Say no to public access take-away on Whitefish River

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is now accepting public comments to a proposed restriction of existing public use for a portion of the Whitefish River. Unless a strong opposition is heard, the river will soon be closed to motorized use for several miles below Whitefish Lake.

This closure is being pushed by the Whitefish City Council purely on the rationale of “local social desires.” Despite misleading headlines in some local newspapers, Fish, Wildlife and Parks has stated that they are neutral on the issue but have agreed to allow it to be heard by the Commission and proceed for public comment. The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has reviewed the public motorized-use  history and concludes that “there is no justification for closure on the basis of resource protection or public safety.”

You can send your comments to Fish, Wildlife and Parks online at  cjust@mt.gov or by fax at 257-0349 or call them at 752-5501. There will bew a public meeting at the Whitefish City Hall on April 10 at 6 p.m. Fish, Wildlife and Parks will close the public comment period at midnight on April 18.

The Whitefish River is a public waterway that belongs to all the people of Montana. Don’t let this be decided for you by a small but loud minority in the city of Whitefish.

Woodward is a resident of Whitefish