gray wolf, wolverine, completed a Site Specific Plan Canada lynx, and many migratory for the Upper Kootenai River bird species of conservation Watershed. The plan sets the concern. Land use consists of stage for developing population logging, livestock production, objectives for bull trout, identifying recreation and tourism. The Upper private lands habitat limiting Kootenai River Watershed Focus factors, prioritizing on-the-ground Area encompasses about 750,000 projects to address limiting factors acres. This area is a mixture of and meeting population objectives. The Upper Kootenai River private lands, national forest lands, It also framed delivering tangible Watershed Focus Area is state forest lands, State school on-the-ground habitat restoration an international watershed section lands, and crown lands. projects, and working with our encompassing nearly 18,000 square partners to monitor success and miles of northwest Montana, Key partners in the Upper evaluate the Site Specific Plan. British Columbia, and Alberta. The Kootenai River Watershed include Based on the plan, activities will Kootenai River originates in British the Kootenai River Network; concentrate on restoring in- Columbia, and the river flows 485 MFWP; U.S. Forest Service; stream and riparian habitats for miles through the steep mountain British Columbia Ministry of native salmonids, in particular terrain and agricultural flat land. Environment; Environmental bull trout. Projects will also focus Farm Plan, British Columbia, CA; on wetland, riparian and upland The watershed contains important Trout Unlimited (TU), Alberta, habitat projects that will benefit fluvial and adfluvial populations CA; Montana Department of grizzly bear, a Tier 1 species for the of native bull trout (Federally Environmental Quality; Bonneville Kootenai. Due to the international threatened under the ESA). The Power Administration; Glen configuration of the basin, strong upper Kootenai is a designated core Lake Irrigation District; Lincoln trans-boundary coordination is area for the recovery of bull trout Conservation District; Plum Creek necessary to improve fish and listed in the Service, Bull Trout Timber Company; Mainstreams, wildlife populations. Critical Habitat plan. The area is British Columbia, BC; East

Darris Flannigan, Landowner, Rox Rogers, PFW Biologist, Tamara McCandless, former Chief of the Branch of Habitat Restoration. USFWS photo. 54 Montana

PRIORITY KOOTENAI RIVER WATERSHED FOCAL SPECIES TIER 1 Bull Trout, Grizzly Bears TIER 2 Westslope Cutthroat Trout TIER 3 Long-Billed Curlew

The Upper Kootenai River Watershed Focus Area Five Year Targets

• Wetland Restoration / Enhancement: 50 acres • Upland Restoration / Enhancement: 1,500 acres • River / Stream Restoration/Enhancement: 18 miles • Fish Passage 3 Structures

Partnerships • Number of new landowner partners (landowner agreements) 30 • Percentage of leveraging (ratio of Service to Partner) 1: 1 • Technical Assistance 150 total staff days

Bull Trout Recovery Team inspecting MT PFW program fish screen on Grave Creek. USFWS photo. 55 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Mountain-Prairie Region Strategic Plan

tower above the eastern valley Tribes, MFWP, NRCS, DU, PF, TU, Mission Valley Focus Area edge. The Valley floor is covered Lake County Conservation District with glaciated wetlands. Wildlife and private landowners. and fish species inhabiting the Mission landscape are diverse The PFW program, working closely and abundant. The wetlands and with the Confederated Salish and grasslands attract breeding and Kootenai Tribes, will develop a Site migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, Specific Plan for native salmonids. raptors, and passerine birds. The MT PFW program restoration streams and spring creeks are home activities will be guided by the to native westslope cutthroat trout plan and will likely concentrate on and bull trout. Grizzly bear are restoring in-stream and riparian The Mission Valley Focus Area is a regularly observed in the Valley. habitats, with tangible biological glacially gouged remnant of 12,000 outcomes for bull trout and years past. It is located in Lake The Mission Valley Focus Area westslope cutthroat trout. We will County of western Montana and is encompasses about 600,000 acres. also focus our efforts on wetland within the exterior boundaries of Land ownership patterns in this restoration and management the Flathead Indian Reservation area are a mixture of private, tribal, projects that benefit the Rocky of the Confederated Salish and Service refuges and waterfowl Mountain population of trumpeter Kootenai Tribes. The southern production areas and state wildlife swans. Restoration projects will shore of Flathead Lake defines the management areas. Ownership also focus on important grizzly bear northern boundary with the main is comprised of 92% private land habitat and will involve restoration stem of the Flathead River to the and 8% public land. Key partners and enhancement of riparian, west. The Jocko River watershed in the Mission Valley include; wetland, and upland habitats. forms the southern boundary and Confederated Salish and Kootenai the magnificent Mission Mountains

Underwater photo of bull trout. Photo by National Geographic. 56 Montana

Mission Valley wetlands. USFWS photo.

