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Commission to Seek Statewide Comment on Whitefish River Designation

By Beacon Staff

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to move forward with the rule-making process to potentially designate a non-motorized stretch of Whitefish River.

At last week’s meeting in Helena, the commission reviewed a petition from the city of Whitefish to amend the no-wake regulation for a section of river and allow only electric motors or manually powered watercraft like kayaks from the trestle to JP Bridge. The commission is opening the matter to public comment in the near future and will hold a public hearing in Region One. A date was not set as of Monday.

Officials in the local Fish, Wildlife and Parks agreed with Whitefish that the issue should be proposed to the state commission and opened to statewide input, but the local office did not express an opinion on the matter.

In other action, the commission is seeking input on proposed changes to regulations aimed at combating illegal fish introduction, or bucket biology. A public meeting is scheduled for Feb. 24 at the FWP regional headquarters in Kalispell, 490 North Meridian Road. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.

RELATED: Whitefish to Ask State for Non-Motorized River Designation