Canyon Ferry’s Resource Management Plan

HELENA, Mont. - The Bureau of Reclamation is taking action to align with the Canyon Ferry Resource Management Plan and the Canyon Ferry Reservoir Shoreline Management Plan by cleaning up the shoreline, removing personal property from federal land, identifying cabin site owners' property, and addressing non-conforming buoys.

Reclamation has initiated efforts to clean up the shoreline of Canyon Ferry Reservoir to enhance safety, aesthetics, and environmental health. So far, crews have collected more than four tons of trash, debris, and abandoned dock components. To further these cleanup efforts, Reclamation asks cabin site owners to clear the shoreline in front of their cabin sites, including derelict docks, floats, barrels, and lumber. If Reclamation must remove derelict docks and debris, cabin site owners will be charged for personnel time and costs associated with hauling the materials to a landfill.

Reclamation is also addressing personal property stored on the shoreline. Under federal statute, personal property left unattended on federal land for more than 24 hours is presumed abandoned and may be impounded. Vehicles, boat trailers, and recreational equipment cannot be stored on the shoreline, along West Shore Drive, or East Shore Drive. Personal property must be stored on the cabin site owner's lot when not in use.

Some cabin owners purchased D tracts in conjunction with the cabin site sales. Activities permitted on these tracts are limited to the construction of wastewater treatment and disposal systems. Building structures, storing personal items, and other activities are prohibited.

Reclamation is also asking that all dock owners label their docks with their lot number, so it is in plain view from the water. This will enhance Reclamation's ability to identify personal docks.

Reclamation replaced cabin site number signs this past summer to improve property identification and create a consistent appearance. Reclamation wants to reiterate that non-Reclamation signage is prohibited on the signpost except for county-issued address numbers. Cabin owners can obtain address number plaques from Lewis and Clark County by visiting this website: https://www.lccountymt.gov/Government/Information-Technology/Addressing.

Reclamation is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to identify buoys that have not been permitted. Mooring or any buoys placed in navigable waters must be permitted through a Section 10 Permit. A Joint Application, which includes the Section 10 Permit, can be found at https://www.dnrc.mt.gov/Licenses-and-Permits/Stream-Permitting/.

Any activities along the shoreline undertaken by cabin site owners require a Special Use Permit from Reclamation. Activities involving the lakebed will also require a 310 Permit and a Section 404 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Lewis and Clark Conservation District. Permit applications can be found on the following websites:

• https://www.usbr.gov/lands/ApplyingforUse.html
• https://www.dnrc.mt.gov/Licenses-and-Permits/Stream-Permitting/

Removing vegetation along the shoreline is not permitted. Any tree cutting is considered trespass. However, removal of Russian Olive trees is allowed with permission from the Reclamation office.

If you have any questions, please contact Brandi Hecker at (406) 475-3927 or bhecker@usbr.gov. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.