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Gianforte Backs Two Made-in-Montana Conservation Bills

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Business owners, landowners, hunters and anglers laud Rep. Greg Gianforte’s decision to introduce two bills that will protect Montana’s public lands, waters, and outdoor economy. The Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act withdraws minerals rights from federal land in Paradise Valley, while the East Rosebud Wild and Scenic Rivers Act would conserve a portion of the creek north of Yellowstone.

His introduction of the two bills come with broad support throughout Paradise Valley, Gardiner and Livingston, Red Lodge, and Billings. Many local businesses rely upon the integrity of the landscape, abundant wildlife, pristine watersheds, and the unspoiled scenic beauty. In introducing the bills, Gianforte said “In some areas, the best use of our natural resources and treasures is conservation and recreation.”

The Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act is a companion bill to a bill introduced earlier this year by Senator Jon Tester.  It would withdraw mineral rights on federal land in Paradise Valley, banning new mining operations.

“The Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act mean cold, clear water for trout, boaters and irrigation. It means elk and bighorn sheep can keep migrating in and out of the park. It recognizes the Yellowstone River as the pulsing, living main artery of Paradise Valley,” said John Salazar, MWF Board Member and Livingston resident. “Our ranches, our recreation, our families, our jobs, if not our very souls rely on clean water and access to our public lands.”

The East Rosebud Creek bill would preserve in perpetuity this incredibly scenic, glacially carved valley with high granite faces, alpine lakes, large waterfalls, and snow-capped peaks.  East Rosebud Creek offers white water rafting opportunities and is a blue ribbon trout fishery.

“Montana’s Paradise Valley and the East Rosebud Corridor are crucial pieces of the Montana conservation puzzle,” said JW Westman, MWF Board Member. “Gianforte listened to local stakeholders and introduced common sense bills, Congress should pass these bills and protect these areas for all to enjoy.”

MWF strongly supports the two bills, and applauds Gianforte for standing up for Montana hunters, anglers, local businesses, and booming outdoor economy.  Visitors come from around the world every year to the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem to experience the pristine land and water, and marvel at the abundance of fish and wildlife. Rep. Gianforte’s bill will help ensure that future generations will be able to have the same experience. That is something that Montanan’s support and Congress should get behind!

Senator Tester Introduces Bill to Tackle Chronic Wasting Disease

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Paradise Valley Mule Deer
Paradise Valley Mule Deer

Today, Senator Jon Tester took action on one of the biggest challenges facing Montana hunters by introducing a bill in Congress to  help state and tribal wildlife agencies address the growing threat to Montana’s big game from Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a deadly neurological illness that is fatal to deer, elk and moose.  This fall, the disease was discovered in the wild in Montana for the first time.  The disease poses a grave threat to Montana’s wildlife and hunting opportunity.

“Senator Tester’s bill will give Fish, Wildlife and Parks and wildlife managers around the country the resources they need to aggressively tackle this deadly disease.” said Dave Chadwick, executive director of the Montana Wildlife Federation.  “Montana hunters are lucky to have a leader like Jon Tester, who is willing to put the spotlight on this issue and work toward a practical, on-the-ground response.”

Senator Tester’s bill would provide badly needed funding to state wildlife agencies to help fund biologists, equipment and other specialty needs to fight this disease. CWD is a degenerative neurological disease that is extremely difficult to kill and is highly contagious among wildlife. It is always fatal and in some states has led to large declines in deer herds.  A companion bill has also been introduced in the House of Representatives.

“Chronic Wasting Disease is the single greatest threat to our deer and elk herds,” said Bill Geer, MWF president. “Now that it’s confirmed in Montana, we have to act quickly to address this major issue for our cherished wildlife. Sen. Tester’s bill will give state agencies like Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks the resources they need to work to keep this disease at an absolute minimum in our wildlife.”

Sign up for MWF email alerts for  updates on CWD and other issues.

Join MWF to help support our work to protection wildlife, habitat, and outdoor access!

Montanans rejected Budd-Falen and land transfer – again

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Last month Wyoming lawyer Karen Budd-Falen came to Hamilton to  push her agenda of local control over  federal public lands She came to push for local land use plans and how counties can use them to dictate federal land management, something that Budd-Falen has used before in other Western counties to push for local governments to take over federal national forests and other public lands.  She was welcomed to Hamilton by a Montana state senator who leads an organization that exists for the sole purpose of transferring federal land to state control.

Yet again, Montanans showed up to let it be known that we want nothing to do with this fool’s errand. It was reminiscent of earlier this year, when well over 1,000 Montanans from all walks of life and all corners of the state packed the capitol rotunda with a simple message – keep public lands public.

