Conservation Successes
Trout habitat improved
in Montana |
photo courtesy: Gary
Weiner
|
Better living for people, dogs, and
fish
Livingston, Montana (December 2003) - The
Town of Livingston just finished restoration of a key section
of the main stream running through town. Fleshman Creek, once
a side channel of the Yellowstone River, was in sad shape.
Gravel mined, ponded, trashed, and ignored, the stream corridor
had accumulated years of muck and urban pollutants from stormwater
runoff and wind-blown garbage. The Town, partnering with Trout
Unlimited and the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance
(RTCA) Program of the National Park Service, rebuilt 1700
feet of the Creek adjacent to Mayors Landing, a popular town
dog-off-leash park. Stream geometry was adjusted to provide
trout spawning and rearing habitat and floodplain areas were
created for native plant colonization and to provide stream
access for local residents. RTCA staff provided expertise
in restoration project design, contract administration, and
grant acquisition. An NPS "challenge cost-share" grant, Trout
Unlimited, and the 1-Fly Foundation provided key funding,
and others including the Future
Fisheries Program and Tom's
of Maine/National
Park Foundation also provided funds to help complete the
project. Weiner at gary_weiner@nps.gov
or (406) 587-1667. |