CMR-NWR Community Working Group, December 15, Fort Peck
The CMR NWR (Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge) Community Working Group held their 11th meeting on December 15, 2011 at Fort Peck Interpretive Center, Ft. Peck, Montana with 35 in attendance. This Community Working Group was formed in response to the CMR Comprehensive Conservation 15-year plan. The group is the Missouri River Conservation District Council, County Commissioners of the six counties surrounding the CMR and members of the public.
CMR is not part of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. However, a number of Friends of the Missouri Breaks Monument members believe the Missouri River Breaks extends beyond the eastern Monument boundaries into the CM Russell National Wildlife Refuge which extends 125 airline miles down the Missouri River to Fort Peck Dam. CMR contains approximately 1,100,000 acres, including the 245,000-acre Fort Peck Reservoir.
Members attending the working group are farmers/ranchers, conservation district personnel, Missouri River Conservation District Council members, county commissioners, wildlife groups, CMR personnel, conservation groups, state and federal agencies and Bill Milton, meeting facilitator. Bill Milton opened the meeting, introduced the speaker and asked each person to introduce themselves. The smaller breakout groups after the presentations answered the following questions: Question 1: "What did you learn from each presenter"? Question 2: "What were your concerns ?" The final question for the group before adjourning: Identify one issue (project) that you would like the group to explore working on?
Our presenter, Pat Gunderson, Region 6 Supervisor Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Glasgow
FWP Mission
Montana FWP, through its employees and citizen Commission, provides for the stewardship of the fish, wildlife, parks and recreational resources of Montana while contributing to the quality of life for present and future generations.
Fish, Wildlife and Parks, a Trustee
State’s responsibility to pass laws and regulations to regulate time, place, and manner of private taking.
Authority is exercised as a trust for all the people in Montana, and not for the benefit of government nor third parties.
State power is exercised under the broad concepts of police power (state enforcing laws) and public trust.
FWP Responsibilities FWP, by law, supervises management of all fish, wildlife, game and non-game birds, waterfowl and game and non-game fur bearing animals of the state. Further, FWP is responsible for all state parks-related scenic, historic, archeological, cultural and recreational resources of the state.
•Second Largest Region in Size ~ 28,000 sq mi
•Approximately 350 miles from East to West 63% Private Land; BLM 16%; Tribal 10% DNRC 7% and USFWS 2.5%
•Approximately 40 Full-time employees
Wildlife Program
The Region 6 Wildlife program is focused on habitat, population management, recreational access, enforcement of laws and landowner relations.
•Focus on Partnerships with Private and Public Landowners
•Utilize Habitat Montana, UGBEP and other programs to affect wildlife habitat. Focus on Recreational Opportunities for the Public
•Maintain Simplified Hunting Seasons for the Public
•Utilize Liberal Seasons to Manage Wildlife Populations within Habitat and Landowner Tolerances. 
Fisheries Program
The Region 6 Fisheries program is focused on habitat, population management, recreational access, enforcement of laws and water quality and quantity and Agency Partnerships to affect habitat
Focus on Recreational Opportunities for the Public
Maintain Simplified Fishing Seasons for the Public
Manage Fort Peck, Fresno and Nelson Reservoirs, Missouri and Milk Rivers and many small ponds.
Species include pallid sturgeon, paddlefish, walleye, chinook salmon, lake trout and catfish.
Wildlife Partnerships
Private landowners are FWPs key partners in Region 6 – Habitat, Access and Expertise
Hunters and Local Conservation Groups
State, Federal and Tribal staff are also key.
Canadian Partners
Non-Governmental Organizations
Fisheries Partnerships
Private landowners are FWPs key partners in Region 6 – Habitat, Access and Expertise
Fisherman and Local Conservation Groups
State, Federal and Tribal staff are also key.
Non-Governmental Organizations
Wildlife Population Status- Mule Deer
Into Winter of 2010 – 2011 with very high numbers and animals were in good condition
Post-season surveys indicated approximately 25% decline in overall populations
Dropped antlerless quota by 54% from 2010 to 2011.
Wildlife Population Status - White-Tail Deer
Into Winter of 2010 – 2011 with very high numbers and animals were in good condition
Spring surveys indicated approximately 25% decline in overall populations
Additional decline in late-summer due to severe Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease outbreak
Dropped antlerless quota by 60% from 2010 to 2011.
