Update: The Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument

by Larry Copenhaver
Montana Wildlife Federation
March 2003

(Photo by Craig Sharpe, ©2002)

Montana Wildlife Federation (MWF) takes pride in its role in the emergence of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. Its proclamation by former President Bill Clinton early in 2001 became the exclamation point to our bicentennial celebration of Lewis and Clark’s Voyage of Discovery as it passed through Montana in 1805 and 1806. The “Breaks” have changed little since those dugout canoes paddled the currents of the Mighty Mo. Hunters still find plenty of game in the hills where Sergeant Drouillard sought provisions for the Corps of Discovery. Although the wildlife populations have experienced stresses like hide and meat market hunting in the past two centuries, the “Breaks” again supports stable herds of bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, whitetailed and mule deer along with an elk herd that is the envy of elk hunters from across our nation. Grizzly bears no longer prowl the river shores and wolves are but a rumor, but otherwise, the grandeur of the river breaks has changed little.

Early this year, Representative Dennis Rehberg jumped on the bandwagon of Governor Martz’s Task Force, which wanted private property removed from monument boundaries and to limit the boundaries only to the Wild and Scenic River Corridor. National legislation never materialized, support from the Secretary of the Interior, Gayle Norton, wasn’t forthcoming so the effort to shrink the monument faded.

This assault has lost most of its steam but hasn’t completely disappeared. The language in the proclamation specifically applied the designation to federal land only, not private, nor state land.

Some Bureau of Land Management (BLM) generated actions caught the attention of concerned citizens such as MWF, local citizens and other cooperating organizations known collectively as the Friends of the Missouri River Breaks National Monument. A proposed improvement to the backcountry byway, known as Knox Ridge Road, would have changed a truly primitive passageway into a high-speed gravel road. The Upper Missouri River Drainage management plan proposed land use alternatives including improvements to grazing allotments to further enhance riparian habitat while perpetuating grazing by livestock. A BLM Environmental Assessment was released outlining oil and gas wells in the Bullwhacker Coulee portion of the monument. The Montana Wilderness Association has since sued BLM to block what they conclude are illegal drilling activities. Final approval to begin drilling came in late May 2002.

Our concerns about these actions and attacks were voiced during the comment periods. In all cases, we recommended that those actions should be reviewed in the Monument Management Plan. That milestone in the history of the monument is here. The monument planning process has begun with a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP), which was published on April 24, 2002 in the Federal Register. Along with an accompanying Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), the planning activity will fulfill the needs and obligations set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the monument proclamation, and BLM management policies. Public meetings will be held in Winifred, Great Falls, Lewistown, Malta, Fort Benton, Havre and Chinook to identify needs and concerns of the public.

All hunters, fishermen and recreational users should voice their concerns; specific details will be reviewed by the BLM.

Some issues of concern that could threaten the “Breaks” integrity:

• Overuse - 400,00 people are anticipated to follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark.
• Over development of tourist facilities and oil and gas drilling threaten the wild and scenic aesthetics of the area while also compromising and fragmenting habitat that sustains a huge biodiversity.
• Motorized conflict - Off-road-vehicle use and high-speed boat traffic will displace wildlife and destroy the area’s wild, solitary character.
• Damage to riparian habitat, overgrazing and unnatural water flows have suppressed the regrowth of cottonwoods and riparian habitat along the Missouri and surrounding waterways.
• River privatization by river outfitters that seek privileged use can cause the displacment of and loss of public recreation opportunities.

MWF believes that several principles need to be considered in all parts of the planning process:

• Preserve high quality hunting, fishing, floating and other backcountry public recreation.
• Maintain the area’s natural character. Keep the area wild and solitary.
• Protect the river and adjacent upland areas as a cohesive wildlife rich unit.

Today we embark into the heart of the public process. We can set the stage of the future. Interaction between all public agencies concerned and the public is essential to manage and maintain a monument that will be enjoyed for generations.

Your input will ensure that the integrity of the Missouri Breaks will remain intact.

If you want to be in the loop along with others, contact Larry Copenhaver at MWF.

If you'd like to know more about the Friends, contact the Friends of the Missouri Breaks today!