It’s no secret that Bozeman, Livingston, and Big Sky are growing rapidly. Our backyard mountains — the Madison and Gallatin ranges — feel the pressures of this growth as more people explore deeper into the backcountry on foot, horse, or bike. More importantly, these mountains provide clean drinking water, important habitat for species from grizzly bears to elk, fresh air, adventure, and solace surrounded by wild nature. That’s why we joined with other members of the Gallatin Forest Partnership to unveil proposed legislation to permanently protect our backyard mountains so they stay wild and healthy as they are today.

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.