Montana Administrative Code

12.11.3901 LAKE ALVA (1) Alva Lake is located in Missoula County. (2) All watercraft on Lake Alva are limited to a controlled no wake speed as defined in ARM 12.11.101. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA History: NEW, …

12.11.3905 BEAVERTAIL POND (1) Beavertail Pond is located in Missoula County. (2) Beavertail Pond is limited to manually operated watercraft and watercraft powered by electric motors. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA…

12.11.3910 BLANCHARD LAKE (1) Blanchard Lake (on the Clearwater River) is located in Missoula County. (2) Blanchard Lake is closed to the use of all watercraft propelled by machinery of over 10 horsepower. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 2…

12.11.3915 CLEARWATER LAKE (1) Clearwater Lake is located in Missoula County. (2) Clearwater Lake is limited to manually operated watercraft and watercraft powered by electric motors. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA…

12.11.3920 COLT LAKE (1) Colt Lake is located in Missoula County. (2) Colt Lake is limited to manually operated watercraft and watercraft powered by electric motors. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA History: NEW, 200…

12.11.3925 COTTONWOOD LAKE (1) Cottonwood Lake is located in Missoula County. (2) Cottonwood Lake is limited to manually operated watercraft and watercraft powered by electric motors. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA…

12.11.3930 ELSINA LAKE (1) Elsina Lake is located in Missoula County. (2) Elsina Lake is limited to manually operated watercraft and watercraft powered by electric motors. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA History: NE…

12.11.3935 FRENCHTOWN POND (1) Frenchtown Pond is located in Missoula County. (2) Frenchtown Pond is closed to use for any motor-propelled watercraft. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA History: NEW, 2001 MAR p. 18, Ef…

12.11.3940 HARPERS LAKE (1) Harpers Lake is located in Missoula County. (2) Harpers Lake is limited to manually operated watercraft and watercraft powered by electric motors. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA History:…

12.11.3945 HIDDEN LAKE (1) Hidden Lake is located in Missoula County. (2) Hidden Lake is limited to manually operated watercraft and watercraft powered by electric motors. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA History: NE…

12.11.3950 HOLLAND LAKE (1) Holland Lake is located in Missoula County. (2) Holland Lake is limited to a controlled no wake speed, as defined in ARM 12.11.101(1) , in the following areas: (a) Holland Lake Lodge within 300 feet or as buoyed; and (b) Bay Loop campground within 300 …

12.11.3955 INEZ LAKE (1) Inez Lake is located in Missoula County. (2) All watercraft on Inez Lake pulling, taking off with, and landing water skiers will travel in a general, consistent, counterclockwise direction. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing stat…

12.11.3960 LAKE DINAH (1) Lake Dinah is located in Missoula County. (2) Lake Dinah is closed to use for any motor-propelled watercraft. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA History: NEW, 2001 MAR p. 18, Eff. 1/12/01.…

12.11.3962 LAKE MARSHALL (1) Lake Marshall is located in Missoula County. (2) Lake Marshall is limited to manually operated watercraft and watercraft powered by electric motors. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Histo…

12.11.3963 MILLTOWN DAM (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA History: NEW, 2003 MAR p. 2622, Eff. 11/27/03; REP, 2011 MAR p. 901, Eff. 5/27/11.

12.11.3965 MORRELL LAKE (1) Morrell Lake is located in Missoula County. (2) Morrell Lake is closed to use for any motor-propelled watercraft. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA History: NEW, 2001 MAR p. 18, Eff. 1/12/0…

12.11.3970 PLACID CREEK (1) Placid Creek is located in Missoula County. (2) Placid Creek is limited to a controlled no wake speed, as defined in ARM 12.11.101(1) , in the following areas: (a) from its headwaters to the confluence with Placid Lake. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106…

12.11.3975 RAINY LAKE (1) Rainy Lake is located in Missoula County. (2) Rainy Lake is limited to manually operated watercraft and watercraft powered by electric motors. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA History: NEW, …

12.11.3980 SALMON LAKE (1) Salmon Lake is located in Missoula County. (2) Salmon Lake is limited to a controlled no wake speed, as defined in ARM 12.11.101(1) , in the following areas: (a) the Clearwater River from the Placid Lake Road Bridge to Salmon Lake; (b) that portion know…

12.11.3985 SEELEY LAKE (1) Seeley Lake is located in Missoula County. (2) All watercraft on Seeley Lake pulling, taking off with, and landing water skiers on Seeley Lake will travel in a general, consistent, counterclockwise direction. (3) Seeley Lake is limited to a controlled n…

12.11.3990 SPOOK LAKE (1) Spook Lake is located in Missoula County. (2) Spook Lake is limited to manually operated watercraft and watercraft powered by electric motors. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA History: NEW, …

12.11.3995 SUMMIT LAKE (1) Summit Lake is located in Missoula County. (2) Summit Lake is limited to manually operated watercraft and watercraft powered by electric motors. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA History: NE…

12.11.3999 UPSATA LAKE (1) Upsata Lake is located in Missoula County. (2) Upsata Lake is limited to a controlled no wake speed, as defined in ARM 12.11.101(1) . Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA History: NEW, 2001 MAR…

12.11.401 RIVER RECREATION USE: DEFINITIONS (1) "Allocation" means distributing limited use opportunities when a rationing system is in place. (2) "Fixed allocation" means members of a rationed user group or groups do not compete equally for limited opportunities to use a river. …

12.11.405 POLICY STATEMENT CONCERNING RIVER RECREATION RULES (1) These rules apply to the process of developing, adopting, amending, or repealing management plans or rules that address river recreation. These rules do not apply to fishing seasons, limits, or regulations that the …

