Zinke Announces Introduction of the A River Runs Through It Act

Missoula, MT - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced the introduction of the A River Runs Through It Act (ARRTI), a locally developed public lands package bringing together more than two decades of work by communities throughout the Blackfoot and Clearwater Valleys. Zinke announced the legislation at Smoke Elzer Barn in Missoula, alongside local elected officials, members of the timber industry, sportsmen, recreation groups, and conservation organizations who helped shape the proposal.

ARRTI brings together the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Proposal and the Lincoln Prosperity Proposal into a single landscape-scale plan encompassing approximately 430,000 acres in the Blackfoot Valley. The legislation puts multiple use at the center by expanding recreation opportunities, allowing for forest restoration, and conserving public lands while supporting timber work, reducing wildfire risk, and protecting public access.

"This is what locally led conservation looks like," said Zinke. "We can put people to work in the woods, support our timber industry, reduce wildfire risk, and keep our forests healthy while protecting public access and conserving the iconic places we cherish. This proposal was built by the people who live, work, hunt, and recreate in the Blackfoot, and after decades of work they found a way forward that keeps this landscape working for everybody."

What the A River Runs Through It Act Does

• Expands active forest management and timber production. The bill designates six Forest Restoration Areas totaling roughly 180,000 acres where timber harvest, thinning, vegetation management, prescribed fire, stream restoration, and other projects can improve forest health and put more wood products to work in Montana.
• Increases forest management around Lincoln. The Lincoln Prosperity portion of the bill prioritizes fuel reduction and forest restoration west of Lincoln to reduce wildfire risks to homes and infrastructure, while allowing forest and stream restoration, vegetation management, and other work that gives the local foresters greater flexibility to actively manage forests surrounding the community.
• Creates designated recreation areas and protects winter access. The legislation establishes six designated recreation areas totaling roughly 60,000 acres, including securing permanent winter access for snowmobiles and adds new mountain biking routes while protecting existing routes and creates a connected Off-Highway Vehicle trail loop more than 70 miles long, including approximately 20 miles of new trails.
• Protects public access and recreation. The bill maintains and expands opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, snowmobiling, and off-highway vehicle use while creating new and improved trail connections throughout the Blackfoot Valley.
• Protects iconic backcountry. The legislation adds roughly 100,000 acres to the Bob Marshall and Scapegoat wilderness areas, creates wilderness on Nevada Mountain, and releases approximately 23,000 acres of Wilderness Study Area land from analysis paralysis and restores public access and multiple use to those lands..

Broad Local Support

The A River Runs Through It Act grew out of years of work among people who have not always agreed on how public lands should be managed but came together around a plan that supports multiple use and the communities of the Blackfoot Valley.

The unified proposal is supported by Wild Montana, Montana Trout Unlimited, The Wilderness Society, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Back Country Horsemen of Montana, Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, along with local residents, businesses, and recreation interests. The collaborative efforts that form the foundation of the legislation have also received support from local elected officials and members of the timber industry.

"Wild Montana is honored to be part of the two collaboratives that have spent more than two decades developing solutions for the public lands of the Blackfoot watershed. Seeing this work come together in the A River Runs Through It Act is a remarkable achievement. The legislation would protect iconic landscapes, expand recreation access, strengthen forest restoration, support rural economies, and resolve long-standing wilderness study area designations. If passed, it would also establish Montana's first wilderness designation since 2014. We are grateful for Representative Zinke's leadership in listening to the residents, businesses, and public land users who know this landscape best. This proposal was built the Montana way: by sitting down together, working through differences, and finding common ground for a place we all love. Now it is up to Congress to recognize how special this hard-won agreement is and pass this locally driven legislation." - Zach Angstead, Wild MT

 "We're all drawn to the backcountry for the same reasons: to enjoy Montana's wild places, to connect with the natural world, and to restore our spiritual health. And we all value the Blackfoot landscape and deserve a place on it. We're grateful to Rep. Zinke for supporting these community proposals." - Smoke Elser, retired outfitter and guide

"This proposal reflects Montana values of being good stewards to the land and working together with broad partners to get more accomplished.  Our forests and rural communities need a vibrant forest products industry, and the focus on restoration in the Blackfoot Valley will help sustain the health of both. Thank you to Rep. Zinke for moving this community proposal forward as the A River Runs Through It Act." - Gordy Sanders, retired forester, Pyramid Mountain Lumber

