Benton Lake Wetland Management District

Overview

Benton Lake Wetland Management District is managed by Fish and Wildlife Service and is located near Great Falls, Montana.

The Benton Lake Wetland Management District contains 23 Waterfowl Production Areas totaling over 16,000 acres. These WPAs are scattered throughout 8 counties (Cascade, Choteau, Glacier, Hill, Pondera, Powell, Teton, Toole) and include many great hunting locations and bird watching sites. The District was established in 1975 and includes 3 conservation areas, and 4 distinct easement programs.

There are several types of Refuge System lands within the wetland management district:

• Waterfowl production areas, which are acquired in fee-title
• Perpetual wetland easements, which protect privately owned wetlands from being drained, filled, or leveled, while the landowner keeps all other rights
• Perpetual grassland easements, which protect privately owned rangeland and hay land from conversion to cropland, and the landowner keeps all other rights
• Perpetual Farmers Home Administration conservation easements, which help farmers reduce their debt load on farmland and protect wetlands and grasslands
• Perpetual conservation easements, which primarily protect wetland and grassland habitats and prevent property from being subdivided for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes
• A grassland and wetland parcel leased from the State and managed similarly as a waterfowl production fee-title unit