Much-debated stream access bill in Montana is tabled
Much like the proposals to regulate or eliminate elk shooting enclosures in Idaho, which had much public support, but were defeated anyway, efforts in Montana to secure the right to access the streams of the state, which belong to the people, has been killed in the Montana legislature.
Much-debated stream access bill tabled. By Charles S. Johnson. Billings Gazette State Bureau

Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University with specialties in natural resource politics, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting and elections. Aside from academic publications, he is author or co-author of three hiking/backpacking guides, and he is past President of the Western Watersheds Project.
2 Responses to Much-debated stream access bill in Montana is tabled
Subscribe to Blog via Email
Recent Posts
- Bozeman Watershed Project Based on Flawed Assumptions April 7, 2021
- Livestock Influence On Soil Carbon Storage April 6, 2021
- Mexican wolf depredation investigations …. again April 5, 2021
- Antidote For Rural Sprawl–Land Use Zoning April 1, 2021
- The 99-Year Old Grandmother Argument–The Bias of Forestry Advocates March 30, 2021
Recent Comments
- Rich on Mexican wolf depredation investigations …. again
- Tamara Bedic on Mexican wolf depredation investigations …. again
- Ed Loosli on Reader generated wildlife news.
- Ida Lupine on Reader generated wildlife news.
- Ida Lupine on Reader generated wildlife news.
- Ida Lupine on Reader generated wildlife news.
- Nancy on Reader generated wildlife news.
- Beeline on Livestock Influence On Soil Carbon Storage
- David Hoefer on Domestic Sheep Threaten Wild Bighorns
- Charles Jennings on Domestic Sheep Threaten Wild Bighorns
- Opsec on Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act Introduced
- Jerry L Thiessen on Livestock Influence On Soil Carbon Storage
- Ed Loosli on Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act Introduced
- Opsec on Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act Introduced
- Ed Loosli on Reader generated wildlife news.
What seems to be missing here is what the US Constitution has to say which has repeatedly been affirmed by Supreme Court rulings practically since the beginning of the Republic. The waters of the US belong to the people and are “highways” of commerce. No state shall pass any law which limits the rights of the people to use such waterways for any legitimate purpose, nor may any private entity bar such use and/or free passage.
A landowner can’t step into the road and announce “I own this property and you may not pass.”
Crap. I’m expecting a firestorm over this one, and it’s interesting to see this get tabled so soon after Trout Unlimited’s National body tried to withdraw itself from access issues (that’s been tabled too).