PRIORITY MISSION VALLEY FOCAL SPECIES TIER 1 Bull Trout, Grizzly Bears Trumpeter Swans TIER 2 Westslope Cutthroat Trout TIER 3 Long-Billed Curlew

Mission Valley Focus Area Five Year Targets

• Wetland Acres Restored/Enhanced 350 acres • Upland Acres Restored/Enhanced 2500 acres • Stream Miles Restored/Enhanced 15 miles • Fish Passage 3 Structures

Partnerships • # of Agreements 25 • Cost-Share Ratio 1: 1 • Technical Assistance 150 total staff days

57 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Mountain-Prairie Region Strategic Plan

and animal communities. Wetland Areas, MFWP Wildlife Blackfoot River Watershed features include; glacial lakes, Management Units, TNC preserve Focus Area ponds, bogs, fens, basin-fed and State school section lands. creeks, spring creeks, large rivers, Ownership is comprised of 35% scrub/shrub riparian areas and private land and 65% public land. cottonwood forests. The uplands are dominated by native grasslands, Key partners in the Blackfoot River sagebrush-steppe, aspen groves Valley Watershed are members and conifers. Fish and wildlife of The Blackfoot Challenge, a assemblages are highly diverse. community-based organization The watershed is home to grizzly that includes over 500 landowners The headwaters of the Blackfoot bear, gray wolf, wolverine, Canada and 160 partner organizations. River begins atop the Continental lynx, elk, deer and moose. High These members support the Divide at Roger’s Pass and priority species of breeding overall work and mission of the flows 132 miles westerly to its migratory birds include such Blackfoot Challenge with a mission confluence with the Clark Fork species as trumpeter swan, sandhill of protecting and restoring natural River near Missoula, Montana. crane, long-billed curlew, red- resources and rural ways of life for The watershed totals 1.5 million necked grebe, common loon, great present and future generations. acres and is nestled between the gray owl, and Brewer’s sparrow. Continental Divide, Bob Marshall/ The Blackfoot has maintained MT PFW program activities Scapegoat Wilderness and Garnet its rural lifestyle with livestock will continue to concentrate on Mountain Range. Land ownership ranching and timber production restoring and enhancing in-stream is extremely diverse with public being the predominant land-use. and riparian habitats that link lands covering much of the higher habitat outcomes with biological mountainous elevations, while The Blackfoot River Watershed outcomes benefiting bull trout and highly productive private lands are Focus Area encompasses about westslope cutthroat trout. For located in the foothills and valley 1.5 million acres. Land ownership example, westslope cutthroat trout floor. The Blackfoot Valley was patterns in this focus area are a have averaged a 59% increase shaped by glacial ice and a large mixture of private, Plum Creek in total numbers on stream glacial lake. Geologic, hydrologic, Timber, U.S. Forest Service, restoration projects three years and topographic features combine Bureau of Land Management, after restoration. Bull trout redd to produce a wide array of plant Service Waterfowl Production numbers in the North Fork of the

Autumn on the Blackfoot River. USFWS photo. 58 Montana

Blackfoot have increased from 8 redds in 1989 to 86 redds in 2010 after reconstruction of all five irrigation diversions, screening of all the ditches and entering into in stream flow agreements on three of the ditches.

MT PFW program activities within the Blackfoot will also focus on preventative activities to reduce grizzly bear conflicts (see introduction for more details). Continued prioritization of key grizzly bear habitats and conflict locations will guide our preventative fencing and carcass pick-up programs.

Wetland restoration and management activities will be guided by our trumpeter swan habitat suitability study completed in 2005. This joint study between the Service, MT FWP and the University of Montana assessed the 30,000 wetlands in the Blackfoot Valley ranking suitability for nesting trumpeter swans. Reintroduction of trumpeter swans in the Blackfoot began in 2006 with territory establishment happening in 2009 and nesting occurring in 2011, including on two PFW program restored wetlands. The plan calls for reintroduction until we have 7 nesting pairs for three Public participation in Adopt-A-Swan Program (re-introduction). consecutive years. USFWS photo.

