The state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) and the Stevensville Parks and Recreation Board co-sponsored a meeting last week to present a preliminary concept design of a proposed Fishing Access Site at the Stevensville bridge.
FWP currently has a one year lease with the new owner of the Fort Owen Ranch to operate a boat launch area on the three and half acre site that was traditionally used for fishing access. But the owner has offered to give the agency seven acres of land between the Stevi Cutoff Road and the Town of Stevensville’s River Park permanently if the agency will develop the site and assume the obligation for maintenance and law enforcement at the site.
Following initial negotiations with the landowner, FWP has worked up a preliminary concept design for developing the site and presented it to the public in advance of the actual scoping process for the Environmental Analysis that will be required and include even more chance for public involvement.
Rory Zarling, Fishing Access Manager for Region 2, said that the design was fairly representative of a typical FWP Fishing Access Site. He said this particular site had an ideal boat launch already that would require no new construction. He said the natural gravel bar at the site works well under all water levels.
The design includes 26 truck & trailer parking spaces, 14 single vehicle spaces and four primitive camp sites, meaning no electricity, no running water and no flush toilettes. The plan does include a vault latrine restroom. The parking lot and the roadway would be gravel.
Due to the fact that the current lease is only for one year and current funding is available, FWP would like to see the site installed by late fall.
Zarling said that he has seen up to 50 vehicles parked at the Stevensville access site in the past and that some discussion has been had with the Park Board about the potential of the Town accepting the overflow on peak days.
Several members of the public spoke about the importance of the Town and FWP coordinating on the longterm development of the whole area.
“If there is a way we can coordinate parking with the Town, we are open to that,” said Zarling. He said FWP was interested in the Town’s longterm planning and said the agency was committed to coordinating with the Town on it, but that the short term plan had a time frame to work within in order to get something done.
One member of the public noted that there was no consideration given for people who are approaching the FAS on foot by way of the bike path. He said they would have to walk along the narrow road and into a high traffic parking and boat launching area. Zarling said that a walking entrance was not considered in the plan but he would take it to the planners for consideration.
In response to concerns expressed about the safety of vehicle entry and exit onto the Cut-off Road, there was discussion about potentially moving the access point or placing a warning signal or reducing the speed limit. Zarling said he would engage with Montana Department of Transportation concerning the issues.
A suggestion was also made to move the parking further back away from the river as well.
Zarling said that even though the primary consideration of the site is for fishing access, other uses such as swimming, dog walking and bird watching were not being discouraged and would be accommodated as much as possible. He said decades ago fishing access sites were primarily used by fishermen and floaters, but now up to 40% of the visitors are using the site for other purposes.
He said the agency was very appreciative of the landowner’s generosity and the value of the gift, “But we do look these gift horses in the mouth,” he said, “because we are committing to maintenance and law enforcement in perpetuity. The cost is enormous.”