Comprehensive Conservation Plan

This comprehensive conservation plan sets the management and use of Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge for 15 years. The refuge lies in Montana's Bitterroot Valley between the Sapphire and Bitterroot Mountains.

Purposes of the refuge are to provide an inviolate sanctuary for migratory birds, provide suitable fish- and wildlife-dependent recreation, and protect natural resources and threatened or endangered species.

• Established in 1964.
• Comprises 2,800 acres.
• Located 25 miles south of Missoula in Ravalli County, Montana.

Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge has five broad types of habitat: riverine, created wetland, woodland, grassland, and emergent vegetation. These habitats provide important migration and breeding areas for waterbirds. In addition, the refuge's riverine areas, grassland, and forest are important migration and breeding habitats for songbirds.

Popular with the surrounding communities, the refuge has an estimated 143,000 annual visits.

Comprehensive conservation plan (CCP)
CCP 2012 (8 MB PDF)

By section, for faster download:
Contents, Summary (1 MB PDF)
Chapter 1, Introduction (1 MB PDF)
Chapter 2, The Refuge (1 MB PDF)
Chapter 3, Refuge Resources (5 MB PDF) Chapter 4, Management Direction (1 MB PDF)
Appendixes (1 MB PDF)

Draft CCP and environmental assessment (EA) 2012 (8 MB PDF)

By section, for faster download:
Contents, Summary (1 MB PDF)
Chapter 1, Introduction (2 MB PDF)
Chapter 2, The Refuge (2 MB PDF)
Chapter 3, Alternatives and Environmental Consequences (2 MB PDF)
Chapter 4, Affected Environment (4 MB PDF) Chapter 5, Implementation of the Proposed Action (Draft CCP) (2 MB PDF)
Appendixes (1 MB PDF)