Speak up about Quiet Waters Initiative tonight

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will hold a hearing tonight on a set of regulations to enact limits on motorized watercraft throughout Montana.

Known as the Quiet Waters Initiative, the regulations were developed by the state agency after the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission unanimously approved a petition to enact the restrictions in May.

Montana Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, the organization that brought the petition before the commissioners, argued the rules would help prevent the growing number of conflicts between wildlife and water recreationists on the state’s busier waterways.

In Northwest Montana, the proposed rules would limit motorized activities on the Flathead, Swan, Whitefish and Stillwater rivers, along with Swift and Lazy creeks. Restrictions also are proposed on the Missouri, Bitterroot, Yellowstone, Marias and Sun rivers.

On the Flathead River, no personal watercraft — meaning Jet Skis, Wave Runners, Sea-Doos or other water scooters — would be allowed from the confluence with the South Fork down to the Montana 35 bridge east of Evergreen. The river segment would be a no-wake zone from June 1 to Oct. 15, defined as requiring watercraft to slow to a speed that leaves no white water in the boat’s wake.

The Whitefish River’s no-wake zone would be extended from the JP Road bridge to its confluence with the Stillwater River, where personal watercraft also would be prohibited. The new no-wake zone would apply from July 1 through Sept. 15.

The Quiet Waters regulations would ban water scooters on both Swift Creek and Lazy Creek, which both flow into the north end of Whitefish Lake. And the length of the Stillwater River from Upper Stillwater Lake to its confluence with the Flathead River would be a no-wake zone with no motorized personal watercraft allowed.

On the Swan River, the existing no-wake stretch of waterway from Swan Lake up to Porcupine Bride would be extended to the headwaters of Lindbergh Lake.

Current seasonal restrictions on motorized watercraft from Swan Lake to the confluence with Bear Creek would remain unchanged.

Tonight’s meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ regional office in Kalispell, 490 N. Meridian Road. It is one of several to be held throughout the state this month and is part of the ongoing public-comment period which ends Jan. 13.

To view the full list of proposed rule changes, visit sos.mt.gov/ARM/Register.

Comments can be emailed to QuietWaters@mt.gov or mailed to: Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Attn: Quiet Waters Petition; P.O. Box 200701; Helena, Montana, 59620-0701.

For more information, contact Kaedy Gangstad at 406-444-4594 or by email at kgangstad@mt.gov.