12.11.410 RIVER RECREATION MANAGEMENT PLANS AND RULES GENERALLY (1) The highest priority of a management plan is providing protection for the following resources: (a) the quality of the fisheries; (b) wildlife; (c) water; (d) riparian habitat; and (e) other natural resources in o…

12.11.4101 PARK COUNTY (1) All rivers and streams in Park County east of the continental divide are closed to the use of all watercraft propelled by machinery of over 10 horsepower with the following exceptions: (a) on the Yellowstone River, downriver from Highway 89 bridge (near…

12.11.415 RIVER RECREATION MANAGEMENT PLANS AND RULES: DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES (1) The department, using existing information, shall evaluate the social and biological conditions on rivers and identify those rivers where further analysis and planning may be needed in order to…

12.11.420 RIVER RECREATION MANAGEMENT PLANS AND RULES: COMMISSION RESPONSIBILITIES (1) When concurring in a management plan or when adopting, amending, or repealing rules for a river, the commission shall consider the following: (a) recommendations of the citizen advisory committ…

12.11.425 CREATION OF CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEES (1) The department shall establish a citizen advisory committee when developing a river recreation management plan or when recommending river recreation rules to the commission. The department shall also establish a citizen adviso…

12.11.430 RIVER RECREATION MANAGEMENT PLANS AND RULES: CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES (1) The purpose of the citizen advisory committee is to advise the department and the commission on the management of recreation on a river, including the development of river recre…

12.11.435 RESTRICTING OR RATIONING RIVER USE (1) The commission shall make the final decision on whether or not to restrict or ration river use and the adoption of rules for doing so. (2) When determining how a river should be managed, the commission shall consider management met…

12.11.440 FIXED ALLOCATION (1) If a fixed allocation system is proposed for a river, the department and the commission shall seek input from a citizen advisory committee and the general public regarding the following: (a) the amount of use that would be allocated to each user gro…

12.11.445 NONFIXED ALLOCATION (1) If nonfixed allocation is proposed for a river, the department and the commission shall seek input from a citizen advisory committee and the general public regarding the following: (a) overall amount of use that would be allocated to individual r…

12.11.450 TRANSFERABILITY OF RIVER USE DAYS (1) The sale or transfer of a licensed or nonlicensed river service provider business and the transfer of river use days shall comply with 37-47-310 (4) , MCA, and shall not be prohibited as long as all legal requirements are fulfilled.…

12.11.455 RIVER RECREATION MANAGEMENT PLANNING MANUAL (1) Upon adoption of these rules, the department must develop a river recreation planning manual that provides details on implementation of the analysis and decision-making framework in conjunction with MEPA and MAPA. The manu…

12.11.4601 BROWN'S LAKE (1) Brown's Lake is located in Powell County. (2) A portion of Brown's Lake near Ovando is either closed as posted or marked by barrel booms to the use of all watercraft, during the time period beginning April 1 and ending July 15. Authorizing statute(s): …

12.11.4901 GARTSIDE RESERVOIR (1) Gartside Reservoir is located in Richland County. (2) Gartside Reservoir is limited to manually operated watercraft and watercraft powered by electric motors. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, MCA Implementing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1…

12.11.501 LIST OF WATER BODIES The following is a list of specific regulations on bodies of water with the reference where the rules regarding those bodies of water are located: (1) Alvord Lake ARM 12.11.3402 (2) Arapooish Fishing Access (Pond) ARM 12.11.801 (3) Banana Lake ARM 1…

12.11.504 NO WAKE ZONES SURROUNDING COMMERCIAL MARINAS (1) Vessels are limited to a controlled no wake speed as defined in ARM 12.11.101(1) surrounding commercial marinas as buoyed. (2) A commercial marina may not establish a no wake zone beyond 300 feet of the marina docks witho…

12.11.505 GENERAL EXCEPTIONS AND APPLICATIONS (1) The following exceptions apply to the restrictions placed on waters in subchapters 5 through 62: (a) official patrol; (b) search and rescue operations; (c) maintenance of hydroelectric projects with prior notification by the utili…

12.11.510 PLACEMENT OF WATER OBSTACLES (1) A water obstacle includes but is not limited to: (a) pier; (b) floating dock; (c) platform; (d) shoreline dock greater than 75 feet from shoreline; (e) navigational aid; (f) slalom course; (g) jump/rail; and (h) inflatable recreational e…

12.11.5101 CASTLE ROCK RESERVOIR (1) This rule is made in the interest of public health, public safety, and protection of property, and as a measure to achieve the fullest recreational use of the Castle Rock Reservoir. These regulations apply to the waters of the reservoir and to…

12.11.5205 THOMPSON FALLS DAM (1) Thompson Falls Dam is located in Sanders County on the Clark Fork River and forms Thompson Falls Reservoir. (2) The waters 1,020 feet above the dam to 500 feet below the dam are closed to all boating, sailing, floating and swimming. The closed wa…

12.11.5206 BULL RIVER (1) The Bull River is located in Sanders County. (2) The Bull River and its tributaries are closed to any motorized watercraft greater than 10 horsepower from the headwaters of the Bull River to its confluence with the Clark Fork River. Authorizing statute(s…

12.11.5303 BRUSH LAKE (1) Brush Lake is located in Sheridan County. (2) Brush Lake is limited to a controlled no wake speed as defined in ARM 12.11.101 surrounding the Brush Lake State Park boat ramp, dock, and swimming area as buoyed. Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-106, 87-1-303, …

12.11.5405 MYSTIC DAM (1) Mystic Dam is located in Stillwater County on West Rosebud Creek and forms Mystic Lake. (2) The waters 100 feet above the dam are closed to all boating, sailing, floating and swimming. The closed waters will be identified and delineated by positive boat …