About the council

The River Recreation Advisory Council’s purpose is to develop a set of recommendations for managing river recreation in Montana and administering the use of water-related activities. The focus area extends to department lands and water bodies that are restricted under the authority of FWP. This includes recreation use on and along the water way, including fishing access sites.

Montana boasts an abundance of publicly accessible rivers that support a wide array of recreational activities, including fishing, hunting, swimming, floating and both motorized and non-motorized boating. The popularity of these activities has led to challenges such as user conflicts and congestion at access points. Moreover, there are differing opinions on how best to manage and allocate opportunities for river recreation.

The council will meet in-person for a 3-day workshop from October 16-18. Additional virtual meetings in October may occur if necessary. A virtual meeting in early November also is planned to present the council's final recommendations. Members also are encouraged to attend virtual public scoping workshops scheduled during September 3 – September 9.