Announcing the Greater Yellowstone Conservation and Recreation Act
Southwest Montana’s Madison and Gallatin mountain ranges are some of the wildest places left in the continental United States. These wild lands are beloved by those who live here and those who visit, and they are under threat. That’s why the Gallatin Forest Partnership has developed a realistic solution to permanently protect 250,000 acres of public land in the Madison and Gallatin ranges.
The Gallatin Forest Partnership has now unveiled the community-driven Greater Yellowstone Conservation and Recreation Act. The proposed legislation will permanently protect drinking water, provide balanced access to outdoor recreation, conserve wildlife habitat, and stop further development to forever protect these lands for all of us.
Hikers enjoying the incredible scenery of the Gallatin Range. Made up of recreationists, business owners, sportsmen, landowners, and conservationists who call the Madison and Gallatin ranges home, the Gallatin Forest Partnership has been advocating for permanent protections for these ranges since 2016. (Photo Louise Johns/Louise Johns Photography)
I have enjoyed recreating in the mountains in my backyard since moving to Bozeman 15 years ago. Whether it's an evening hike with my sons or backpacking with my ladies backpacking crew, I never get tired of exploring this amazing place.
These mountains provide not only remarkable hiking, hunting, fishing, riding and recreation access, but clean drinking water to communities and critical wildlife habitat to a wide range of species.
Permanent protection for these areas we love is critically important because Montana is growing and changing rapidly. The Madison and Gallatin ranges border some of the fastest-growing communities in the state.
While the ranges have some protections under the current Forest Service management plan, these protections are not permanent. I want to make sure my kids and all of you can enjoy the Montana way of life well into the future.
The Greater Yellowstone Conservation and Recreation Act will permanently protect 250,000 acres of public land in the Madison and Gallatin ranges. It will:
Safeguard clean drinking water by limiting the development of these public lands.
Protect existing mountain biking, motorized, and non-motorized recreation access.
Ensure iconic wildlife like grizzly bears, elk, osprey, native cutthroat trout, bobcat, and more can thrive here, just like they have for millennia.
Conserve the open space and wild nature of the Madison and Gallatin ranges.
Mining, new roads, and other industrial development will not be allowed on these lands. If you want to learn more about the act, visit the legislation page on our Act website.
The act is a realistic solution developed by a widespread coalition of locals.
Made up of recreationists, business owners, sportsmen, landowners, and conservationists who call the Madison and Gallatin ranges home, the Gallatin Forest Partnership has been advocating for permanent protections for these ranges since 2016. The partnership’s goals are to protect drinking water, conserve core wildlife habitat, and maintain access to recreation and our public lands.
The Greater Yellowstone Coalition (GYC) is proud to be a founding member of the Gallatin Forest Partnership. My tenure with this project has been short, compared to the decade's long commitment of GYC, but we’ve made exciting progress this past year.
A sow grizzly and her two cubs in Greater Yellowstone. The Greater Yellowstone Conservation and Recreation Act will ensure iconic wildlife like grizzly bears, elk, osprey, native cutthroat trout, bobcat, and more can thrive here, just like they have for millennia. (Photo NPS/Eric Johnston)
We’ve unveiled the Greater Yellowstone Conservation and Recreation Act, but our work is not done yet! Over the next year, we’ll continue to garner community support and work to get our Montana congressional delegation to see this made-in-Montana solution is the right thing to do.
We hope you’ll share this news with your friends and family who love public lands too. And if you believe in this act, we ask that you endorse it today!
July is a great time to find a new trail to run or mountain to climb. Get out there to explore and think about protecting our wild backyard. See you on the trail!
—Sally Schrank, Greater Yellowstone Coalition
This blog was originally published on the Greater Yellowstone Coalition blog.