A land grab of the aquatic kind

Over a year ago, the Quiet Waters Initiative popped up on the radar as a seemingly benign way to limit motorized boat use and “user conflict” on several waterways in the state. Sponsored by the Montana Chapter of the “Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Group,” this initiative is a covert attempt to stop motorized use in areas owned or controlled by a select group of fly fishing purists, many of whom own, represent or control property that will be directly impacted by this initiative. The most disturbing thing about this is that the Chairman of the Fish and Wildlife commission, Dan Vermillion, is right there in the thick of it with several businesses. Talk about a conflict of interest!

Mr. Vermillion owns a company that books guided fly fishing trips on the VERY RIVERS this initiative impacts, and represents properties marketed to fly anglers that are on the VERY RIVERS that this will impact. Another (former) commissioner that has supported this initiative since day one, Gary Wolfe, directs the Cinnabar foundation that has awarded grants to the BHA, and is listed as a “conservation partner” of the BHA!

This initiative impacts over 50 waters in Montana; either initiating severe noise restrictions, eliminating motorized use entirely, or severely restricting horsepower limits so it will be unsafe in certain conditions to even use those allowed craft. The initiative gives preferential treatment to non-motorized use and could affect the quality of fishing and boating for citizens who travel throughout Montana. It will severely restrict access for children, the elderly and the disabled, including veterans, who simply cannot hike or wade to some of the best fishing areas in the state.

It also contains unreasonable, unenforceable noise limits. Locally, it will restrict or take away motorized access on portions of the Flathead River, Swan River, Whitefish River and their tributaries. This is a taking of rights, plain and simple, and an appointed commission should not have the means to do this, in fact they don’t, as this method violates dozens of laws on policy making, far too numerous to go into here.

And it’s not just local sportspersons who see through this debacle. Among the staunch opposition, 18 Republican state lawmakers from Northwest Montana — state Sens. Chas Vincent, Dee Brown, Keith Regier, Mark Blasdel, Bob Keenan, Al Olzewski, Jennifer Fielder, Steve Gunderson, Mike Cuffe and Reps. Matt Regier, Carl Glimm, Frank Garner, Steve Lavin, Randy Brodehl, Mark Noland, Derek Skees, Greg Hertz and Bob Brown — back in January, penned a letter expressing strong disapproval of the proposals.

At previous public meetings, and in over 1300 written comments, the vast majority opposed this measure. This final meeting has been rescheduled THREE times, and now is scheduled for the FRIDAY BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND at 8:30 in the morning, when nearly every impacted sportsman and woman will be beginning their long holiday weekend! Is that a coincidence, or a planned move of more skullduggery?

Just recently, after much movement by the legislature to finalize this commission, Governor Bullock appointed the final three commissioners after the legislature had dismissed, seemingly stacking the commission with a “chosen few” who appear to support the initiative. One member, Tim Aldrich (representing Region one) is a member of the BHA and a member of Trout Unlimited, who supports the initiative, so it is fair to say we know where he stands. Again, HUGE conflict of interest, that was KNOWN at the time of his appointment!

At this point, there is again a full FW commission, three of which have had no exposure to the conversation or the immense opposition to this initiative. John Sullivan, chairman of the Montana Chapter of the BHA, commenting on the lack of a full commission back in February said, “It’ll be a big deal,” he says. “They’ll end up deciding how it works. I trust that the commissioners, any replacements, will still represent their constituencies ... and pay attention to what those citizens want.”

Unless this commission hears from YOU, this initiative will surely get final approval so let’s make sure Mr. Sullivan gets his wish and the commission hears and complies! Let them know your thoughts!

The local opportunity to provide final public input is Friday, May 26th, at 8:30 AM at FWP Region One HQ, 490 Meridian Road in Kalispell. You may also provide WRITTEN comment via email to fwcomm@mt.gov or by dropping comments at your FWP office.

Mike Howe, of Kalispell, is a fishing guide and writes an outdoor column for the Inter Lake every other Thursday.