Fox Creek

CMEs are a special type of conservation easement that protect a river’s ability to migrate naturally across the floodplain so the important processes of erosion and sediment deposition can continue. The landowners volunteered to withold restrictions on stabilizing banklines, allowing the river channel to naturally migrate within its floodplain, while other activities such as farming and livestock grazing are permitted within the easement. The CME protected over 90 acres of floodplain. The natural migration of a river is critical for flood mitigation, water qualit, and fish, plant, and wildlife habitat. 

In addition to the easement, Montana Freshwater Partners worked with the landowner to restore a small stream within the property that provides important backwater habitat for native fish when the Yellowstone River is high. Prior to restoration, the stream was plugged with an earthen dam, disconnecting it from the river. Restoration treatments involved removing the plug and recontouring the stream channel, as well as planting hundreds of native trees and shrubs and installing a series of beaver-dam analogs.