Sponsors
The bill secures federal protections for scenic rivers, water quality, tribal uses, recreation, and existing hydropower—supporting environmental, cultural, and local economic benefits—while imposing land‑use restrictions, added permitting and management costs, and potential limits on some agricultural and infrastructure options for affected landowners and local governments.
Residents, visitors, and nearby communities retain federal protection and public access to roughly 98 miles of scenic rivers and streams, preserving recreation and outdoor enjoyment.
Protects water quality and fish/wildlife habitat in headwaters, benefiting downstream agricultural users, fisheries, and ecosystem health.
Helps sustain recreation-driven economic activity (tourism and outdoor businesses) that supports local jobs and revenue in Montana communities.
Nearby landowners, businesses, and agricultural operators may face new restrictions on development and land-use near designated rivers, limiting private projects and land-use options.
Increased federal protections can add permitting complexity, delay, and higher costs for infrastructure, development, and landowners managing projects near the rivers.
Designation and management rules could constrain certain water management or diversion options used by some agricultural users, potentially affecting farm operations and water deliveries.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Designates five Montana river segments as Wild and Scenic, sets Forest Service administration, protects water rights and existing dam operations, and limits land acquisition and hydropower expansion into the segments.
Introduced August 1, 2025 by Ryan Zinke · Last progress August 1, 2025
Designates five river segments in Montana (parts of the Madison, Gallatin, Yellowstone and selected tributaries) as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and assigns administration to the Secretary of Agriculture. The bill protects recreation, scenery, fish and wildlife values, preserves existing water rights and dam operations, bars federal land acquisition within the segments without owner consent, and authorizes funding as needed to implement the designations.