PRIORITY BLACKFOOT RIVER WATERSHED FOCAL SPECIES TIER 1 Bull Trout, Grizzly Bears Westslope Cutthroat Trout Trumpeter Swans TIER 2 TIER 3 Long-Billed Curlew

Blackfoot River Watershed Focus Area Five Year Targets

• Wetland Acres Restored/Enhanced 150 acres • Upland Acres Restored/Enhanced 2800 acres • Stream Miles Restored/Enhanced 14 miles • Fish Passage 8 Structures

Partnerships • # of Agreements 25 • Cost-Share Ratio 1:2 • Technical Assistance 175 total staff days

59 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Mountain-Prairie Region Strategic Plan

the primary land-use. The Big Hole and Conservation, TNC, U.S. Big Hole River Watershed River is considered a “blue-ribbon” Forest Service, Bureau of Land Focus Area wild trout fishery and is one of the Management, Environmental last free-flowing rivers in the West. Protection Agency, TU and private The Big Hole River provides landowners. critical habitat for one of the nation’s last remaining fluvial Arctic PFW program activities will grayling populations. In addition, concentrate on restoring and the Watershed is home to a myriad enhancing in-stream and riparian of migratory birds. Greater sage- habitats for fluvial Arctic grayling. grouse, Canada lynx, wolverine, elk In-stream flows will also be and a large Shiras moose population augmented through PFW program also inhabit the Big Hole. projects. Many of these projects The Big Hole River Watershed are completed as part of landowner Focus Area is the highest and The Big Hole River Focus Area plans under the Arctic Grayling widest mountain valley in encompasses about 1.8 million Candidate Conservation Agreement southwest Montana. Much of the acres. Land ownership patterns with Assurances (CCAA). Over valley floor lies above 6,000 feet. in this focus area are a mixture half of the private land in the upper The Big Hole River emanates from of private, U.S. Forest Service, valley is enrolled in the CCAA. the Beaverhead Mountains and Bureau of Land Management Upland and wetland restoration and winds for nearly 156 miles to its and state lands. Ownership is enhancement projects will benefit confluence with the Beaverhead comprised of 27% private land and sage-grouse, a variety of migratory River to create the Jefferson. 73% public land. birds, Federally threatened, The Big Hole terrestrial and endangered, and candidate species. aquatic habitats are dominated Key partners in the Big Hole Under the MT PFW Program focal by sagebrush-steppe grasslands, River Watershed include; Arctic species criteria; two Tier 1 focal irrigated hay lands, willow- Grayling Recovery Program, Big species that have been selected for dominated riparian communities, Hole Watershed Committee, MT the Big Hole Watershed include small tributary streams and the FWP, NRCS, MT Department Arctic grayling and greater Big Hole River. The valley floor of Environmental Quality, MT sage-grouse. The site specific is largely privately-owned with Department of Natural Resources plan developed for the Big Hole livestock and hay production being

The Big Hole River. USFWS Photo. 60 Montana

Restored wetland in the Big Hole Focus Area. USFWS photo.

Watershed will link habitat projects to explicit population objectives for these two species. For a detailed PRIORITY BIG HOLE RIVER WATERSHED explanation of the process used to FOCAL SPECIES select and prioritize focal species, refer to the MT PFW Strategic TIER 1 Arctic Grayling Plan Introduction. Greater sage-grouse TIER 2 Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Trumpeter Swans TIER 3 Long-Billed Curlew Grizzly Bear

Big Hole Watershed Focus Area Five Year Targets

• Wetlands Restored/Enhanced 110 acres • Uplands Restored/Enhanced 12,000 acres • Stream Miles Restored/Enhanced 43 miles • Fish Passage 10 structures

Partnerships • # of Agreements 30 • Cost-Share Ratio 1:3.5 • Technical Assistance 150 total staff days

