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 Congressman Steve Daines’ North Fork Watershed Protection Act of 2013, bipartisan and locally driven legislation to protect the North Fork watershed,today received its first hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Daines and Whitefish City Councilman John Anderson testified this morning before a House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation hearing, sharing the broad support that efforts to protect the North Fork of the Flathead River have received and the importance of the North Fork watershed to the people of Flathead Valley and the local economy.

“Agreement in our government seems far gone these days. However, today we see the silver lining,”Daines stated at this morning’s hearing. “Today we’re having a hearing on my bill H.R. 2259, the North Fork Watershed Protection Act, an initiative I’ve joined my Democrat Montana colleagues, Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester, to support. My support for this bill marks the first time in almost 30 years the Montana delegation has supported public lands legislation in a bipartisan, bicameral fashion. And we are hoping to get this bill over the finish line.”

“This bill makes sense,” Anderson added during his testimony.“It enjoys especially broad, local support. A varied cross section of industries, business groups, local governments, hunting and fishing organizations, conservation groups, and the State of Montana have publicized their support. Additionally, the entire Montana Congressional Delegation unanimously supports this bill.”

Full written testimony from Daines and Anderson, along with letters of support from The Wilderness Society, the National Parks Conservation Association, the Outdoor Alliance and the Nature Conservancy of Montana, are available here.

About the North Fork Watershed Protection Act of 2013

H.R. 2259, the North Fork Watershed Protection Act of 2013, seeks to protect the North Fork Watershed of the Flathead River by restricting new mineral development from occurring within an area along North Fork.

Daines’ North Fork Watershed Protection Act is comparable to legislation previously introduced by Montana Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester and is the product of a locally-driven effort by conservationists, the outdoor recreation industry, the timber industry, the oil and gas industry, and others in the business community of the Flathead Valley.

Recognizing that the area along the North Fork is a region where many go to recreate in multiple ways, where there are holders of valid grazing rights, and that is suitable timber for harvesting, Daines included language in H.R. 2259 that makes clear that these presently permissible uses of the land are protected under the bill.

Daines’ support of efforts to protect the North Fork have been noted by local stakeholders as an important step forward in showing much needed bipartisanship leadership in Montana.

Widespread Support for Daines’ Efforts to Protect the North Fork

The Wilderness Society: “TWS enthusiastically supports H.R. 2259 and sincerely thanks Congressman Daines for his dedication to protecting his nationally important watershed next to Glacier National Park and in the heart of the nationally significant Crown of the Continent Ecosystem. We equally thank the Congressman and Montana’s two Senators for their combined leadership and effective coordination on this important matter. We urge swift passage of the North Fork Flathead Watershed Protection Act as it will serve Montana and the nation well for decades to come.”

Richard Jeo, State Director for the Nature Conservancy in Montana: “At a time when so many issues seem to divide upon partisan lines, the North Fork Watershed Protection Act is a shining example of bipartisan cooperation to ensure clean water for many generations to come. We applaud the bipartisan supporters of this legislation for recognizing the importance of preserving the clean water and opportunities for recreation that the North Fork provides, not simply today, but as a legacy we are leaving to the generations to come. We also thank Congressman Daines for sponsoring this legislation, and we look forward to working with him on other common sense conservation solutions down the road.”

Montana Outdoor Alliance: “Many of our members and supporters know the North Fork Flathead watershed firsthand, and we appreciate your efforts to protect this treasured landscape. The Flathead is one of Montana’s few Wild and Scenic Rivers and an important resource for the human powered outdoor recreation community. Any development, especially mineral, ought to take other values of the landscape into consideration. H.R. 2259 achieves this end, effectively limiting development and providing the watershed with the protection it deserves. Furthermore, we recognize and support your bill’s provision to preserve recreation access.”

Michael Jamison, Glacier Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association:

“Rep. Daines’ support of the North Fork Watershed Protection Act not only protects our outdoor heritage, it also serves as proof that Montana’s most majestic landscapes provide a common touchstone for us all. America’s Congress can learn from Montana’s leadership – here in the Big Sky country we know how to work together across borders to get important jobs done. The legislation enjoys broad and bipartisan support across the state, costs taxpayers nothing, protects the engines driving our region’s economy, and honors all private property. It transcends both partisan lines and international borders, and with the support of Montana’s entire Congressional delegation we are confident it will be Glacier National Park’s next great success story.”

Keith Olson, Executive Director of the Montana Logging Association: “Introduction of H.R. 2259 shows Congressman Daines is committed to pursuing solutions supported by a diverse coalition of local leaders of the Flathead Valley and also ensures forest management activities in the Valley are not inhibited by his bill. His support for H.R.2259 lends a helpful boost to protecting the North Fork of the Flathead Valley. I applaud his commitment to forest stewardship and his advocacy for responsible resource management.”

Kerry White, executive board member of Citizens for Balanced Use: “We are very happy Congressman Daines introduced H.R. 2259 which protects other historic uses of the Flathead Valley for generations to come. The watershed of the North Fork of the Flathead River is a special place many Montanans and others enjoy fishing, hiking, and other recreational uses. These uses of the land are important economic drivers for the local community.”