The Montana Wildlife Federation helped organize members to show up and make our voice heard. We know that federal public lands are essential to our abundant wildlife, our clean coldwater fisheries and ultimately our rich outdoor traditions. Federal land management is far from perfect – and we know that. But we also know that there are numerous local collaborative groups working to build consensus and improve conditions on the ground. And we’re seeing the results, with strong consensus measures like the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act, as well as on-the-ground projects moving forward on places like the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.

Proponents of transfer say it wouldn’t lead to a sell-off. We know better. Just last month our state legislature held a special session to plug a $220 million budget hole – one driven in a big part by the state’s firefighting bill from a big fire year. If Montanans were stuck with the bill for the federal lands, it would be a budget buster, and we would either fact massive tax increases or be forced to start selling off the land.

Even the Ravalli County Commission rejects the Budd-Falen agenda, and made it clear it wanted nothing to do with her visit. We’re thankful that most Montanans are moving on from this bad idea, and getting down to business to find real land management solutions.

Want to help us push back on efforts to take over and sell off our public lands?  Join MWF today!

MWF to Congress: Bikes in Wilderness an Unnecessary Distraction

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Wilderness provides security habitat for elk and other wildlife
Wilderness provides security habitat for elk and other wildlife

Today, the House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee is holding a hearing on a bill (H.R. 1349) that would rewrite the Wilderness Act to allow “motorized wheelchairs, non-motorized wheel-chairs, non-motorized bicycles, strollers, wheelbarrows, survey wheels, measuring wheels, or game carts within any wilderness area.”

In advance of today’s hearing, the Montana Wildlife Federation (MWF) sent a letter to Congressman Greg Gianforte outlining our opposition to  this unnecessary and divisive bill.  We support mountain biking along with other recreational activities on public lands.  However, wilderness areas — which make up only about 12 percent of Montana’s public lands — are supposed to be places that are free of mechanized transportation, along with resource extraction and commercial activity.  These areas provide secure habitat for wildlife and backcountry hunting and angling opportunity.

When conflicts between bicycling and other uses do occur, they are generally not the result of wilderness designation, but rather local planning processes.

“Instead of a top-down rewrite of the Wilderness Act, the best way to balance competing public land uses is through local collaboration that brings stakeholders together to identify areas appropriate for more intensive recreation, areas that need active forest management, and areas that should be designated wilderness,” MWF wrote.  “At a time when Americans should be coming together to find common ground on land management, H.R. 1349 is an unnecessary and divisive distraction.”

You can read MWF’s full letter here.

Our Heritage, Our Story

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(Photo by Nikki Simon)
(Photo by Nikki Simon)

I’m a 4th and 5th generation Montanan. I’ve had the grand privilege of living and recreating in almost every landscape this great state offers, so I suppose I was quick to take it for granted. That’s just life in Montana—big, wild, and authentic. As of recent, I’ve come to grasp the value of this amazing place. I’m realizing how much Montana is truly entwined in my identity, how the landscape has shaped the lives of the generations before me. My whole life—without my knowing at the time—my parents and grandparents have been teaching me the responsibility of calling yourself “Montanan”.

My great-grandfather homesteaded the Missouri River Breaks before the construction of the Fort Peck Dam. And even after my family was forced to sell their farm, after the Fort Peck Reservoir inundated the Missouri River country, the Breaks remained an integral part in their way of life. The Breaks taught my grandfather patience and perseverance, lessons passed down to me. My dad learned how to hunt in the Breaks, established respect for the animals that made the Missouri River home, and came to understand the value the land could teach us. My childhood is defined by the Breaks. I learned about dinosaur fossils, the thrill of raw discovery, basic survival skills, and how to watch weather there. I even had my first lessons in geology out there—identifying Quartz, Bentonite, and Leavarite (the rock you “leave-a-right” there!) The Breaks have been a scenic arena where I learned endurance, life values, and stories lost to the ever moving current of the Mighty Missouri River.

Preserving existing protections on land in the Missouri Breaks isn’t just about trophy hunting and maintaining recreational activity opportunities. This land is our heritage, our story to be shared and passed down to generations after us.

IMG_4880 Nikki Simon is a designer and illustrator living in Helena, Montana. Nikki worked for the U.S. Forest Service as a wildland firefighter while she attended the School of Art at Montana State University in Bozeman. Needless to say, conservation has become an important pillar in her values.  She enjoys trail running, hikes with her dog, and fly fishing the mighty Missouri River. To find out more about her and her work, visit www.humbletwig.com. 

Jeff Lukas – MWF Elk Campaign Manager

Jeff Lukas

Elk Campaign Manager

Jeff Lukas is a passionate conservationist who has been fishing and hunting his entire life. Whether it’s floating a small stream chasing trout, pursuing elk in the high country, or waiting in a blind for ducks to set their wings, Jeff is always trying to bring more people afield to show them what we are trying to protect. He loves being in the arena, and he will never shy away from conversations about the beautiful and unique corners of Big Sky country.