Tuesday, January 26, 2010

FWP Hard At Work

PROPOSED ACCESS FOR
YELLOWSTONE RIVER

Between Columbus & Reedpoint
public comment now open
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.. A 71-acre parcel, located between Highway 10 and the Yellowstone River, was purchased in 2008 by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks with $550,000 from Access Montana, a fund established by the State Legislature.


.. The access will consist of a road, a parking lot for approximately 20 vehicles, a latrine, and a railroad crossing with automatic signals. Total cost for the improvements will be an additional $130,000 to $180,000. The area will be open to primitive camping, The possibility of a campground is awaiting further funding.
.. The access will cross a section of the Holmgren Ranch and will also allow access to two islands owned by the state.
.. The comment period is now open to the public and extends until the end of the month. The Draft Environmental Assessment is available HERE.
.. Comments on the Holmgren Ranch fishing access site environmental assessment can be sent to Terri Walters at FWP, 2300 Lake Elmo Drive, Billings MT 59105 or by e-mail to twalters@mt.gov. A copy of the environmental assessment is also available to the public at the FWP Region 5 office at Lake Elmo.
.. Phase one of the project could start a couple of months after the finding is issued, (in February, 2010,) and phase two completed by the end of 2011 - funding considered.
.. You can read the story posted by Brett French in the Billings Gazette HERE.
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