THE FLATHEAD RIVER WATERSHED supports one of the most diverse assemblages of wetlands in the Northern Rocky Mountains. The Glaciated Valleys of Northwest Montana program is focused on protecting the unique wetland habitats of rivers, sloughs, lakes, and ponds of the Flathead and Mission Valleys located north and south of Flathead Lake. The Canada goose population of the Flathead and Mission Valleys is one of the largest native populations in the western U.S., and an important and valued resource to local and regional hunters. With financial support from many sources, this landscape-level project has already conserved 499 acres of important wetlands, 624 acres of riparian forest as well as 1,627 acres of surrounding uplands through bargain-sale conservation easements and one land acquisition. We can now assure that these lands will continue to provide habitat for breeding, nesting, and migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, swans, osprey, bald eagles, bull trout, and other riparian or wetland dependent species. The partnership works with interested farmers, ranchers, and other long-time landowners who want to retain current land uses while also protecting these critical areas.
IN THE FLATHEAD VALLEY NEAR KALISPELL, the partnership completed the last phases of the Weaver Slough, McWennegar Slough, and Foys Bend projects in 2004. Combined, these projects conserved approximately 1,600 (the other commonly used figure was 2,000) acres of uplands and wetlands associated with two major oxbow lakes and a meanders of the mainstem of the Flathead River. This project not only benefited waterfowl, wading birds, tundra swans, osprey and bald eagles, but also included conservation of 1.6 miles of the Flathead River that contained important over-winter habitat for bull trout. Funding partners in this effort include Montana Agricultural Heritage Program, USDA's Farmland Protection Program, Bonneville Power Administration, the Montana Migratory Bird Stamp program, a North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and numerous conservation partners.
IN THE MISSION VALLEY, pothole wetlands formed by receding glaciers created valuable waterfowl and pheasant breeding habitats, which have become some of the finest bird hunting areas in northwest Montana. The Mission Valley also has some of the highest reported densities of nesting short-eared owls and northern harriers in North America. Partners in the Mission valley just completed (2004) acquisition of the 200-acre Ringneck Ranch and added it to the state's Ninepipe Wildlife Management Area. This follows two other recent purchases by FWP of an adjoining 70-acre Pheasants Forever (2003) tract and nearby 106-acre Palmer property (2002). All these lands will be managed to provide productive bird habitat while also supporting a diversity of other wildlife, including small mammals, grizzly bears, reptiles and amphibians. Hunting, hiking, bird watching, photography, and nature study are all available to the public on the property. Partners for these projects include the Mission Valley Chapter of Pheasants Forever, Missoula's Big Sky Upland Bird Association, the Region 1 Wildlife Mitigation and Habitat Montana programs. Ducks Unlimited and others will help design and implement wetland restoration of numerous wetlands on all these lands.
THE FLATHEAD AND MISSION VALLEYS are among the fastest developing areas in Montana. Wetlands, riparian habitat and grasslands are rapidly being converted to home sites. This partnership project will be working with other interested private landowners to complete additional conservation of important riparian/wetland and pothole habitats both in the Flathead and Mission valleys.
