The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) invites you to visit
the Lake County Units of the Northwest Montana Wetland Management
District. This part of the Wetland Management District is comprised
of 9 Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) and the Conservation Easement
Program. The Service purchased these lands to protect and restore
waterfowl habitat. Ninety-eight percent of the revenue generated from
the sale of Federal Duck Stamps is put back into purchasing WPAs for
public hunting and recreation or to purchase conservation easements
from landowners.
Nestled in the Mission Valley of Lake County Montana are 9 of
these WPAs and 6,300 acres of conservation easements. These WPAs are
located within the Flathead Indian Reservation and are part of the
National Wildlife Refuge System – an extensive network of lands set
aside for specifically for wildlife. The Service works with
neighboring land managers, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai
Tribes (CSKT) and the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MTFWP), to
manage these WPAs as part of a larger wetland and upland vegetation
community.
Historic glacial activity in the Mission Valley created a rolling
terrain of intermountain grasslands on the valley floor interspersed
with many small wetlands called kettles. These kettles were formed
from melting glacial ice and are of enormous value to many wildlife
species. Even within this rich and productive environment, these
Refuges provide unique benefits to wildlife by being among the few
places in the valley where hunting, fishing, wildlife dependent
recreation and conservation are the driving priorities.
WPAs are managed to attract and produce migratory waterfowl,
migratory non-game birds and resident wildlife. The most common
management tools used include grazing, haying and prescribed burning,
which are followed by a period of rest. Working with local ranchers,
cattle are allowed to graze on certain WPAs using a permit system.
This grazing closely mimics the effects native bison provided to
stimulate plant growth. Prescribed fires are used to rejuvenate
grasslands. These controlled burns mimic the prairie wildfires of
long ago to stimulate native grasses and reduce invasive species.
Another tool available is haying which involves cutting and
removing grass for later use by livestock. To protect the ground
nesting birds, haying is only allowed after July 15, by which time
most nesting has been completed.
Lake County WPAs support an abundance of species and offer
remarkable hunting, hiking, and birding opportunities. With the
Mission Mountains to the east providing a dramatic backdrop, look for
an abundant variety of waterfowl species, including trumpeter swans,
Canada geese, mallards, and blue and green wing teal. Shore birds
such as avocets, black-necked stilt, Wilson’s phalaropes,
long-billed curlews, Wilson’s snipe, common sandpipers, and
killdeer can also be seen. The grassland areas surrounding the
wetlands provides important habitat for ring-necked pheasant, gray
partridge, and nesting habitat for northern pygmy, northern sawhet,
great horned, short and long-eared owls, savannah and song sparrows.
Please take advantage of the outstanding opportunities available
for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, and
environmental education. Hiking, cross-country skiing, and
snowshoeing are also permitted on the WPAs, but please be mindful of
regulations and comply with all posted signs.
Accessibility Information
Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs and
activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is available to all
individuals regardless of physical or mental ability. Dial 711 for a
free connection to the State relay service for TTY and voice calls to
and from the speech and hearing impaired. For information or to
address accessibility needs, please contact the Refuge staff at (406)
644-2211, or the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Equal
Opportunity, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.