by Grace McDonnell, Bozeman
I grew up in rural Montana, in the valley between the Elkhorn and Big Belt Mountains. Similar to many Montana residents, I spent my childhood days exploring the mountain forests and sagebrush steppes that make up the landscape surrounding my community. Montana’s wild lands are as valuable as the time we spend in them. Hiking, fishing, skiing, and exploring the diverse ecology of the Montana landscape are experiences we all share.
Regardless of political affiliation, Montanans hold in common a strong appreciation for Montana’s public lands, and with this, advocacy for the protection of them. The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA) is a piece of federal legislation designed to strengthen the protection of public lands from future development and overuse. Should the BCSA pass, 80,000 acres of the Lolo National Forest in northwestern Montana will be added to the Bob Marshall, Scapegoat, and Mission Mountain Wildernesses. This area will be designated for outdoor recreation– hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, biking, and snowmobiling– and be protected permanently from unsustainable logging and habitat decimation of our state’s pristine wilderness. The BCSA will ensure that we safeguard the most crucial tributaries of the infamous Blackfoot River, helping sustain the health of wildlife, native trout population, and the river itself. Outdoor recreation generates over $7 billion in revenue annually, and over $1 billion from hunting and fishing. The goal of these protections is to not only preserve Montana’s wildlife, but also offer a financial incentive to Montana residents to advocate for our public lands, and advocate for BCSA.
Time outside is time well spent. Time outside in Montana is priceless. Talk to Senator Steve Daines about passing BCSA. Advocate for public lands, your home state, and the enjoyment of them for generations to come. Public lands bring communities together, and together we must protect Montana public lands.