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119-hr-10529119th Congress

A River Runs Through It Act

Sponsored By: Representative Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1]

Introduced

Summary

Permanent conservation and recreation designations in western Montana. This bill would create restoration areas, backcountry and winter recreation zones, wilderness additions, and conservation management areas, and it would set rules for trails, motorized use, vegetation projects, and maps.

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  • Would designate four recreation areas including Lodgepole Creek (~24,058 acres) and two winter recreation areas including North/Elsina Bowls (~6,932 acres). A Forest Service plan due in 3 years would identify new mountain bike and motorized trails and set seasonal vehicle rules.
  • Would add wilderness acreage such as Scapegoat (~48,930 acres) and create Conservation Management Areas like the Continental Divide (~31,653 acres). Management would prioritize wildlife habitat, fire resilience, watershed function, and coordination with Endangered Species Act recovery plans.
  • Allows existing livestock grazing and maintenance of preexisting grazing facilities subject to law and regulation. The bill preserves private property and Tribal treaty rights and makes many federal lands withdrawn from mining and leasing, subject to valid existing rights.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New trails, maps, and local plans

If enacted, the bill would let the Secretary build motorized and mountain bike trails shown on the bill map. Trail construction would be allowed only if funds are available and the Secretary finds the work follows applicable law. The Secretary would be able to accept volunteer work and non‑Federal money to reduce Federal costs. Local collaborative groups could submit recreation improvement proposals within 5 years and the Secretary would finish required analysis within 3 years after receiving a proposal. The Secretary would prepare maps and legal descriptions as soon as practicable and file them for public inspection. The Secretary and the Interior Department would also assess within 18 months whether certain shooting ranges are reasonably accessible from Lincoln, Montana.

Montana land protections and use rules

If enacted, the bill would create many new protected areas in Montana and set rules for public uses. It would designate six Restoration Areas and allow vegetation restoration projects, including prescribed burning, subject to applicable law and any Endangered Species Act plans. The bill would add lands to wilderness areas and create two BLM backcountry areas withdrawn from entry, mining, and leasing, subject to valid existing rights. Two Conservation Management Areas, four Recreation Areas, and two winter recreation areas would be designated with specific motorized and trail rules. The Secretary would have to site an over‑snow connector within 2 years, limited to 200 feet wide, with a 60‑inch vehicle width limit and a ban on commercial timber harvest in the corridor. Motorized access in Conservation Management Areas would be limited to roads and trails allowed on the enactment date and new system roads would generally be prohibited. Grazing and existing grazing facilities established before enactment could continue under regulation. Nothing in the bill would change private property ownership, State fish and wildlife authority, or Tribal treaty rights.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1]

MT • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2]

    MT • R

    Sponsored 10/5/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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