Bluewater Springs Trout Hatchery New Zealand Mud Snail Barrier Project Draft Environmental Assessment Checklist FWP-CEA-FSH-R9-26-001

Overview

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is proposing a project to upgrade infrastructure and install a barrier to prevent invasive New Zealand mud snails from entering the water sources for Bluewater Springs Trout Hatchery in Carbon County. In late 2025, New Zealand mud snails, an aquatic invasive species, were detected in a drainage channel that flows out of the Bluewater Spring at the state-owned fish hatchery. Currently, the snails are estimated to be approximately 15 feet from the spring outlet. The water temperature of the spring is consistently 55 degrees which prevents winter kills and provides conditions for the snails to reproduce year-round. If the New Zealand mud snails successfully enter and colonize the spring, water quality and fish reared at the hatchery would be compromised and result in a costly depopulation and decontamination effort. To prevent the snails from moving into the hatchery system, the proposed project would remove an existing culvert and place a 36-diameter corrugated pipe in the existing overflow channel. Concrete box structures would be installed at either end of the pipe and the existing overflow structures, and piping will be replaced. This project would create two abrupt elevation changes in the water flow creating physical barriers and serve as a biosecurity measure. FWP is anticipating the construction portion of the project to be contracted with work beginning early in 2026.

Project Details

Agency / Owner

Montana Fish Wildlife Parks

Project Number

FWP-CEA-FSH-R9-26-001

CSI Divisions