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Was deck stacked for Quiet Waters project?

Gov. Bullock waited for the Legislature to adjourn and for the Quist/Gianforte campaign to end before imposing his draconian grab of fishing rights on over 50 rivers and streams. The Democrats erroneously claimed Gianforte blocked access to one fishing hole. Now the facts are that the Democrats led by Bullock are getting ready to seize the fishing rights to hundreds of miles of streams and rivers in Montana. The “Quiet Waters” plan is designed to keep the riff-raff and disabled vets from using the same waters multi-millionaires are spending big bucks upon which to have guided float trips.

The “Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Group” is nothing more than a Democrat front group posing as concerned environmentalists. They advocate eliminating motorized boats, imposing horsepower limits, no wake zones, and severe noise restrictions that will outlaw power boat usage. Thus, our handicapped and low-income neighbors will be barred from hundreds of miles of streams and rivers such as the Flathead, Swan, Whitefish Rivers and their tributaries.

Bullock has stacked the Montana Fish and Game Commission just like his mentor FDR did with the Supreme Court in an effort to get his own way. He waited until the Legislature adjourned to make three appointments to the commission so that his appointments would not be questioned. Eighteen Northwest Montana state Republican legislators wrote a letter of disapproval for the “Quiet Waters” proposal. To thwart Bullock’s takeover of the best angling waters in Montana, you need to provide written comment via email to fwcomm@mt.gov or drop your comments off at a local Fish and Game office such as the one in Kalispell at 490 Meridian Road. The commission’s meeting will be televised at the local office Friday at 8:30 a.m. —Norm Johnson, Polson

Blackfoot Clearwater project needs your support

In what has become a deeply divided nation, it’s important to remember that Montanans with different interests and perspectives have been able to find common ground and develop win-win solutions for forest management.

The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project is an excellent example of a home-grown collaborative effort by a variety of stakeholders on the Seeley Lake Ranger District of the Lolo National Forest. The project began in 2006 and has support from the timber industry, snowmobilers, guides and outfitters, wilderness advocates, local businesses, and government officials.

The project recommendations provide for sustained timber production through forest restoration, increased recreation opportunities including high-quality snowmobiling areas, and addition of over 80,000 acres to the Bob Marshall, Scapegoat, and Mission Mountains Wilderness Areas. Funding for the Southwest Crown of the Continent has already resulted in forest restoration, fire safety, fish and wildlife habitat security, watershed protection, weed control, and trail maintenance progress. We can now thank Senator Tester for his plan to introduce the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act to address the recreation and conservation recommendations of the project. Montana-made collaborative solutions like the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project deserve our support and, fortunately, Senator Tester has the insight to recognize their benefits. —John Larson, Kalispell