Deadmans Basin, Water Birch to get improvements.

Construction will start this spring to address erosion problems at two south central Montana fishing access sites. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials approved the construction after drafting environmental assessments and accepting public comment on both projects.

Crews will move and rebuild 1,200 feet of one-way road at Deadmans Basin Fishing Access Site northwest of Ryegate starting the week of May 24. Waves from the adjacent Deadmans Basin Reservoir have eroded the shore, threatening the existing roadway that provides campers and fishermen with access to the western side of the reservoir.

The roadway will be closed for one to two weeks during construction.

At Water Birch Fishing Access Site south of Roberts contractors will replace five camp spaces that were eroded away by Rock Creek. During the environmental assessment process, area irrigators questioned the proposed addition of a culvert because they believed it would be clogged by beavers. As a result, designs for the project were redrafted to eliminate the culvert.

Construction will begin in June. The fishing access site will remain open for use during the construction.

-FWP-