The Greater Yellowstone Recreation Enhancement And Tourism Act designates approximately 98 miles of river segments in Montana—including parts of the Madison, Gallatin, Hyalite Creek, and Cabin Creek—as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The bill protects these streams for their recreational value (fishing, hunting, camping, paddling, and wildlife viewing), their importance to Indian Tribes, and their economic benefits to Montana's tourism and agricultural industries, while explicitly preserving private property rights and allowing existing infrastructure like roads, bridges, and hydroelectric dams to continue operating. The legislation specifically exempts the Hebgen and Madison Dams from Wild and Scenic Rivers restrictions, ensuring these hydroelectric facilities can continue generating power and be maintained or expanded outside the protected segments. The bill requires consent from private landowners before any land acquisition within these river corridors and does not affect existing water rights, compacts, or federal water permits. No specific funding amount or timeline is specified; the bill authorizes "such sums as are necessary" to implement the designations.
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