The grassland landscape of montana S HI line is among the most intact in the united states and is identified as a priority area for conservation across multiple agency and conservation partners

This $200,000 Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Region 6 supports restoration and enhancement activities on USFWS wetland-grassland easement properties in the Northern Great Plains region of Montana. The award, provided through the USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife program (CFDA 15.631), will address unmet habitat restoration and enhancement needs on perpetual wetland-grassland easements held by USFWS within the Northern Great Plains Refuge Complex. Key activities to be delivered include restoring and enhancing wetland and grassland habitats on privately-owned easement properties to benefit migratory waterfowl and priority grassland songbirds. Ducks Unlimited Inc.'s Great Plains Regional Office (Gpro Division) is the primary awardee and will likely partner with state wildlife agencies, non-profits, and other conservation organizations as sub-awardees to implement these habitat restoration projects across the landscape.

The region is important for many species including migratory waterfowl and priority grassland songbirds, the US fish and wildlife service holds thousands of acres in perpetual wetland-grassland easements in this region, within the northern great plains refuge complex. Many of these easement properties have additional, unmet habitat restoration and enhancement needs. This funding will address a portion of those needs by delivering restoration and enhancement activities on USFWS wetland-grassland easement properties. This restoration work will take place on easementproperties in private ownership