Workshops look at how river regulation could impact the future of recreation

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks hosted three online workshops last week to discuss recreation on the state’s rivers, bringing in public comment to fuel future management plans.  

The workshops are part of the first phase of a project by the River Recreation Advisory Council, which will work to create a portfolio of ideas and a set of recommendations concerning management of Class I waters and department lands. 

In the Flathead River drainage this includes the South Fork from Youngs Creek to Hungry Horse Reservoir, Middle Fork from Schafer Creek to its confluence with the river’s mainstem, and the mainstem to its confluence with the Clark Fork River. 

The council will meet in mid-October and develop a recommendation, which will then be open for public comment and finalized in mid-December.  

Recreation has become a hot topic on rivers around the state as a perceived increase in visitors challenges occupancy. Liam Harry, Fish, Wildlife and Parks' parks and outdoor recreation planner, noted the history of recreation under the state agency, which began establishing Fishing Access Sites in the 1960s and 70s and now has over 338 designated sites. 

However, the use of those sites has changed over the years. In 2016, the agency found that 51% of access site usage was for non-fishing activities.  

Colin Maas, manager of the Smith River south of Great Falls, presented on the water body, one of the most highly regulated by the state.  

“How we got from no restrictions to a fully restricted river didn’t happen overnight,” he said.  

Use of the Smith River has been documented since the 1940s, and an increase in traffic was first reported in the 60s and 70s. Most of the land bordering the river – 80% – is privately owned and conflicts involving trespassing and disruption of farmland and livestock led to the Smith River Study in 1986.  

The study ultimately reevaluated the capacity of the Smith River. Restrictions were implemented in stages. From 1991-96, the Smith River developed fees, boat tags, a maximum group size of 15, pre-registration, a cap on outfitters, mandatory pre-registration, a private launch cap, registration for private floaters, and now is available to float through a permit lottery. Nonresidents are limited to 20% of lottery entries.  

Fish, Wildlife and Parks also presented two other Montana rivers of varying regulation: the Blackfoot River, which has a river recreation corridor, and the Missouri, which has no special regulations. 

“The river recreation corridor is unlike anything else, it’s not something you’re going to find anywhere else in the state, or in the nation, for that,” Blackfoot Recreation Manager Christine Oschell said.  

The corridor provides a designated area where regulations are effective and ensures no glass, no camping, and 50 feet of access for recreationalists on bordering private lands. The Blackfoot River has 27 FAS, 10 campgrounds and eight float-in campsites. Special recreation permits are required for organized and commercial groups.  

“What we are trying to do right now in the region ... is work with our partners to figure out different ways to deal with some of the conflicts and crowding that are going on the river,” Oschell said. “As we’re talking about different ways to manage the river, we are going back to looking at the least restrictive methods that we might be able to get more creative with on the Blackfoot.” 

Missouri River Recreation Manager Cannon Colegrove spoke on the Holter Dam to Cascade portion of the Missouri, which has no special regulations for its 16 public access sites, including 10 campgrounds. Their recreation study is conducted in agreement with NorthWestern Energy, which operates nine hydropower developments on the Missouri and Madison Rivers. The 2023 Visitation Report found that, “Crowding was not an issue, with average responses being less than ‘slightly crowded.’” 

Much of the public comment received focused on education as a useful tool for responsible recreation. The ‘votes’ for regulation versus free reign seemed tied, however.  

A river recreation survey is planned to gather input beyond the virtual workshops. RRAC will present its initial recommendation in mid-November for public comment.