Montanans support bill
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
2 of 3 free articles.
HELENA – Montana sportsmen and women are praising the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission for today’s proclamation in support of Senator Max Baucus’ bill to reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The LWCF uses offshore oil leases—not taxes—to invest in state and federal parks, trail systems and waterways. In Montana, the Fund is used for everything from fishing access sites to making public land more accessible.
“The Commission knows well that the Land and Water Conservation Fund is responsible for over 70 percent of Montana’s fishing access sites and has been used in several recent projects that protect wildlife habitat on public and private land while also increasing the public’s access to public resources,” said Dave Chadwick, Executive Director of the Montana Wildlife Federation. “We’re very grateful to our Fish and Wildlife Commission for supporting the protection of important natural lands and clean, flowing waters.” The Fish and Wildlife Commission’s proclamation notes that access to public water, wildlife and land helps “ensure a vibrant, economically resilient sector of Montana’s economy.”
According to the Outdoor Industry Association, outdoor recreation is responsible for pumping more than $5.8 billion into Montana’s economy every year and supporting more than 64,000 jobs in Montana.
“This bill is a common sense approach to expanding public access to the land Montanans hold dear without asking taxpayers for a dime,” said Baucus, who has been a stalwart supporter of LWCF. “Outdoor heritage fuels our economy and supports jobs – investing in it today will pay dividends over the long haul.”
