MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE AND PARKS
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Custer Gallatin National Forest are initiating a project to restore native westslope cutthroat trout to 17 miles of upper North Fork Spanish Creek.
Crews began by removing non-native fish species in Big Brother and Chiquita lakes north of Big Sky by treating the waters with rotenone on July 29. Rotenone is a natural chemical used to remove fish. The two lakes were closed to the public during the treatment.
As stream flows subside, FWP will treat North Fork Spanish Creek and tributaries upstream of the fish barrier recently constructed on the lower end of the creek. Fish removals are expected to take at least two years to complete prior to re-establishing native fish.
An environmental assessment, which included collaborative planning with the U.S. Forest Service as well as opportunity for public comment, was completed for this project in 2017.
For more information, please call FWP’s Region 3 headquarters at (406) 994-4042.
