Sponsor
Ryan Zinke
Representative · R-MT
Representative · R-MT
The bill permanently protects important Montana rivers, safeguarding clean water, recreation, tribal rights, and existing hydropower operations while trading off some private development flexibility, limiting certain hydropower expansion, and adding federal management and implementation costs.
Residents, visitors, and local ecosystems benefit from permanent protection of ~98.5 miles of Montana rivers and creeks, preserving clean water, scenic character, fish and wildlife for recreation and subsistence.
Tribes and other water users keep existing water rights and compacts and can continue cultural hunting, fishing, and gathering on longstanding use areas, protecting legal water entitlements and tribal practices.
Local economies and small businesses gain sustained recreation and tourism revenue from preserved river access and scenic character that support outdoor recreation industries.
Owners and rural landowners face limits on development and new buildings along designated river segments, reducing possible private development opportunities and potentially affecting property values.
Landowners adjacent to designated segments may face new federal management constraints or coordination requirements that limit land-use autonomy.
Prohibiting expansion of certain hydropower developments into covered segments limits future hydropower generation and associated local revenue or development opportunities.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Designates five river segments in Montana as Wild and Scenic, preserves water rights, limits federal land acquisition without consent, and protects segments from hydro expansion.
Official title: To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain streams in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in the State of Montana as components of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.
Introduced September 2, 2025 by Ryan Zinke · Last progress September 2, 2025
Designates five river segments in Montana (parts of the Madison, Gallatin, Hyalite Creek, Cabin Creek, and Middle Fork of Cabin Creek) as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to administer them for their recreational or scenic values. The bill protects private property rights by prohibiting Federal acquisition of lands within the designated boundaries without owner consent, preserves existing water rights, and confirms that nearby dams and hydropower operations remain outside the new segments and may continue existing licensing and operations under the Federal Power Act framework. The law allows routine maintenance, emergency actions, and existing historical uses to continue; prohibits expanding hydroelectric developments into the designated segments; and authorizes whatever sums are necessary to implement the designations.