HELENA – The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Thursday, July 14, at 5 p.m. to consider a proposal to remove the seasonal hoot owl fishing restriction on the lower Madison River.
This restriction was adopted two years ago as a way to avoid what had become regular emergency restrictions on the stretch of the lower Madison River from the Warm Springs access point to the confluence of the Jefferson River. Typical summer heat and flows bring the water temperatures in this stretch up over 70 degrees causing stress on trout. Hoot owl restrictions limit fishing to morning hours when temperatures are lower and close fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight.
Current flows and water temperatures on the lower Madison River are in good shape and a hoot owl restriction isn’t necessary now. However, should conditions change, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks still has the ability to implement hoot owl restrictions.
FWP has a proposal out for public comment that, if approved by the commission in August, would broadly change rules to allow the department more flexibility when implementing hoot owl restrictions. These proposed rule changes would be in effect for all rivers statewide and would mean the seasonal restriction on the lower Madison River would no longer be necessary.
The fishing regulation change is the only item on Thursday’s agenda.
The meeting July 14 will be streamed live on the FWP website; there will be opportunity for public comment on commission action.
FWP ensures its meetings are fully accessible to those with special needs. To request arrangements, call FWP at 406-444-3186.
The commission will take public comment on agenda via Zoom. To make a comment via Zoom, you must register on the FWP website by noon on July 14.
BOZEMAN, MT — HRDC and community public transportation advocates are moving forward with a petition drive to form an Urban Transportation District (UTD) in Gallatin Valley.
Creating a UTD will ensure that our community will continue to receive federal transportation funding, and will sustain the vital service HRDC’s Streamline provides to Gallatin Valley residents.
The need to create a UTD is a result of dramatic population increases in the Gallatin Valley, which is one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation. The population of Bozeman alone has grown to more than 53,000 people according to the latest U.S. Census data. Bozeman’s growing population exceeds an important threshold in the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA’s) classification system. Rather than being classified as a rural community, Bozeman is now considered to be a small urban community.
Heather Grenier, HRDC’s CEO, explained that after operating Streamline for more than 15 years to provide transportation services across Gallatin Valley, retaining these funds for the Gallatin Valley will require either the establishment of UTD or the assumption of the community’s transportation services by Gallatin County or the City of Bozeman.
Grenier continued, “When HRDC originally launched Streamline, our mission was to provide mobility services and alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles in southwest Montana. This mission has become increasingly important with area growth. HRDC’s Streamline helps meet community transportation needs in several ways, benefiting not just riders, but everyone living in the Gallatin Valley.”
Community benefits of zero-fare community transportation include a reduction in traffic with reduced pressure on parking; transportation help for seniors, veterans and those with disabilities; workforce and MSU student transportation; community transportation to large-scale events; connection of Bozeman to smaller outlying communities like Belgrade and Livingston, and cleaner air through the reduction of motor vehicle emissions. In addition to the benefits mentioned above, HRDC’s Streamline is also key to addressing the growth and affordability issues of Gallatin County by ensuring everyone has access to essential services, educational and workforce opportunities, and recreation regardless of income.
The “Redesign Streamline 2020 Transit Development Plan,” based on extensive study and outreach to Gallatin Valley stakeholders, advised the community to explore the creation of a Gallatin Valley Urban Transit District so that Streamline could maintain and improve necessary services to align with the region’s growing population.
Creating a UTD so that Streamline can continue providing a service that benefits us all requires collecting the signatures of 20% of registered voters living within the proposed district. That is around 10,000 signatures from voters. If sufficient signatures are collected and verified, the Gallatin County Commission will hold a public hearing and place the UTD on the May Special District election ballot for voter approval as required by law.
The proposed UTD includes Bozeman, Belgrade, and Four Corners and is based on Streamline’s current and projected future service areas. Other regions identified in Gallatin County’s Transportation Development Plan as “future need areas” also are included in the boundaries.
A steering committee of community public transportation stakeholders and advocates is working with HRDC on the petition drive.
Sunshine Ross, HRDC’s Transportation Director, helped spearhead the community outreach and development plan and expressed enthusiasm for Streamline’s next chapter, “We couldn’t be more pleased with the outpouring of suggestions and support from across our community for the creation of a UTD in Gallatin Valley. Once the County approves the petition, the steering committee will have just 90 days to gather the required signatures to move the approval of the formation of a UTD to county voters.”
If you are interested in learning more about the UTD, please visit our webpage at StreamlineBus.com/UTD. The public is also invited to attend a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, July 27th from 12pm - 1pm. The meeting can be accessed here.
HRDC is a private, not-for-profit Community Action Agency focused on building a better community through nearly 50 different initiatives aimed at combating poverty in southwestern Montana. Streamline is a program of HRDC with a proven track record of benefiting all area residents through the provision of public transit. Streamline promotes equity, fosters economic development, and advances sustainability goals.
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More information about HRDC’s Streamline can be found at https://streamlinebus.com/
Donors, volunteers, and community members can learn more about HRDC at
https://thehrdc.org/
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According to the American Public Transit Association:
● Public transportation provides vital connections to jobs, schools, and medical facilities.
● Every $1 invested in public transportation generates $4 in economic returns.
● 87% of public transportation trips have a direct impact on the local economy.
● Public transit users can save nearly $10K a year vs. driving an automobile.
● Communities with strong public transportation can reduce the nation’s carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons yearly.
HRDC’s Streamline benefits us all by:
● Facilitating smart growth
● Creating opportunities for all (e.g. provides transportation to work, school, recreation,
shopping, etc.)
● Serving people with unique needs including the elderly, people with mobility challenges,
young riders
● Reducing traffic congestion
● Lessening parking pressure
● Improving air quality
Streamline is also key to addressing the growth and affordability issues of Gallatin County by ensuring everyone has access to essential services, educational & workforce opportunities, and recreation regardless of income.
Enveloped in a heavenly Montana sunset amongst the cathedral of the mountains be transported to the theatres of the world, and experience the power and grace of the Arts! On August 10th, the most anticipated world-class event of the Montana summer returns for an evening of magic and beauty on the banks of the Yellowstone! International superstars and Montana talents join together in “the last best place” for an unforgettable night of classical and contemporary dance, music, opera, Native American cultural traditions, and more.
Past highlights have included dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet, Russia, Bayerisches Staatsballett, Germany, Mikhailovsky Theatre, Russia, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Italy, New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Native American Fancy Dancers, International Cellist, Opera Singer, & Musicians from Germany, London and Russia. Young Montana talent from Vagonova Ballet Academy, Russia, English National Ballet School in London, Manhattan School of Music in NYC, and Crossroads School for Arts & Science, Santa Monica, California.
The Yellowstone International Arts Festival was founded by the "most influential ballet family of our time," (London dance critic Graham Watts, April 2019) who were born and raised in Montana, and now work professionally around the world. It is produced by the non-profit Youth Arts in Action, a 501c3 that has been serving Montanans for more than 18 years, with an emphasis on youth and arts education.
Don’t miss this exciting event, and make sure to follow us on social media @yellowstoneintarts to keep updated on all our news. Visit
www.YellowstoneInternationalArtsFestival.Org or text 406-579-6414 for tickets & more information.
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