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al subdivision clause, which allows ….

al subdivision clause, which allows the property to be divided and sold to separate owners. This proposal, which was brought to FWP by the landowners, would allow the landowners to remove from the CE and sell 1 acre with an existing residential house and outbuildings. In exchange, they would reduce the current size of building envelopes from 40 acres to 16.5 acres, preserving 23.5 acres for wildlife habitat. The proposal also includes removing from the CE an option for a 5-acre building envelope next to Bear Creek WMA, which is consistently used by wintering elk and deer, and removing language related to agricultural subdivision, ensuring the property would remain as one ownership unit into the future.

Otter Creek LLS Islands expansion of Indian Fort Fishing Access Site on the Yellowstone River: FWP proposes to acquire two land parcels totaling 107 acres that are part of an island complex in the Yellowstone River upstream of Reed Point. FWP plans to preserve them in a natural state and to provide recreational access using $140,150 in Natural Resource Damage Program mitigation funds resulting from the 2011 Silvertip Oil Spill. This site is adjacent to the Indian Fort Fishing Access Site and four river miles below Bratten Fishing Access Site (FAS). The islands are in a reach of the Yellowstone that FWP considers high priority for additional public access.

501 Pemberton Lane acquisition, Billings: FWP proposes to purchase a 2.442-acre lot at 501 Pemberton Lane in Billings for administrative use. The lot would support FWP and Region 5 operations.

Ruby Dam Fishing Access Site lease agreement: Ruby Dam FAS is a day-use site at the mouth of Ruby Dam about 7 miles south of Alder on the Ruby Dam Road. FWP operates Ruby Dam FAS under a no-cost recreational lease from Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. The most recent lease expired in August 2022, and FWP wishes to enter a new lease on that site that would be in effect from February 2023 through December 2032.

2023-24 Flathead Indian Reservation Non-Member Fishing and Hunting Regulations: The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) and the State of Montana have a cooperative management agreement on the Flathead Indian Reservation (created under MCA 87-1-228 and through a subsequent state-tribal agreement) that provides for presentation and approval of coordinated tribal regulations and season frameworks for fishing and bird hunting regulations to the Fish and Wildlife Commission. Tribal recommendations are presented to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council, which votes on tentative proposals and opens them to general public review and comment. The council then meets for final adoption. The proposals are also presented to the joint Flathead Reservation Fish and Wildlife Board. Commission approval is subject to final tribal council approval. The tribe is not proposing any hunting or fishing regulation changes for non-members for the 2023-24 regulation year, which spans March 1, 2023, through Feb. 28, 2024.

Wildlife Management Area public use rules: The commission has adopted public use rules biennially, and more recently, annually for FWP lands specifically acquired for the purpose of providing effective fish and wildlife habitat. Those department lands comprise Wildlife Management Areas, Wildlife Habitat Protection Areas, and Fisheries Conservation Areas. Rules adopted on a regular schedule are referred to as “seasonal rules” and in this proposal would serve as the public use rules for calendar year 2023.

To comment and for more information on these proposals, go to https://fwp.mt.gov/ aboutfwp/commission/february- 2023-meeting.

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