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House committee advances bill funding statewide river-use census after debate over $2.6M price tag
Summary
The House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee advanced HB 762 to require a biennial river-use report from Fish, Wildlife and Parks, directing a one-time sampling effort across major Montana rivers. Supporters say it fills a data gap; staff warned it will cost about $2.6 million and drew questions about where the money would come from.
The House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee on Thursday voted to advance House Bill 762, which directs Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) to conduct a large-scale count of recreational river use and publish a biennial report.
Sponsor Representative Josh Seckinger, who represents the west side of Bozeman, told the committee the project will establish a baseline of river recreation use across the state’s largest river systems and said the bill includes a sunset so that, functionally, only one study would be performed. “This is a much needed data gathering exercise to establish baseline level recreational use on some of our biggest rivers here in the state,” Seckinger said during the hearing.
Why it matters: Legislators and stakeholders have debated…
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