Public hearing on commercial cap implementation date
The Fish & Wildlife Commission will hold a public hearing to consider an amendment voted on by the commissioners relating to the implementation of the commercial use cap on the Madison River.
The Fish & Wildlife Commission will hold a public hearing to consider an amendment voted on by the commissioners relating to the implementation of the commercial use cap on the Madison River.
Montana Fish & Wildlife Commissioners moved to extend the closure of the Ennis Fishing Access Site (FAS) until June 30 during a meeting on April 1. Commissioners also voted 4-1 to delay the implementation of the Madison River commercial cap, as part of the Madison River Recreation Management rules adopted by the Secretary of State in Dec.
The rules regulating recreation use on the Madison River will be official on Dec. 24, even though nearly all of the rules, as adopted by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission, won’t be implemented until 2022.
The Fish and Wildlife Commission unanimously voted to adopt the Madison River Recreation Rules as recommended by Fish Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and approved amendments to recommended rules including a cap on outfitter numbers and the rest/ rotation and walk/wade schedules on Nov. 18.
Background
Regulating the Madison River entered the rulemaking process on Tuesday, Oct. 20 for the first time in decades with a virtual public comment hearing.
History
At its meeting on Aug. 13, the Fish and Wildlife Commission will hear two petitions regarding River Recreation on the Madison River.
The recent discussion on Madison River regulations was finalized at the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks commissioners meeting Aug. 15. FWP was not able to provide a collective proposal to address recreational concerns of the increasing fishing pressure on the Upper Madison River.
Phase one of the Madison River Foundation’s Three Dollar Bridge Riparian Restoration Project, consisting of constructing a wooden plank-bridge trail over the wetland area, was completed on June 3. The second phase of installing and removing electric fencing started the next day.
ENNIS – The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) will close the Varney Bridge Friday, March 29 as work begins to replace the bridge. The bridge crosses the Madison River on Varney Road (S-249) approximately eight miles south of Ennis in Madison County. Construction is expected to be completed in December.
During construction:
ENNIS – The Madison River Negotiated Rulemaking Committee will hold its next meeting March 25 and 26 in Bozeman at the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks regional office. The meetings will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an opportunity for public comment at the end of the meeting.
65 N. MT Hwy 287
Ennis, MT 59729
406-682-7755
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