The upper flint rock fish passage improvement project is a collaboration between trout unlimited and the montana natural resource damage program and other project partners and aims to implement…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $1,309,500.25 Cooperative Agreement to Trout Unlimited, Inc. under the National Fish Passage Program (CFDA 15.685) to implement the Upper Flint Rock Fish Passage Improvement Project in western Montana. This project, a collaboration between Trout Unlimited and the Montana Natural Resource Damage Program, aims to enhance fish passage, install fish screens on irrigation ditches, and improve water delivery at six irrigation diversion sites in the Flint Rock watershed. The project will reconnect 36 miles of critical bull trout habitat, benefiting westslope cutthroat trout and supporting the recovery of federally threatened bull trout populations. Key activities include securing permits, contracting construction, and implementing two phases of irrigation infrastructure upgrades and fish screening projects from 2025 through 2029.

The upper flint rock fish passage improvement project is a collaboration between trout unlimited and the montana natural resource damage program and other project partners and aims to implement infrastructure improvements that enhance fish passage, install fish screens on irrigation ditches, and improve water delivery at six irrigation diversion sites in the flint rock watershed within the upper clark fork river basin in western montana. Flint creek and rock creek are critical habitats for imperiled populations of native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout. Irrigation diversion structures negatively impact fisheries health by fragmenting habitats and entraining migratory fish. Additionally, outdated diversion infrastructure contributes to inefficient irrigation withdrawals, which further reduce streamflows and stress threatened populations of bull trout and other native and wild fish. Through this effort, the project team will collaborate with water users and landowners to modernize irrigation diversion infrastructure by implementing previously developed designs that will improve connectivity for native fish populations. This project will reconnect 36 miles of critical bull trout habitat, benefiting westslope cutthroat trout and supporting the recovery of federally threatened bull trout populations under the endangered species act within the greater upper clark fork river basin. The proposed project will implement design plans to upgrade irrigation infrastructure on public waterways primarily located on private lands in western montana. Key project activities include securing necessary permits and contracting qualified construction contractors in compliance with all state and federal regulations and constructing six irrigation diversion upgrades and fish screening projects in two phases. Phase 1 construction will begin in 2025, with completion of all six projects expected within four years, by december 2029.