Wetlands mitigation issues related to reconstruction of U.S. Highway 93 on the Flathead Indian Reservation, Montana

U.S. Highway 93 traverses some of the most ecologically sensitive wetland, riparian and aquatic habitat on the Flathead Indian Reservation. In December 2000, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the Montana Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration entered into a Memorandum of Agreement for the Highway 93 Evaro to Polson Project. The MOA identifies the three governments’ preferred conceptual roadway improvements including alignment, lane configuration, design features, and mitigation concepts for 66.3km (41.2mi) of the project. The MOA also specifies a process for the environmental and final design phase of the project. The process, as it relates to wetlands, riparian and aquatic issues, highway design details, mitigation measures, and the integration of the MOA with Tribal, Federal and State environmental regulations, is presented. The MOA also commits the three governments to cooperate in the preparation of a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for 18.1km (11.2mi) of the highway traversing the Ninepipe pothole wetlands complex. A summary of the current status of the Highway 93 Ninepipe SEIS and design alternatives being evaluated is also presented