New Montana Bill Called "Assault on Stream Access"

February 10, 2011 By: Marshall Cutchin

Saying it would reclassify hundreds of miles of Montana fly fishing streams as off-limits to the public, conservation groups and fishermen are seeing red over a new legislation that would bar anglers from using water bodies that get water diverted to them via irrigation.
“‘The measure is a sneaky attempt to undermine Montana’s stream access law that guarantees the public the right to get to streams and rivers, said Bruce Farling, executive director of Montana Trout Unlimited.'” Nick Gevock in the Montana Standard.
Introduced by Republican State Representative Jeff Welborn, the bill passed out of the House agriculture committee last week and then passed a second reading on the House floor in a 55 to 44 vote. “State Senator Kendall Van Dyk (D-Billings) is calling it the biggest assault on Montana’s Stream Access Law in years.”