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Description:
Benton Lake Wetland Management District (WMD) covers 25,000 square miles in ten counties of north-central Montana. It includes the western-most extension of the glaciated prairie pothole habitat of the Northern Great Plains and the Blackfoot River valley, a glaciated inter-mountain valley west of the continental divide. The 21 waterfowl production areas (WPAs) in the district are extremely varied in habitat types and include prairie grasslands, fresh and saline wetlands, riparian and montane forests, and rivers. Habitat conservation easements protect both wetlands and upland habitat in the WMD from conversion to uses incompatible with wildlife. The primary role of the WMD is conservation of habitat for waterfowl but a wide variety of other species are also benefitted including sandhill cranes, bald eagles, grizzly bears, deer and elk. Management practices include reseeding grasses and forbs on former cropland and restoring drained wetlands. Occasionally burning, haying or grazing are used as tools to stimulate growth of vegetation or to manage weeds. All WPAs except one are open to public hunting in accordance with State of Montana regulations. Directions:
The Benton Lake WMD office is located on the Benton Lake NWR, approximately 11 miles north of the city of Great Falls in Cascade County, Montana. Visitors should proceed north out of Great Falls on US 87 and follow the signs to Bootlegger Trail and the refuge. Office hours are 7:30 to 4:00, Monday through Friday. Maps and information concerning the WPAs in the wetland district are available at the office. WPAs are scattered throughout the WMD with some more than two hours driving time from headquarters.
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