Seventy Acres Would Cost $1 Million: FWP Seeking Comment on North Shore Conservation Purchase

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking public comment on a proposed purchase of 70 acres on Flathead Lake's north shore for the purpose of fish and wildlife habitat conservation. According to a FWP press release, "the project would cost about $1 million and would be funded by the Bonneville Power Administration to help mitigate harm to resident fish caused by construction and subsequent habitat loss associated with Hungry Horse Dam."

Here's the full press release:

Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), Region 1, has written a draft environmental assessment (EA) for North Shore Fisheries Conservation Project-Bigfork Parcel, a proposal to purchase about 70 acres of land on the North Shore of Flathead Lake (T27N, R20W, S35), Flathead County, Montana, for the purpose of fish and wildlife habitat conservation. The project would cost about $1 million and would be funded by the Bonneville Power Administration to help mitigate harm to resident fish caused by construction and subsequent habitat loss associated with Hungry Horse Dam.

Copies of the draft are available at FWP HQ, 490 N. Meridian Rd., Kalispell; Montana State Library, 1515 E 6th Ave., Helena; Flathead County Libraries, 247 First Ave. E, Kalispell and 521 Electric Ave. in Bigfork, and the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov under Public Notices. The draft is out for a 3-week public review through July 17, 2009. Please direct questions/comments to Joel Tohtz, (406) 751-4570 or e-mail to , or Kris Tempel, (406) 751-4573 or e-mail to .