A River Runs Through It Act

The bill would designate six federal restoration areas and two Bureau of Land Management backcountry areas in Montana. It would make restoration a management priority in both, with goals including reducing wildfire risks, restoring habitat and protecting water and wildlife.

The Forest Service would manage restoration areas for forest, habitat and watershed restoration while allowing vegetation projects and prescribed burning. New temporary roads could be used only for vegetation projects, would be closed to public use and generally decommissioned within three years after the project ends; existing grazing could continue under conditions set by the bill.

The bill would designate four recreation areas and two winter recreation areas, and direct the Forest Service to plan for recreation and manage motorized use on designated roads and trails. It would also provide for a snowmobile connector corridor and authorize construction of mapped motorized and nonmotorized trails, subject to applicable law and, for construction, available funding.

The bill would add land to the Scapegoat, Bob Marshall and Mission Mountains wilderness areas and designate Nevada Mountain Wilderness. It would also create two conservation management areas, where motorized use would generally be limited to existing designated routes and new system or temporary roads would generally be barred.

The bill says it would not change Tribal treaty rights or affect tribally managed lands, and would not require private landowners to allow public access. It also says it would not change Montana's jurisdiction or responsibilities for fish and wildlife.