Directly treat and reseed 6684 acres within the project area to make an ecological impact for priority wildlife species

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6 awarded $1,807,946.99 to the Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks Department under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611) on July 1, 2025. The grant, a Formula Grant, supports direct treatment and reseeding of 6,684 acres within a 170,429-acre project area in the Missoula Valley to restore grassland, foothill forest, and riparian habitats critical for priority wildlife species. The project encompasses 112,483 acres of winter range habitat for elk and mule deer, as well as 24,927 acres of breeding, wintering, and migratory bird habitat along approximately 22 miles of river corridor.

The grant award provides funding for comprehensive habitat restoration activities designed to deliver measurable ecological benefits for priority wildlife populations through the ultimate completion date of June 30, 2030. As the primary state agency responsible for wildlife management in Montana, the Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks Department will execute the habitat restoration work leveraging its extensive experience in endangered species research, conservation planning, and habitat assessment developed through previous federal contracts and grant awards.

The project area covers roughly 170429 acres of grassland foothill forest and riparian habitats surrounding the missoula valley including 112483 acres of priority wildlife habitat winter range for ELK and mule deer and 24927 acres of breeding winter and migrating bird habitat along roughly 22 miles of river corridor.