"Montanans from all over come to Lincoln and the Blackfoot Valley to camp, to go fishing, to go 4 wheeling, to ride their motorcycles or to hike.  So, what happens on the national forest impacts us a lot. That's really what drives our economy. This proposal was built so that no one group loses anything. We all got something out of this project. We're happy to see Congressman Zinke carry this Montana collaboration to Washington, D.C." - Bill Cyr, Lincoln resident and retired forester

"For motorized recreationists in the upper- Blackfoot Valley, the A River Runs Through It Act provides huge benefits. It will permanently protect important ATV and snowmobile access and authorize construction of several new trail connections. Whether you're looking for a day-ride with your family or a multi-day backcountry loop riding experience, this bill will improve the quality of the experience for many. Thank you, Congressman Zinke, for introducing this legislation." - Russ Ehnes, President, Great Falls Trail Bike Riders Association

"Powell County's economy depends on both a strong timber industry and a growing recreation economy, and our future depends on making sure the two can thrive together. The A River Runs Through It Act strikes that balance-putting more work into our forests, providing a common-sense solution for long-standing Wilderness Study Areas and giving our communities greater certainty about the future of these lands. This is the kind of practical, locally driven solution that's good for Powell County." - Bill Hooker, Powell County Commissioner

"The success of our communities relies on our ability to work together and tackle hard problems. The folks in Lincoln have never shied away from the work it takes to get things done, and the proof lies in the A River Runs Through It Act. The proposal balances recreation and conservation with an eye to community wildfire protection and forest health. I am proud to support the A River Runs Through It Act and thrilled to see Rep. Zinke introduce it in the U.S. Congress. This is a big day for Montanans who don't mind rolling up their sleeves and getting things done." - Andy Hunthausen, Lewis & Clark County Commissioner

"True collaboration requires doing the hard work up front rather than choosing the path of least resistance. Over two decades, neighbors in the Blackfoot watershed have built a plan that protects our public lands while keeping our communities viable. They have proven that local voices can successfully unite around a shared vision to protect our natural heritage while ensuring our communities thrive for generations to come. Thank you, Congressman Zinke, for supporting the A River Runs Through It Act." - Juanita Vero, Missoula County Commissioner

"The A River Runs Through It Act is a common-sense solution built by the people who know these lands best. It supports healthier forests and stronger rural economies while respecting the many ways Montanans work on and enjoy our public lands. I commend Congressman Zinke for honoring years of local work by introducing this legislation, and I encourage the rest of Montana's delegation to help get it across the finish line." - John Fitzpatrick, House Representative, HD 76

"This is what 25 years of refusing to give up on common ground looks like. For a generation, Montanans have kept showing up because the freedom to enjoy these public lands, the responsibility to conserve them and the obligation to pass them on to future generations are bigger than any one disagreement. We thank Congressman Zinke for recognizing the extraordinary collaboration behind this Montana-built proposal and for carrying it forward in Congress. It honors decades of work by the people of the Blackfoot and is a fitting addition to his long record of championing Montana's public lands." - Barb Cestero, Montana State Director, The Wilderness Society

"The A River Runs Through It Act wasn't built in Washington-it was built through a collaborative process by the people who hunt, fish and make a living on this landscape. That's the Montana way and something we can unite behind." - Ryan 'Cal' Callaghan, president and CEO of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers

"For over two decades, residents of the Blackfoot River watershed have come together to create durable, large landscape solutions that benefit all…not just a select few. For these many years this team of united Montanans with diverse interests remained banded together, for the betterment of all Montana families. The "A River Runs Through It Act" is a testament to their dogged determination to ensure local Montanans decide what happens in our backyard, not D.C. politicians. We applaud Congressman Zinke in listening, learning, and advocating for Montana families with introduction and support of this legislation, where all interest groups - and all Montanans - win." - Keagan Zoellner, Montana State Director, Mountain Mamas

Background

The A River Runs Through It Act represents more than two decades of locally driven work over the future of public lands in the Blackfoot and Clearwater Valleys. Covering approximately 430,000 acres, the proposal brings together the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship effort and the Lincoln Prosperity Proposal, combining active forest management, timber production, wildfire mitigation, recreation, public access, and permanent conservation into a single plan shaped by local communities, sportsmen, timber interests, recreation groups, and conservation organizations.

Zinke has long worked on conservation, public access, and active management of western lands. As Secretary of the Interior, he launched the federal-state effort to improve big-game migration corridors and winter range, and since returning to Congress he has introduced the bipartisan Public Lands in Public Hands Act, helped found the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus, advanced legislation to improve wildlife movement and recreation access, and supported active forest management to improve forest health and sustain western communities.

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