EBS STAFF
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will hear public input on river recreation to help manage recreation activities in the future. The state agency will hold three virtual and public workshops where participants can ask questions and share insights on trends and challenges in river recreation in Montana.
The meetings will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 3 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 5 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and Monday, Sept. 9 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The River Recreation Advisory Council, a group that will consider how to protect natural resources and ensure high-quality experiences on Montana rivers, will host the public workshops.
“Whether you enjoy fishing, boating, floating or swimming, we want to know what you think are important issues surrounding river recreation and any ideas the public might have on how we can improve river recreation management,” stated Deb O’Neill, acting administrator for FWP’s Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division, in the release.
The release explained that the rising popularity of river activities in certain areas has created challenges, including congestion on waterways and at access sites, and conflict among users and different types of recreation.
“While most agree on the importance of protecting aquatic and terrestrial resources, opinions vary on the best methods for managing river recreation,” the release stated.
“As stewards of these public resources, FWP is committed to gathering broad public input to ensure sound management of these resources and opportunities,” the release continued. “The recommendations by the council will help create a fair and predictable system for managing river recreation.”
Those interested can register for an input session with the FWP online.
