Benton Lake Wetland Management District

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