Greater Yellowstone Recreation Enhancement And Tourism Act

This bill would protect parts of several rivers in Montana’s Greater Yellowstone area by adding them to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. It covers about 42 miles of the Madison River, 39.5 miles of the Gallatin River, and parts of Hyalite Creek, Cabin Creek, and the Middle Fork of Cabin Creek, to help keep these waters clean, healthy, and open for fishing, boating, hiking, and wildlife watching. The goal is to preserve their natural beauty and recreation value while keeping public access, respecting private property, allowing road and bridge upkeep, and enabling emergency responses and long‑standing local uses to continue.

The government cannot buy land inside these protected river sections unless the owner agrees. Existing water rights stay the same, including Tribal and interstate compacts, Montana water rights, and U.S. rights. The Hebgen and Madison Dams are outside the protected stretches and can keep operating under their current permits; the bill does not block federal licensing or relicensing, and it does not block adding hydropower at Hebgen, but the dams cannot expand into the protected river areas.

Key points

• Where: Selected stretches of the Madison and Gallatin Rivers and nearby creeks in Montana’s Greater Yellowstone area.
• What changes: These sections get added protections to keep them natural and open for recreation; routine maintenance and emergency work can still happen.
• What stays the same: Private land can’t be taken without consent; existing water rights remain; current dam operations continue and can be relicensed, but dams can’t expand into the protected areas .