61 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Mountain-Prairie Region Strategic Plan

is found in the Centennial Valley. U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Centennial Valley Focus Area The uplands are dominated by Land Management, TNC, DU, and sagebrush, native grasslands, private landowners. and willow-dominated riparian PFW program activities will areas. There are approximately concentrate on restoring and 100,000 acres of private land in enhancing wetland, stream and the Centennial. Ranching is the riparian areas, and uplands for dominant land-use. Native fish and native fish, migratory birds, wildlife are abundant, highlighted Federally listed threatened, by populations of trumpeter endangered, and candidate species swan, grizzly bear, gray wolf, with special emphasis given to The Centennial Valley Focus moose, sandhill crane, Yellowstone Arctic grayling, greater sage- Area is a large, high-elevation, cutthroat trout and Arctic grayling. grouse and trumpeter swan. undeveloped watershed in Beaverhead and Madison Counties. The Centennial Valley Focus Area The Red Rock River meanders encompasses about 360,000 acres. through the broad valley floor Land ownership patterns in this and lies north and east of the area are a mixture of private, Continental Divide along the National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Montana-Idaho border. The Forest Service, Bureau of Land Centennial Mountains form the Management and state lands. south boundary and the rolling Ownership is comprised of 29% foothills of the Gravelly Mountain private land and 71% public land. Range extend to the north. In the heart of the valley lies the Key partners in the Centennial 45,000 acre Red Rock Lakes Valley Focus Area include; Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Grayling Recovery Program, largest wetland complex in the Centennial Valley Landowners Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Association, MT FWP, NRCS,

Fluvial Arctic grayling. Photo by Mark Conlin© 62 Montana

Centennial Valley Focus Area. USFWS photo.

PRIORITY CENTENNIAL VALLEY FOCAL SPECIES TIER 1 Arctic Grayling Greater sage-grouse, Trumpeter Swans TIER 2 Westslope Cutthroat Trout TIER 3 Long-Billed Curlew Grizzly Bear

Centennial Valley Focus Area Five Year Targets

• Wetlands Restored/Enhanced 100 acres • Uplands Restored/Enhanced 7,500 acres • Stream Miles Restored/Enhanced 5 miles • Fish Passage 5 structures

Partnerships • # of Agreements 10 • Cost-Share Ratio 1:2 • Technical Assistance 90 total staff days

63 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Mountain-Prairie Region Strategic Plan

We expect this trend to continue. landowners. This project has Montana’s Glaciated/Shale Plains A Standard Grant proposal increased the conservation “foot- Focus Area submitted for the 2012 funding print” in south Phillips County to cycle recently received the highest nearly 300,000 acres. The PFW score in the Nation. program will continue to work on habitat projects with grass-bank The Glaciated Shale Plains PFW participants in the next 5 years. program field biologist position is currently vacant. Budget uncertainties have precluded the hiring of a biologist and it’s likely that the position will The Glaciated Shale Plains Focus remain vacant in the short-term. Area is an extensive region in north This situation will impact PFW central Montana, characterized conservation delivery activities. by undulating plains dominated A robust partnership exists in by sagebrush-steppe and mixed- this focus area and the coalition grass native prairie. Large river will be exploring creative ways to systems include the Milk and maintain momentum with private Missouri Rivers with smaller landowners. prairie streams and accompanying riparian habitat scattered through Under the MT PFW program focal drier uplands. Moderate to high species criteria, two Tier 1 focal densities of pothole-type wetlands species have been selected for the are dispersed across the focus Glaciated Shale Plains, including area. Black-tailed prairie dogs are greater sage-grouse and mallard. abundant. Key migratory bird When the Site Specific Plan is species found in the focus area developed for the Glaciated Shale include mountain plover, burrowing Plains, it will link habitat projects owl, greater sage-grouse, to explicit population objectives for ferruginous hawk, chestnut-collared these two species. For a detailed longspur, Sprague’s pipit and long- explanation on the process used to billed curlew. Livestock production select and prioritize focal species, and farming are the primary land- refer to the MT PFW Strategic uses. Plan introduction.

The Glaciated/Shale Plains Focus PFW program activities will Area encompasses about 2.5 concentrate on restoring and million acres. Land ownership enhancing upland and wetland is a checkerboard of public and habitats for migratory birds, private lands. Charles M. Russell Federally listed threatened, National Wildlife Refuge lies at endangered, and candidate species. the southern boundary of the focus Greater sage-grouse is a Tier 1 area and BLM manages numerous focal species in this focus area. MT large allotments. The Matador PFW staff will work with NRCS Ranch, a 60,000 acre preserve to help implement habitat projects owned by TNC, lies in the heart of in the Glaciated Shale Plains under the focus area. Private ownership the Sage-Grouse Initiative (SGI). is dominated by large working Montana sage-grouse Core Area ranches. Ownership is 37% private #2 is located in the Glaciate Shale and 63% public lands. Plains Focus Area and research on populations, habitat quality, Key partners in the Glaciated migration corridors and threats Shale Plains Focus Area include indicate that conservation delivery the Rancher Stewardship Alliance, in this core area should be a top- MT FWP, NRCS, Bureau of Land priority for conservation delivery Management, TNC, DU and private practitioners. An SGI shared landowners. position began work in this focus area in FY 2012. On the Matador NAWCA funding has been an Ranch Preserve, which lies in the important conservation delivery heart of this focus area, TNC has funding source for habitat projects established an innovative grass- in the Glaciated Shale Plains. banking system with neighboring 64 Montana