Wildlife Population Status-Elk
Elk in Region 6 rarely have losses due to winter conditions.
Surveys are conducted every other year and 2010 surveys indicate above average populations.
Maintained liberal antlerless licenses in 2011.
Fisheries Population Status
Rising waters in Fort Peck Reservoir have provided quality spawning and brood habitat for many species of fish.
Flooding rivers provided outstanding conditions for spawning fish in 2010 and 2011.
Paddlefish fishery above Fort Peck is very healthy.
Small pond fisheries suffered winter-kill conditions last winter, but have excellent water-levels at present
Fishing Economics - Region 6
n 2008, anglers spent an estimated $240 million in Montana on transportation, lodging, food, guide fees and other direct purchases, excluding license fees. Nonresidents account for more than 50 percent of the revenue from fishing.
In Region 6, anglers spent $8 million. Residents account for 84 percent of the revenue
Hunting Economic - Region 6
Montana hunters, R and NR, spent about $292 million in 2008 on transportation, lodging, food, guide fees, and other purchases, excluding license fees. Residents account for 57% of the revenue.
In Region 6, hunters spent $26.9 million. Residents account for 40 percent of the revenue. Non-residents account for 60% of the revenue.
In Region 6, bird hunting is king with $14.4 million in revenue and 76% of that coming from non-residents.
Breakout Group 4 - What did we learn (From Pat Gunderson MFWP Presentation)
•There was quite a bit of data.
•MFWP didn’t coordinate with local Government agencies, like County Commissioners.
•Public reaction to data, like the loss of white tail deer to Epizootic Hemorrhagia Disease
•Manage State Parks better
•Hunters take less than 5% of sage grouse during hunting season
•Didn’t know hunting season length in CMR is different from rest of hunting districts.
•Learned of the $292M revenue from recreation, hunting, fishing etc, 57% is from local residents.
•Bird hunting revenue, 76% comes from non residents
What were our concerns
•Why different length of hunting in CMR and outside CMR.
•MFWP, why manage a species a certain way by using hunting (wolves in western Montana).
•Compensation to land owners for damage, only part of value compensated.
•Goal of MFWP is more opportunity for species that don’t exist in area.
Identify one issue (project) that you would like the group to explore working on.
Collaboratively complete a phase planning process that would ultimately establish a healthy viable manageable year round population of Wild Bison on the Refuge.
•Pilot project, develop plan for unit of land maybe several allotments that included private, BLM and CMR lands to benefit
rangeland management
livestock production
wildlife populations
local economic
various recreational opportunities
community benefits
• Articulate one management/comm. Goal we can all agree on and develop plan to implement that plan.
•Propose pilot project to utilize a portion of the CMR in order to see the benefits that a C.D. can contribute. To help meet the goals of local communities, CMR and Stakeholders.
• Multiple use of all public lands and good stewardship management practices.
•Have a role in protecting our communities and environment from “negative” impact.
•Areas to start discussion list many topics & priorities possibly more information on hand - start discussing topics.
•Focus on Sage Grouse issues.
•Pick a project and implement.
•Not losing sight of getting processes and roles, what is part of our glue.
•Work together on noxious weeds.
• Support USDA Sage Grouse in 6 County area - explore ways to communities, landowners etc. Can benefit from the way the area is important for Sage Grouse.
•How can we help the CMR Refuge & regional landowners work together better.
• Better access to the CMR. Open up closed roads or repair some of the areas in need of it. Work towards more of the CMR being available to people who don’t have ATV’s.
• Come to agreement as a group about the range uses over the 6 Counties.
•Increase public awareness of the aspects of CMR.
•CMR should have their top priorities healthy rangelands.
•Better communication about what the Refuge can & can’t do and who they are.
• Focus on the health and/or management of the rangelands to sustain all the wildlife.
•Approach CMR - public involvement in decision making process (ie. road closures).
•Range management - Sage Grouse on CMR.
• Sage Grouse.
Next meeting will be February 9, 2012 Circle Montana. Contact Laurie Riley Missouri River CD Council mrcdc@missouririvercouncil.info
Other Information
CMRussell National Wildlife Refuge planning web site: http://www.fws.gov/cmr/planning/index.html
The Friends 2006 Monument w/boundarymapFriends Map,