Star Editorial by Michael and Victoria Howell
Nearly everyone agrees that the river access at the Stevensville bridge could use some improvement. With limited public access along the length of the Bitterroot, the Stevensville bridge site has weathered heavy usage by the public for many decades, and parking, riverbank protection and sanitation are all issues that should be addressed. But anything that happens there should not be to the detriment of the citizens of Stevensville and that’s what this latest proposal would do.
The owner of the private ranch worked out a deal with representatives of the state’s Fish, Wildlife and Parks department to swap the private acreage that the de facto fishing access site now sits on for acreage at the north end of the adjacent River Park, which is owned by the Town of Stevensville. The state would then make improvements to the current access site and the private landowner would have a more secluded piece of prime river frontage. Although on the surface this might seem like a good idea, a win/win deal, in fact, there is a third party involved. What’s needed is a win/win/win and what’s been offered is a win/win/lose.
The deal was worked out in secret with no input from town officials or the public, and it turns out that there is absolutely no benefit to the Town of Stevensville. The Town gains nothing if this deal goes through. In fact, the Town would be losing valuable riverfront parkland that is irreplaceable. There is no reason for the Town to move forward on this proposal.
What is the worst that could happen if the Town does nothing? The parties involved would have to come up with a better option and if they want the Town’s involvement in a solution they can involve the Town at the beginning of the discussion.
If nothing at all happens, the Town still has its 22+-acre River Park with a legal easement and the public can still access the river at the bridge as usual because that’s legal too.