EBS STAFF
A University of Montana survey shows that 81% of Montana voters support permanent protection for the Gallatin and Madison ranges, and 70% support Wild and Scenic designation for the Madison and Gallatin rivers.
The Greater Yellowstone Coalition announced the survey results in an April 23 press release advocating for the Greater Yellowstone Conservation and Recreation Act, developed by the Gallatin Forest Partnership and first proposed in June 2024. GYC asserts that more than 2,500 business owners, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, landowners and conservationists already support the legislation. On the other hand, some believe it falls short with outsized emphasis on human recreation and insufficient Wilderness designation, according to reporting by Mountain Journal.
“The survey released this week shows not only that 80% of those surveyed support this legislation to protect the Gallatin and Madison ranges, but also there is growing support for strengthening protections for public lands across the state,” GYC Montana Conservation Manager Sally Schrank stated in the release.
Separately, GYC highlighted Rep. Ryan Zinke’s 2025 legislation, the Greater Yellowstone Recreation Enhancement and Tourism Act, seeking to protect 98 river miles of the Gallatin and Madison rivers and their tributaries via Wild and Scenic designations. The survey showed 70% of Montanans support the legislation.
“Protecting the Madison and Gallatin Rivers means securing clean drinking water, supporting Montana’s powerful recreation and agriculture economies, and protecting the iconic wildlife of the region,” stated GYC Conservation Director Charles Drimal.
The survey of 515 voters—33% republican, 25% democrat and 42% independent—was conducted by the University of Montana’s Crown of the Continent and Greater Yellowstone Initiative, in collaboration with two third-party research firms. The final report covers numerous topics, such as hunting and fishing access, public lands protections, environmental concerns and climate change views.
“Montanans’ support for protecting the places we all cherish continues to grow,” GYC Executive Director Scott Christensen stated in the release. “The vast majority of voters are so strongly aligned on securing permanent protections for the lands and waters of Southwest Montana that it sends a powerful message to our Congressional leaders to unite and get these bills turned into law.”
