FWP Seeks Comment On Proposed Beaverhead And Big Hole River Rules

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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment in February on recreational use rules for the Beaverhead and Big Hole rivers, including two amendments.   The amendments contain material from the existing biennial rule that was inadvertently left out of a December public notice covering the proposed rules. The amendments deal with outfitter boat tags and rules on the transfer of the opportunity to outfit on the two rivers.

The FWP Commission is proposing to extend the current recreational use rules for another two years on the Beaverhead and Big Hole rivers.  The rules have been in effect since May 2001 and are due to expire in May 2003.

“The idea is to continue with the current rules until completion of the statewide River Recreation Advisory Council process,” said Bruce Rich, Regional Fishery Manager in Bozeman.  “Extension of the existing rules at this time would allow FWP to incorporate the principles that the council is developing into potential long-term or permanent rules for the Beaverhead and Big Hole rivers.” 

FWP Director Jeff Hagener appointed the Council and it is anticipated that the group will present its recommendations to the FWP Commission this spring.

The current rules attempt to distribute recreational river use over time and space during the busy summer season.  The FWP Commission adopted the current biennial rules in 2001 after considering input from two local citizen advisory groups and from the general public.

When posting the proposed rules in the Montana Register in December of 2002, FWP inadvertently omitted sections from the existing biennial rules.   One section requires outfitters to have boat tags to identify them as authorized to operate on the river.   The other section states that the opportunity to outfit cannot be transferred to another outfitter but may be assumed by a member of the immediate family of the deceased outfitter.

 The FWP Commission will hold public hearings to consider comment on the proposed rules.  The dates and locations are as follows:

Feb. 26 – 7 p.m. – Red Lion Inn, 2100 Cornell St., Butte;

Feb. 27 – 7 p.m. – Matthews Hall, Lewis & Clark Room, Western Montana College, Dillon;

Feb. 28– 7 p.m. – Bethany Hall, Educational Room, 211 ½ S. Main St., Sheridan.

Text of the current and proposed rules and amendments are available on the FWP home page at http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/riverrec/revisedarm.asp , or request copies by calling: 406-994-4042.

Written comments may be sent through March 12 to:  Bruce Rich, Attn: Beaverhead/Big Hole, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, 1400 S. 19 th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59718 or by email at: http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/contact/bhbhcomments.asp .