EA Goldean Pond License Review FWP-CEA-FSH-R4-25-025

May 27, 2025 9:59 AM

A private landowner is applying for a Private Pond License and proposes to stock trout in a private pond. The pond is roughly 0.45 surface acres and is located at 5025 Iron Ridge Loop, Helena, MT. The pond is an excavated pond and is sourced by groundwater. This pond has not been approved for fish stocking previously, and it is not believed to contain any fish. There is no inlet or established outlet channel. It is highly unlikely that fish can escape the pond due to its design, location, lack of drainage area to the pond, and lack of a defined channel leaving the pond. Additionally, fish could be removed from the pond via chemical treatments or stocking can be stopped to let the fish age out.

This pond is an excavated pit sourced by a groundwater well, with no inlet or established outlet channel. Pond water levels are regulated by a gate within the outlet structure that controls outflow from a pvc pipe. Under normal conditions, water draining from the pipe would go subsurface a short distance from the pipe. During an extreme event, water from the pipe or overflow from the pond, would need to drain approximately a third of a mile over land and downgradient approximately 500 ft before reaching Skelly Gulch.

Skelly Gulch contains a native conservation population of westslope cutthroat trout in the headwaters. The westslope cutthroat trout are isolated by a culvert barrier that was enhanced through a future fisheries project in 2011 to prevent upstream migration from brook trout present downstream of the barrier in the immediate vicinity and prevent upstream migration from other nonnative trout present further downstream in the drainage. During an extreme event, if water from the pond reached Skelly Gulch, it would drain overland to Skelly Gulch in the vicinity of the constructed fish barrier, potentially both upstream and downstream of the barrier.

Given the proximity to the conservation population of westslope cutthroat trout, FWP would restrict the species allowed to be stocked to westslope cutthroat trout only and require the pond outlet structure to be screened to prevent escapement.

The project is sponsored by the private landowner and the license would be active a period of 10 years from the year of issuance (2025). The license can be renewed for additional 10-year intervals at the end of each term and the license is transferable.

Duration of Public Comment Period: The public comment period begins on the date of publication on the FWP website. Written or e-mailed comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m., MST, on the last day of public comment, as listed below:

Length of Public Comment Period: 15 days

Public Comment Period Begins: May 27, 2025

Public Comment Period Ends: June 10, 2025

Comments must be addressed to the FWP contact, as listed below.

Where to Mail or Email Comments on the Draft EA:

Name: NATHAN JAKSHA, Helena Area Fisheries Biologist

Email: nathan.jaksha@mt.gov

Mailing Address: 1534 9th Avenue

P.O. Box 200701

Helena, MT 59620