Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the River Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
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 river crowding and regulatory responses for years, but witnesses told the committee there is little systematic data. Proponents — including fishing guides, outfitters and conservation groups — said the counts will let managers make targeted decisions about access, stewardship and safety rather than relying on anecdote. Mike Bias, executive director of the Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana, cited the Upper Madison as an example of rapid growth in angler days and urged a "due pass."
Costs and funding: FWP staff and the sponsor told the committee the department’s current estimate for completing the sampling described in the bill is roughly $2.6 million. FWP’s Chief Financial Officer described the source the amendment directs for the appropriation as the state parks miscellaneous 02411 account — a non-license fund used for parks maintenance and operations — and said the account’s cash balance can absorb a one-time $2.6 million cost. “The last estimate I gave this morning was the 2.6,” FWP staff told the committee when asked about the fiscal note.
How it would work: The bill’s language specifies a sampling window (May 15 to Sept. 15 for most rivers; the Jefferson through Oct. 1), requires field counts at access sites and float counts in stretches without easy access, and directs FWP’s research unit to expand sample results into statewide estimates by river stretch and user type (private boat, rafts, outfitters, floaters, sightseers and others). Seckinger and informational witnesses said the department may either contract with a university (with typical overhead) or do the sampling internally with temporary staff and technicians.
Committee concern and outcome: Committee members pressed the sponsor and FWP on duplication with existing studies; staff said current MSU-led work covers Beaverhead, Big Hole, Madison, Ruby and Upper Yellowstone and that the bill is designed to merge those counts into a statewide picture. After debate, the committee passed the amended bill and sent it to the floor.
What’s next: The bill passed the committee’s executive action and will be scheduled for a House floor vote. If enacted, FWP will produce the sampling plan, issue contracts or hire temporary staff, and publish the resulting report according to the bill’s requirements.
