In 1995, Montana Legislature created the Future Fisheries Improvement Program (FFIP), to restore essential habitats for the growth and propagation of wild fish populations in lakes, rivers, and streams. In 1999, the Legislature expanded the FFIP by adding funding from the Resource Indemnity Trust Fund (RIT) and directing a portion of the funding to projects that specifically enhance bull trout and cutthroat trout, with emphasis on mineral reclamation projects. In 2013, the RIT funding was expanded to all cover of Montana’s native fish species.

Program funding may be provided for costs of design/build, construction, and maintenance of projects that restore, enhance, or protect habitat for wild fishes. Funding cannot be used for administration, coordination, overhead, monitoring, watershed assessments, design alone, or contingency costs. Preference will be given to projects that restore habitats for native fishes.

Habitat projects benefiting wild fish, originating from virtually any source, will be considered for funding. This includes (but is not limited to) landowners, anglers, civic groups, conservation districts, or governmental agencies.

For more information and access to the grant application can be found on the FWP website – http://fwp.mt.gov/fishAndWildlife/habitat/fish/futureFisheries/default.html