Sponsors
The bill protects five Montana river segments, preserving cultural access, water rights, recreation, fisheries, and headwater water quality—supporting tourism, agriculture, and some renewable energy opportunities—while imposing land‑use constraints, potentially complicating permitting, requiring federal management funding, and slightly narrowing Wild and Scenic Act leverage in hydropower licensing.
Residents, visitors, and recreation businesses gain long-term protection for five Montana river segments, preserving scenic, recreational, and fisheries values that support local tourism and outdoor economies.
Tribal communities retain cultural access to streams for hunting, fishing, gathering, and other practices.
Farmers and ranchers keep protections for clean headwater streams that support irrigation and livestock, helping sustain Montana’s agriculture.
Private landowners and adjacent communities may face new land‑use constraints near designated river segments that limit development and change property options.
Increased federal oversight and protections could complicate permitting and licensing for infrastructure and development projects near the rivers, potentially delaying repairs or new projects.
Federal implementation and ongoing management/enforcement of the designations may require appropriations and impose costs on taxpayers or compete with other budget priorities.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Designates five Montana river reaches as Wild and Scenic Rivers, protecting water, scenery, and recreation while preserving existing rights, infrastructure, and FERC authority for nearby dams.
Introduced September 2, 2025 by Ryan Zinke · Last progress September 2, 2025
Designates five river segments in Montana as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System to protect water quality, fish and wildlife, scenery, cultural uses, and recreation while preserving public access, private property rights, and existing infrastructure. The bill names specific reaches of the Madison River, Gallatin River, Hyalite Creek, Cabin Creek, and Middle Fork of Cabin Creek and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to administer them as scenic or recreational rivers. The measure protects existing federal, Tribal, interstate, state, and U.S. water rights; bars the Secretary of Agriculture from acquiring land or interests in the designated reaches without owner consent; and explicitly preserves current dam operations, permits, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authority for nearby hydroelectric developments while prohibiting expansion into the newly designated river segments. It authorizes appropriations as necessary for implementation.