If it has to do with river recreation it is probably in a 33-page report, available for public comment through Nov. 28, that was prepared by the Montana River Recreation Advisory Council. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks appointed the council a year ago to study river-related issues and make recommendations FWP can use in drafting a river recreation management policy.
“The 22 council members worked hard to identify principles and a decision-making framework that FWP can use in situations where crowding or use-conflicts occur on our rivers and streams,” said Charlie Sperry, FWP’s river recreation management specialist. “Now it’s time for Montanans to have an opportunity to ‘test drive’ what we have so far and to let us know what they think.”
The River Recreation Advisory Council’s recommendations were presented to the FWP Commission in early July. The 22 council members represent resident and nonresident anglers and boaters, outfitters, the tourism industry, landowners, the Montana Legislature, and the FWP Commission.
The council agreed upon 25 guiding principles and recommended that FWP use them to guide river recreation management policy and decisions.
The River Recreation Advisory Council suggests that any river management policy should:
· recognize that conservation of river resources should be the first priority;
· seek a balance between a quality experience and unlimited uses on Montana’s increasingly popular rivers; and
· provide opportunities for a variety of recreational uses.
“The council worked hard on the guiding principles to ensure that they reflect the diverse interests of the participants,” Sperry said. “The council addressed a number of complex issues, such as nonresident and outfitted use, and we’re very interested in what Montanans have to say on these and other topics.”
Public meetings are scheduled in seven cities across the state. Each work session will begin with an open house from 6:30-7 p.m. followed by introductions and a short presentation. The public will be asked to comment on the report prepared by the River Recreation Advisory Council, appointed by FWP, and on other river management issues.
Oct. 21
Great Falls
FWP office, 4600 Giant Springs Road
Oct. 22
Kalispell
FWP office, 490 N Meridian Road
Nov. 5
Missoula
Doubletree Hotel Missoula Edgewater, 100 Madison
Nov. 12
Bozeman
FWP office, 1400 South 19 th
Nov. 17
Dillon
U of M Western, Mathews Hall, Lewis & Clark Room
Nov. 18
Billings
Billings Hotel and Convention Center, 1223 Mullowney Lane
Nov. 19
Butte
Red Lion Hotel, 2100 Cornell
Sperry said this first round of public comment, in combination with the River Recreation Advisory Council’s report, will be used to guide FWP’s tentative river recreation management policy scheduled to be available for public review next spring. Following a second round of public comment, the FWP Commission will review and adopt a final policy that will then become an Administrative Rule of Montana.
Written comments on the recommendations made in the River Recreation Advisory Council’s report, “Recommendations for Managing Recreation on Rivers and Streams in Montana,” may be sent through Nov. 28 to: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Attn: River Recreation Management, 1420 East Sixth Ave., P.O. Box 2007001, Helena, MT 59620-0701 or by email to: csperry@state.mt.us .
A copy of the report can be obtained on the FWP web site at www.fwp.state.mt.us, click on River Recreation under Hot Topics, or call 406-444-3888.
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