Draft Environmental Assessment - North Burnt Fork Creek Restoration - Lee Meetcalf NWR

Document - application/pdf
Draft Environmental Assessment - North Burnt Fork Creek Restoration - Lee Meetcalf NWR

Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, in partnership with Trout Unlimited and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, has released a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) proposing to remove a barrier culvert and open approximately 2.5 miles of stream habitat on North Burnt Fok Creek as it passes through the refuge.  

Culvert removal and restoration is proposed to improve fish passage fish passage
Fish passage is the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move freely throughout their life to find food, reproduce, and complete their natural migration cycles. Millions of barriers to fish passage across the country are fragmenting habitat and leading to species declines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Fish Passage Program is working to reconnect watersheds to benefit both wildlife and people.

Learn more about fish passage and riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.

Learn more about riparian habitat, while maintaining visitor access, through the National Wildlife Refuge in the Bitterroot River Valley of southwestern Montana. 

A 30-day public comment period for the draft EA will run from January 5 through February 3, 2023.  

Attachments
AttachmentSize
DraftEA_NorthBurntForkCreekCulvertRemoval_04Jan2023.pdf8.45 MB8.45 MB
Publication date
Type of document
Plan
Facility
Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge
Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge is a representation of the diverse native wildlife habitat once found abundantly between the Bitterroot and Sapphire Mountains and along the ever-changing Bitterroot River.
National Wildlife Refuge
Stevensville,MT
Program
A bright blue sky obstructed by fluffy white clouds reflected off of a stream shot from inside a kayak
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages an unparalleled network of public lands and waters called the National Wildlife Refuge System. With more than 570 refuges spanning the country, this system protects iconic species and provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on Earth.
Program
Washington,DC
FWS and DOI Region(s)
Mountain-Prairie