Montana’s Glaciated/Shale Plains Focus Area. USFWS photo.

PRIORITY MONTANA’S GLACIATED/SHALE PLAIN FOCAL SPECIES TIER 1 Arctic Grayling Greater sage-grouse, Trumpeter Swans TIER 2 Westslope Cutthroat Trout TIER 3 Long-Billed Curlew Grizzly Bear

Montana’s Glaciated/Shale Plain Focus Area Five Year Targets

• Wetlands Restored/Enhanced 250 acres • Uplands Restored/Enhanced 5,000 acres • Stream Miles Restored/Enhanced 5 miles • Fish Passage 0 structures

Partnerships • Cost-Share Ratio 1: 0.5 • Technical Assistance 60 total staff days

65 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Mountain-Prairie Region Strategic Plan

predators including grizzly bear, common loon, red-necked grebe, Swan River Watershed Focus Area gray wolf, wolverine, and Canada black tern, olive-sided flycatcher, lynx. Within the CoCE, an peregrine falcon, greater sandhill exceptional diversity of wetland crane and trumpeter swan would types occurs including major flourish. Westslope cutthroat riparian areas, smaller riparian trout and bull trout will continue tributaries, glacial prairie potholes, to thrive. Additionally, the Swan lakes, bogs, fens, swamps, and Valley provides excellent habitat boreal peatlands. The lowlands for black bear, elk, mule deer, support over 170 different species white-tailed deer, moose, mountain of wetland plants. Along the lion, bobcat, coyote, wolverine, elevation gradient, large expanses fisher, and a wide variety of small The Swan River Watershed is part of fescue grasslands phase into mammals. It also provide habitat of the Interior Columbia River alpine meadows or sagebrush- for the Federally threatened Basin Area which includes the steppe, which then transition into howellia aquatilis, or water larger Columbia Basin and the montane forests consisting of white howellia. Upper Missouri/Yellowstone rivers pine, Douglas-fir, and ponderosa watersheds. Swan River originates pine. These transitional zones of The Swan River Watershed Focus at Gray Wolf Lake in the Mission valley floors to montane forests are Area encompasses approximately Mountains and flows through Swan extremely important to fish and 470,000 acres. Until recently Lake at the northern end of the wildlife. the valley bottom had a large valley, before entering the Flathead checkerboard ownership between Lake Watershed, ultimately flowing The continued presence of large the U.S. Forest Service and Plum into the Columbia River System. expansive intact habitat and Creek Timber Company (PCTC). Swan River Watershed lies at historic wildlife corridors, along the TNC and Trust for Public Lands the western edge of the Crown Swan Valley, would benefit Federal purchased the remaining PCTC of the Continent Ecosystem trust species such as the grizzly lands as part of the Montana (CoCE) which is the last remaining bear, gray wolf, wolverine, pine Legacy Project and transferred the ecosystem that still supports the martin and Canada lynx. Migratory bulk of the ownership to state and full assemblage of large mammalian birds such as harlequin duck, federal partners. Today ownership

Swan River and Swan Mountain Range. USFWS photo. 66 Montana

Grizzly bear sow with cubs along glaciated wetland in the Swan River Watershed. USFWS photo. is comprised of 10% private lands Montana Reliance. bull trout and westslope cutthroat and 90% public lands with the U.S. The PFW program, working trout. We will also focus our Forest Service, Montana State closely with the Swan Ecosystem efforts on wetland restoration and Forest and the Services’ Swan Center and Northwest Connections, management projects that benefit River National Wildlife Refuge as will develop a Site Specific Plan the Rocky Mountain population the large public owners. for the Swan River Watershed. of trumpeter swans. Restoration PFW restoration activities will be projects will also focus on important Key partners in the Swan River guided by the plan and will likely grizzly bear habitat and will involve Valley Focus Area include private concentrate on restoring in-stream restoration and enhancement landowners, MT FWP, MT and riparian habitats that will have of riparian, wetland and upland Department of Natural Resource tangible biological outcomes for and Conservation, U.S. Forest Service, Swan Ecosystem Center, Northwest Connections, Swan PRIORITY SWAN RIVER WATERSHED Valley Community Council, FOCAL SPECIES Missoula County, TNC, Trust for TIER 1 Bull Trout, Grizzly Bears Public Lands, Vital Ground, and the TIER 2 Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Trumpeter Swan TIER 3

