The winnett agricultural community enhancement and sustainability (winnett aces) enhances wildlife habitat, landscape connectivity, and wildfire resilience across central montana by partnership with…

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Montana-Dakotas Region, awarded Winnett Aces Inc. a $148,350 Cooperative Agreement under the Wildlife Resource Management Program (CFDA 15.247) effective September 25, 2025, through September 24, 2030. The award funds the Winnett Agricultural Community Enhancement and Sustainability (WINNETT ACES) project, which delivers habitat restoration and wildlife connectivity improvements across central Montana in partnership with local landowners. Primary deliverables include modification, removal, or replacement of approximately eight miles of outdated fencing infrastructure with wildlife-friendly alternatives, and restoration of up to 100 acres through targeted mechanical removal of encroaching conifers from priority grassland and sagebrush habitats. These conservation practices collectively support enhanced wildlife management across up to 5,000 acres, with explicit focus on improving habitat for big game species, reducing wildfire risk, and restoring functional grassland ecosystems.

The project implements innovative habitat restoration strategies grounded in ecological monitoring to ensure sustainable landscape outcomes. Through collaborative engagement with agricultural producers and landowners, WINNETT ACES addresses the dual conservation objectives of ecosystem restoration and working lands stewardship in the northern Great Plains, consistent with the BLM Wildlife Program's statutory mandate to maintain functioning wildlife habitats and develop wildlife management activities on public lands.

The winnett agricultural community enhancement and sustainability (winnett aces) enhances wildlife habitat, landscape connectivity, and wildfire resilience across central montana by partnership with landowners to implement two key conservation practices: 1) replacing or modifying outdated fencing infrastructure with wildlife-friendly alternatives, and 2) removing encroaching conifers from priority grassland and sagebrush habitats. These efforts restore grassland ecosystems, improve connectivity for big game species, and reduce wildfire risk. Up to 5,000 acres are enhanced through improved management by designing and implementing innovative strategies for habitat restoration projects eight miles of fence are modified, removed, or replaced and up to 100 acres are restored by addressing conifer encroachment through targeted mechanical treatments and ecological monitoring.