.. The scuffle and tiff between land owners and fisher folk is being addressed by the Montana legislature. It's sure to bring conversation to a boil. At issue is the attaching of private fencing to county bridges... Does this illegally limit access to the rivers? The resolution is a bill presented in the legislature, (passed by the senate,) and poses rules of law that: ". . . are not intended to expand the rights of recreationists or to diminish the rights of landowners."
.. New West has a fine article that explores the problem. Bozeman lawyer and state senator Larry Gent has defended the bill by saying: "What we’re doing here doesn’t change law in any way. There ain’t no other choice. It’s this bill or let the court do it."
.. One thing is for sure; The conversation is not finished as the bill now goes to the Montana House of Representatives.
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.. Environmental news relating to Montana can be found at the Montana Environmental Information Center web site: MEIC. It currently has a section on the 2007 Legislative Session... The stream access issue is also featured on the Montana Wildlife Federation web page; including a review of the current 1985 Montana Law.
.. The Wild Fish Habitat Initiative, (Montana Water Center,) has some interesting cutthroat reports available on-line.
.. The Whirling Disease Initiative site has updated their site to include a data repository... The third edition of the "California Salmonid Stream Habitat Restoration Manual" is now available on-line.
.. Hubbard's Guide Academy is now accepting applications for 2007.
