Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget

The budget for project 1991-019-04 Hungry Horse Mitigation, Creston NFH Fish Production, was set for five years back in FY 2001. The amount that you quote,, $113,168 was the amount approved for FY 2004. The budget has been static since FY 2004. The project budget amount approved for FY 2006 five years ago was $120,060. Tight budgets at BPA have kept our budget the same for the past three years. Will that continue to be the case, or will we see our FY 2006 budget as originally approved?

Accomplishments since the last review

The Creston NFH has annually produced the requested amount of fish for offsite stocking locations to mitigate losses to the Flathead lake and river system caused by the construction and operation of Hungry Horse Dam. These stocking numbers have been up to 100,000 rainbow and up to 100,000 westslope cutthroat trout annually. These committments have been met every year.

FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments

FY 2006 Aquire eggs, rear and stock up to 100,000 westslope cutthroat trout. FY 2006 Aquire eggs, rear and stock up to 100,000 rainbow trout.

Subbasin planning

How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?

The Creston NFH has worked with the Council, subbasin planners and stakeholders to ensure our programs are consistent with the goals and objectives of the Flathead subbasin plan. Specifically, we will be integrating Creston NFH programs into subbasin planning through the utilization of approved hatchery management and genetic management plans. Qualitative assessments have shown that the stocking of closed basin lakes and reservoirs isolated within the Flathead subbasin yield an efficient hatchery plant to angler creel ratio. After one to two years growth, these plants provide recreational angling opportunities for catchable sized trout and partially offset the affects of closures and reduced limits on recoverable populations of westslope cutthroat and bull trout in the Flathead Lake and River system.

How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?

The Management Plan for the Flathead subasin identifies a multitude of project priorities. The fish production acitivities of the Creston NFH fall into many of these measures. Some of the management strategies that the Creston NFH programs follow are; restore native species, mitigate for lost fish and wildlife, have good geographic distribution, protection and restoration of fish and wildlife resources, a balance of projects that meet the publics desire for access and recreation and those which provide refuge for wildlife, resource priorities that relate to damage done by BPA projects, projects that have multiple benefits and are most cost effective, public education and outreach, projects completed at lower elevations and those that improve or site water quality.

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