Press Release
Northwest Montana Wetland Management District Invites Public to Attend August 10th Open House
Engagement opportunity to begin guiding future refuge management
Media Contacts

BIGFORK, Montana. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) Northwest Montana Wetland Management District (NWMTD) invites the public to attend an open house on August 10, 2023, to learn more about the NWMTD comprehensive conservation plan (CCP).  The CCP will guide future management of the NWMTD and we encourage interested members of the public to participate.  

Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Jodi Clark, USFWS

The NWMTD includes four National Wildlife Refuges (Lost Trail, Ninepipe, Pablo, and Swan River), two Conservation Areas (Lost Trail and Swan Valley), and a network of easements. The NWMTD is part of the Western Montana Complex.  

The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 requires that every national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

Learn more about national wildlife refuge
develop a CCP. This open house provides an opportunity for the public to learn about the CCP process, which includes habitat management improvements and quality public use opportunities. The public is also invited to provide comments on the CCP. 

The open house will be held on:  

  • Thursday, August 10, 5:00-8:00PM (MT), at the Bigfork High School Community Meeting Room, 600 Commerce St. Bigfork, MT 

  • Unable to attend the open house? You can provide comments and questions via email, at: NWMT_CCP@fws.gov  

Learn more about the NWMTD at: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/northwest-montana-wetland-management-district  

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov, or connect with us through any of these social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and YouTube