Senate advances bill creating 10-year permits, higher fees for private fish ponds amid environmental concerns

The Montana Senate on March 17 concurred in House Bill 74, approving a plan to license private fish ponds for 10 years and raise permitting fees to fund inspections and disease-prevention work by Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP).

The bill, described on the Senate floor by sponsor Senator Logie as a follow-up to a pond study, establishes a 10-year permit with a $600 initial fee and a $250 renewal fee to support inspections aimed at reducing aquatic invasive species and pathogen risks.

Why it matters: Supporters said the permit and inspection regime would reduce the chance that infected fish or invasive species enter streams and rivers when ponds are stocked or water escapes. Opponents said the increased fee and permitting represent unnecessary bureaucracy and an intrusion on private property rights.

Supporters emphasized the fisheries-protection rationale. Senator Logie told colleagues the licensing system helps “reduce the chance of aquatic invasive species, water escaping into the creek, fish that might have come from, an infected specie of fish or some whirling disease in fish.” He said the updated fee reflects inspection and testing costs.

Senator Logie also said FWP spends roughly $1,200 over 10 years to inspect and advise on pond fish and water testing; the $600 fee is intended to cover about half that cost, with the remainder paid through anglers’ license revenue.

Opponents questioned both scope and cost. Senator Phelan urged colleagues to oppose the bill, calling the fee increase an added burden on property owners and arguing that private owners should be trusted to maintain ponds. Senator Esp said her experience with conservation districts and FWP inspections suggested inspections were modest in time and questioned the need for increased fees.

Senator Flowers cited past cases in which improperly stocked ponds contributed to spread of species — including northern pike — into larger watersheds and said FWP review of stocking choices is important to protect fisheries.

Action: Senator Logie moved that the committee rise and report recommending concurrence in House Bill 74. The clerk recorded 29 senators voting aye and 21 voting nay; the bill was concurred in on second reading.

What’s next: The bill was advanced by the Senate after second-reading concurrence and will proceed through the legislative process for further consideration.