Montana’s Senator Lane Larson (D-Billings) recently introduced Senate Bill 78, which if signed into law, will support the public’s right to access Montana’s rivers and streams from bridges throughout the state. The public already has the clear right to paddle, fish, and swim in any river capable of supporting floating. SB78, the Montana Bridge Access Bill, is sensitive to the needs of landowners, as well as river enthusiasts. It allows landowners to construct fences adjacent to bridges but requires fences to not block public river access. It also references other laws which protect landowners from liability.
American Whitewater formally supports SB78, and we hope that paddlers from throughout Montana will share that support. Trout Unlimited has worked with various stakeholders and government representation to get this bill into the legislature, and will be actively supporting it. We are obviously very appreciative of these efforts, and share with TU a belief that the bill represents a balanced approach to stream access that accommodates equally the interests of recreationists, counties and landowners. Trout Unlimited and Senator Larson both deserve our thanks for focusing their time and energy on this great piece of legislation and very important issue.
Read the full Montana Bridge Access Bill
Montana Paddlers: Make the Call!
The Senate Fish and Game Committee will be deciding the initial fate of the SB78. E-mail or call committee members and tell them you support SB 78. Contact committee members if they are from your district. If your senator is not on the committee, contact chairman Sen. Joe Tropila (
Let your representative know that you are a paddler (and a landowner if that is the case) and that responsible public access to Montana’s incredible rivers is important to you.
You can leave a message for each committee member by calling the main switchboard at 406-444-4800 or contact them directly.
The committee members are:
Joe Tropila (D) – SD 13 (
Cell Phone: 788-8352
Keith Bales (R) SD20 (Otter)
E-mail: senbales@wbaccess.net
Cell Phone: 698-2010
Joe Balyeat (R) SD 34 (
E-mail: joebalyeat@yahoo.com
Cell Phone: 539-5547
Gregory Barkus (R) SD 4 (Kalispell)
E-mail: gbarkus@dadco.com
Cell Phone: 250-0071
Steve Gallus (D) SD 37 (
E-mail: gallus@awareinc.org
Cell Phone: 491-3914
Ken Hansen (D) SD17 (
E-mail: hansen_kenneth@email.com
Cell Phone: 949-5778
Larry Jent (D) SD 32 (
E-mail: larry@imt.net
Cell Phone: 580-0502
Lane Larson (D) SD 22 (
E-mail: LLsd22@yahoo.com
Cell Phone: 671-8255
Bill Tash (R) SD 36 (Dillon)
E-mail: billtash@msn.com
Cell Phone: 660-4826