Swan River Watershed Focus Area Five Year Targets

• Wetlands Restored/Enhanced 150 acres • Uplands Restored/Enhanced 640 acres • Stream Miles Restored/Enhanced 8 miles • Fish Passage 4 structures

Partnerships • # of Agreements 20 • Cost-Share Ratio 1: 1 • Technical Assistance 150 total staff days

67 Montana Statewide Goals North habitats. Montana Dakota

South Dakota Wyoming Nebraska

Utah Colorado Kansas

Improve Information Sharing and Communication

The MT PFW program operates under the principle that successful community-based, landscape conservation is multi-dimensional, working across spatial, temporal, ecological, and social scales. Communication, collaboration and outreach with conservation partners is an integral part of a successful conservation delivery program. To be successful, the program will strive to maintain, build and strengthen relationships with internal and external partners.

5-Year Targets:

• Organize and participate in 100 (20/yr.) landowner/watershed meetings, conferences or workshops throughout Montana; • Enter into 12 Cooperative Agreements, Contribution Agreements or Memorandums of Understanding with partners or landowner based groups in MT; Sponsor or directly assist in 10 field tours that promote the MT PFW program; • Assist in five National Conservation Training Center courses as instructors or guest speakers; • Host five coordination meetings with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to assure program consistencies; • Attend 12 Natural Resource Conservation Service State Technical Committee meetings; • Participate in 10 Congressional staff meetings regarding the MT PFW Program; • Provide 15 MT PFW program updates to Regional and Washington FWS offices; • Hold 10 MT PFW program staff meetings to improve internal communication; • Initiate 10 media events/stories related to MT PFW program activities.

Enhancing Our Workforce

All MT PFW program staff will be provided an opportunity to acquire 40 hours of training each year. This training may include the following categories:

• Technical Proficiency: restoration techniques (i.e. Rosgen), GIS, Candidate Conservation Agreements/ Safe Harbor/ESA Recovery • Enhancing Cooperative Community Conservation • Leadership • Communication • Congressional Operations • Administrative Procedures

Training needs will be met through internal and external training facilities. Montana PFW staff will be encouraged to take advantage of the USFWS National Conservation Training Center, workshops, seminars, and other continuing education opportunities.

Currently Milk River Basin, Glaciated Shale Plains and Swan River Valley focus areas are unstaffed. If new field biologists are added to these focus areas, they will be trained and mentored by senior MT PFW program staff.

In accordance with the USFWS EPAP system, performance and special achievement awards will be used to recognize exceptional projects and employees.

68 Montana

Increase Accountability

Objectives:

• By 2015 develop site specific plans for each MT PFW focus area. These plans will be developed in consultation with the MT HAPET Office and will include GIS layers, data sets, and habitat assessments. Key partners will also be engaged in this process; • Field biologists will GPS all new habitat projects; • Create GIS layer of all MT PFW program habitat projects; • By 2017, each MT PFW program focus area will have at least one peer reviewed biological assessment. These assessments may be conducted by universities, U.S. Geological Survey, The MT Natural Heritage Program, MT FWP, USFWS Research Centers or conservation organizations; • The MT PFW State Coordinator and HabITS Coordinator will ensure that HabITS data entries are timely and accurate.

External Factors:

Generally, the ten MT PFW program conservation focus areas identify intact landscapes with a ranching- based economy. The economic and social pressures to develop or fragment these areas could have a significant impact on our ability to deliver an effective PFW program.

Global climate change accompanied by persistent droughts and rapid snowmelt could affect project availability and the response of Federal trust species to PFW program restoration projects.

Other external factors that could have adverse effects on the MT PFW program include budget shortfalls, personnel turnover, changing Service leadership, and restrictive policies.

69 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Mountain-Prairie Region Strategic Plan

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