Montana's Republican Delegation Should Pass the 'A River Runs Through It' Act to Protect the Blackfoot River
Source: https://www.facebook.com/americanspectator/. "Let’s Pass the ‘A River Runs Through It’ Act | The American Spectator | USA News and Politics." October 29, 2026. spectator.org
The Gist
The Blackfoot River, made famous by 'A River Runs Through It', is struggling with warm water, low flows, and heavy use. A locally built bill with broad public support would protect it and its surroundings, and it makes economic sense too. Montana's all-Republican delegation should pass it, and doing so would leave a lasting legacy.
Conclusion
Montana's congressional delegation should fully support and pass the 'A River Runs Through It' Act to protect the Blackfoot River and surrounding resources.
Premises
- The Blackfoot River is under environmental stress: warm temperatures and low water flows are harming trout populations and insect hatches, and the caddis hatches have been nearly nonexistent in recent years.
- Increased popularity and heavy recreational use since the book and movie have brought many more boats and visitors to the river, adding pressure to it.
- The act protects the Blackfoot's cold water and other resources across about 430,000 acres.
- The act was developed over more than two decades by local stakeholders (wilderness advocates, ranchers, loggers, snowmobilers), so it has 'something for everyone'.
- More than 80 percent of Montanans support it, according to a University of Montana survey.
- Sport fishing is a $1.2 billion industry in Montana, so protecting the river makes economic sense.
- Passing the act would give retiring members like Sen. Daines and Rep. Zinke a worthy legacy, and Daines and Zinke have publicly shown personal and political affinity for the river and the proposal.
Assumptions
- The act's provisions would effectively address the river's cold water and low flow problems.
- Legislation, rather than other measures, is the right tool for protecting the river.
- A broad stakeholder coalition and high public support are good reasons for Congress to act.
- The economic value of sport fishing depends on the river's health and would be preserved by the act.
- Republican members will be moved by local support, economic arguments, and legacy considerations.
- The survey accurately reflects Montanans' views of the specific bill's content.
- The tradeoffs and costs of the act (e.g. for logging, grazing, or motorized recreation) are acceptable to the stakeholders it affects.