Prairie county, montana

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and the Water Court are currently examining and decreeing water right claims of residents in the State of Montana. The water adjudication process is important because the State will then have an idea of the quantity of water use in Montana and have the right to defend our water rights from downstream states making claim to our water. As a result of the water adjudication process, the State of Montana will be better able to manage our groundwater and surface water resources.

Fish, Wildlife, and Plant Habitat

Wildlife habitat is also important to preserve with respect to hunting and fishing. Hunting seasons exist for the following wildlife: antelope, deer, sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, gray partridge, pheasant, turkey, geese, duck, and mourning dove. Preserving the quality of the watershed is also important with respect to fishing the warm-water fisheries in the county. Some commonly fished for species are pike, sauger, walleye, bass, catfish, sturgeon, carp, and crappie.

Water reservoirs stocked in Prairie County in 2005 include:

Clarks Reservoir--4000 Rainbow Trout

Grant Reservoir--no fish stocked

Homestead Reservoir--5000 Smallmouth Bass

Silvertip Reservoir--3000 Rainbow Trout
The following table lists all of the species of special concern in Prairie County, Montana. The species are split into five main groups: birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, and vascular plants.
Table F.2. Species of Special Concern in Prairie County, Montana.

BIRDS

Scientific Name	Common Name	USFWS	USFS	BLM
Buteo regalis	Ferruginous Hawk			Sensitive
Centrocercus urophasianus	Greater Sage Grouse		Sensitive	Sensitive
Falco peregrinus	Peregrine Falcon	DM	Sensitive	Sensitive
Haliaeetus leucocephalus	Bald Eagle	LT, PDL	Threatened	Special Status
Sterna atinllarum athalassos	Interior Least Tern	LE	Endangered	Special Status

FISH

Scientific Name	Common Name	USFWS	USFS	BLM
Cycleptus enlongatus	Blue Sucker			Sensitive
Macrhybopsis gelida	Sturgeon Chub		Sensitive	Sensitive
Polydon spathula	Paddlefish			Sensitive
Scaphirhynchus albus	Pallid Sturgeon	LE	Endangered	Special Status

MAMMALS

Scientific Name	Common Name	USFWS	USFS	BLM
Cynomys ludovicianus	Black-Tailed Prairie Dog		Sensitive	Sensitive
Vulpes velox	Swift Fox			Sensitive

REPTILES

Scientific Name	Common Name	USFWS	USFS	BLM
Apalone spinifera	Spiny Softshell			Sensitive
Heterodon nasicus	Western Hognose Snake		Sensitive	Sensitive

VASCULAR PLANTS

Scientific Name	Common Name	USFWS	USFS	BLM
Carex crawei	Crawe’s Sedge			Sensitive

Source: Montana Natural Heritage Program, 2005

LE--Listed Endangered LT--Listed Threatened PDL--Proposed delisted DM--Delisted, monitored