The Senate yesterday passed Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines and Congressman Greg Gianforte’s bill that protects 20 miles of the East Rosebud in south-central Montana as part of the Wild and Scenic River System.

 

American Whitewater has actively supported this bill and the many local community members that have advocated for it since day-one. We played a high-level role in defeating a proposed dam on the stream, and have since worked to encourage its permanent protection. We are overjoyed by this bill's passage, and would like to thank the entire Montana delegation for working together in a bi-partisan way to protect this wonderful stream.

 

“The East Rosebud will be a destination for Montanans who love to fish, hike, and float for years to come,” Tester said. “Getting this bill to the President’s desk was a bipartisan effort and it was led by the folks on the ground who access this river year-round. Because of their hard work, a Montana stream will be designated as ‘Wild and Scenic’ for the first time in a generation.”

 

"After years of work and strong community support, the East Rosebud will now be protected as a Wild and Scenic River,” said Daines. “Having spent time in this beautiful place, I know how important it is to our Montana way of life and outdoor economy. I’m glad that we could work together in passing this bill and look forward to seeing the President sign it into law. I’ll be visiting the East Rosebud again soon with my family.”

 

“With the House passing the bill unanimously last week and the Senate passing it today, momentum is on our side, and we’re one step closer to conserving East Rosebud Creek for generations of Montanans to come. This is a win for the people of Carbon County and for all Montanans who have worked so hard for so long to protect East Rosebud,” Gianforte said. “I look forward to President Trump signing this bill into law and to getting back to East Rosebud soon.”

 

In 1968, Congress passed the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to preserve outstanding free-flowing rivers for present and future generations. Less than one-half of one percent of Montana's approximately 170,000 miles of river is designated as "wild and scenic." 2018 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Act.