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Thursday, February 10, 2011
A Change in Montana Stream Access?
Well "they" are at it again! HB 309 attempts to further define a ditch. The bill has made its way out of committee and has passed the second reading on the Montana House of Representatives floor. The Montana Stream Access Law is very specific in banning any use of a ditch for public access. This bill could prohibit access to waters that are now classified as public. There is no need for this bill and it would only send us down that proverbial slippery slope. I encourage everyone to write your Montana State Representatives. Even if you are not a resident, I encourage you to write to the Speaker of the House. This bill will affect residents and non-residents alike. The following is a link to the Montana House of Representatives http://www.leg.mt.gov/css/house/. It is time to let your voices be heard on this issue! The following two links are an article regarding this issue http://www.krtv.com/news/bill-defining-ditches-called-assault-on-montana-s-stream-access-/ and the bill itself http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2011/billhtml/HB0309.htm.
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MT State Representative Christy Clark needs to return to her job at Gas-n-Grub
ReplyDeleteThe following is the letter I received from Rep. Ehli after I wrote him a letter in opposition to HB 309:
ReplyDeleteSean,
Thank you for making contact on HB 309. My opinion of this bill is that it was not put in place to affect Stream Access laws but rather to make some clarifications for water user associations and small rural irrigators after the Supreme Court Decision on Mitchell Slough. The decision from Supreme Court Justice Rice on Mitchell Slough was narrowly focused, as it should be, on the landowners and sportsman as it pertains to Mitchell Slough. However, whenever that happens, as is the case with other water users, there is a lot of unanswered questions.
While I cannot promise that HB 309 won’t bring more questions, I am certain it was not meant to turn entire water systems like the Bitter Root River into “ditches”. Sean, I think it is good to remember that the legislature is a representative government from across Montana with plenty of Sportsman on board. They certainly will not give away all the rights of Montana Sportsman.
Thanks for checking in.
Sincerely,
Rep. Ron Ehli, HD 88, Hamilton
Box 765, Hamilton, Mt 59840
406-363-5787 Cell
406-363-3130 Home
mtmutt@montana.com