Now is the Time to Defend Montana’s Wild Rivers

The Gallatin River. Photo GYC/London Bernier

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the headwaters of the West—its many rivers are the lifeblood of this extraordinary region.

Montana’s storied rivers are fundamental to the economy, ecology, and identity of the state. The clean, cold waters of the Madison and Gallatin rivers offer world-class recreation, fuel a robust tourism economy, provide drinking water, support family farms and ranches, and sustain fish and wildlife.

But Montana is changing, and these treasured waterways face growing threats. Population growth, development in river valleys, climate change, and pressure on water resources threaten the rivers that Montanans—and millions downstream—depend on.

That’s why the Greater Yellowstone Recreation Enhancement and Tourism (GYREAT) Act, introduced by U.S. Congressman Ryan Zinke of Montana, represents an important opportunity. The legislation would protect nearly 100 miles of the Madison and Gallatin rivers, along with key tributaries, through designation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Signed into law in 1968, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act provides a proven framework to safeguard rivers with “outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations.” Wild and Scenic designations protect water quality, maintain natural river flow, and preserve the many benefits these rivers provide.

That means sustaining outdoor recreation economies built on fishing and floating, securing clean and reliable water for communities and agriculture, protecting wildlife habitat along rivers, and preserving the character of Montana’s landscapes and communities.

Montanans for Healthy Rivers partners with Montana’s congressional delegation. Photo GYC/Charles Drimal

I organized a trip to Washington, D.C. in late March with our partners in the Montanans for Healthy Rivers coalition to meet with Montana’s delegation and help steward this broadly supported piece of legislation through to the finish line. We shared local endorsements and personal messages of support for the GYREAT Act with Reps. Zinke and Troy Downing, Sens. Tim Sheehy and Steve Daines, and other key players.

Productive conversations with delegates and their staff renewed our belief in the importance of this bill and confirmed interest from our legislators in keeping Montana’s waters wild. Plus, a new survey by the University of Montana found that 70 percent of Montanans want protections in place for the Gallatin and Madison rivers.

The GYREAT Act was introduced by Rep. Zinke in July 2025. The next milestone will be passing the act through the House Natural Resources Committee. We will keep you updated on the progress of this important legislation as it continues to move through Congress.

Rep. Zinke has the opportunity to secure lasting protections for two of Montana’s most iconic waterways by advancing the GYREAT Act, cementing a conservation legacy that will benefit Montanans and the Greater Yellowstone region for generations to come. Thank you to the delegation members and staffers who took time to hear our voices, and to the partners that make this work possible.

This vision for long-term river protection builds on more than a decade of community conversations, scientific study, and broad coalition input led by GYC and our partners. Now is the time to act.

— Charles Drimal, Director of Conservation [Bozeman, MT]