HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks would like to hear from the public about their river recreation experience. A survey is available on the FWP website on the River Recreation Advisory Council page. 

The rising popularity of river activities in certain areas has led to challenges, such as conflicts among users and different types of recreation. Additionally, FWP has received feedback about congestion on waterways and at access sites. While most agree on the importance of protecting aquatic and terrestrial resources, opinions vary on the best methods for managing river recreation. 

Input from this survey, along with feedback received during public workshops earlier this month, will be used by the newly appointed River Recreation Advisory Council (RRAC). The RRAC will hold discussions on managing river recreation opportunities and use information gathered during these discussions to help develop strategies to ensure high-quality experiences for all river users across Montana. 

Members of the RRAC were recently selected by FWP Director Dustin Temple. They are Derek Young of Lakeside, Todd Frank of Missoula, Ben Schmidt of Missoula, Abbey Thomas of Gardiner, Andrew Bennett of Dillon, Scott Vollmer of Bozeman, Robert Ray of Helena, Samuel Schmidt of Great Falls, Ross Johnson of Great Falls, Dante Bonanini of Saint Xavier, Jeremy Gilbertson of Billings and Marcus Strange of Helena. 

The council will meet in person for a three-day workshop Oct. 16-18. Additional virtual meetings in October may occur if necessary. The RRAC’s final recommendations will be presented at a virtual meeting in early November. All meetings will be open to the public; information about how to join will be posted on the RRAC webpage at a later date.