Conservation easement proposed
By Moosetrack Megan

Posted: January 12, 2016

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MDFWP) invites the public to comment on a proposal to fund the purchase of a perpetual channel migration easement on 89.5 acres in Richland County along the Yellowstone River near Sidney, MT. A channel migration easement (CME) is a conservation easement that includes land bordering a stream or river where the Landowner agrees not to riprap or otherwise stabilize the river bank, thereby allowing the river’s natural erosive processes to continue.

Montana Aquatic Resources Services (MARS), after entering into an agreement with MDFWP, located willing landowners, Gerald and Maryellen Navratil. The purpose of the Navratil CME is to preserve and protect the conservation and agricultural values of the Land, particularly the habitats provided for fish and wildlife species, and to prevent armoring of the river bank within the easement area, in perpetuity. MARS sought a third party to hold the easement; Montana Land Reliance (MLR) agreed to hold the channel migration easement.

Formal public participation will begin with the availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for public review for a three-week comment period. The EA can be viewed on the MDFWP website at:http://fwp.mt.gov/news/publicNotices/ or is available upon request from the MDFWP Region 7 office.

A public hearing will be held at the MSU Richland County Extension Building, 1499 N. Central Ave, in Sidney, MT on January 27 at 7:00 p.m.

Public comments will be accepted until January 29, 2016. Written comments can be submitted online, emailed to mibackes@mt.gov, Attn: Navratil Channel Migration Easement Proposal, or mailed to the address below:

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

P.O. Box 1630, Miles City, MT 59301

Attn: Navratil Channel Migration Easement ProposalMontana_Fish_Wildlife_and_Parks_logo_-_2007

New Podcast!

Riley's Meats - Butte Wild Game Processing