Cooperative Agreement L25AC00544

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Montana-Dakotas Region awarded the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) a Cooperative Agreement totaling $206,603.40 under the Aquatic Resources Management program (CFDA 15.244) on September 25, 2025, with completion scheduled for September 24, 2026. Through this award, NWF will implement targeted aquatic habitat improvements across 8-18 miles of streams on BLM-managed lands in Montana while building technical capacity within BLM's Montana-Dakotas Aquatic Resources Program. Key deliverables include native vegetation plantings, conifer removal, project protection fencing, structural treatments such as beaver mimicry and wood accumulation features, and in-stream slash placement to restore floodplain connectivity.

NWF will provide technical assistance and training to BLM staff on aquatic resource management, conduct watershed assessments and reach prioritization using spatial analysis tools, coordinate permitting assistance for water resource projects, and establish monitoring systems to track water availability and habitat functionality. The project emphasizes collaborative partnerships among federal agencies, state and local governments, adjacent landowners, and stakeholder organizations including watershed groups and agricultural operators. This work directly supports the BLM's multiple-use mandate by balancing domestic mineral extraction, timber harvesting, and livestock grazing with wildlife habitat conservation—particularly for sage-grouse—while ensuring adequate water resources for current and future beneficial uses in the semi-arid landscape where riparian and wetland ecosystems occupy only a small portion of the broader landscape yet have disproportionate ecological importance.