FWP and a citizen advisory committee recently completed a 16-month effort to update the 12-year-old Smith River State Park and River Corridor Management Plan. The draft plan and environmental assessment presented here addresses several key issues identified by the Smith River Citizen’s Advisory Committee, FWP, and Smith River floater-comment logs.

A Smith River float is among the most popular recreational activities in Montana. Last year, more than 5,800 people, the most ever, applied for about 900 Smith River float permits. The peak of the float season runs from mid-May to early July. On average, it’s a four-day, 59-mile float that begins at Camp Baker, near White Sulphur Springs, and ends at Eden Bridge, near Ulm.

Public Involvement Opportunities and Timeline

This is your invitation to get involved. FWP will host public open houses at the times and locations listed below. The formal comment period ends on January 30, 2009. Written comments about the plan will be accepted until that date.

Open Houses
FWP staff will be on hand to answer questions about the general management plan and specific issues. There is no set agenda or formal presentation. All open houses are from 5:00 to 8:00 PM; come and go any time during that time period. Refreshments will be served.
	Date	City	Location
	January 12, 2009	Helena	Red Lion Colonial Hotel
			2301 Colonial Drive
	January 13, 2009	Great Falls	Great Falls Civic Center
			2 Park Drive S
	January 14, 2009	White Sulphur Springs	Senior Citizen Center
			101 1st Avenue SE
	January 21, 2009	Missoula	Best Western Grant Creek Inn
			5280 Grant Creek Road
	January 22, 2009	Billings	Billings Hotel & Convention Center
			1223 Mullowney Lane

Timeline
Spring 2007	FWP convenes Smith River Citizen Advisory Committee
Winter 2008-09	Draft Management Plan available for public comment
Spring 2009	Final Decision on Management Plan
Spring 2010	Begin Implementation of Management Plan

Comment Period—Decemeber 15, 2008 to January 30, 2009
Submit general comments here or see management issues below to submit comments regarding each specific issue. Comments may also be submitted at the public open houses and via mail. Send written comments to:
	Smith River Plan
	Montana FWP Headquarters
	P.O. Box 200701
	Helena, MT 59620-0701

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here for an overview of Smith River use, management issues, and planning process.

Management Issues

Below is a partial list of the Smith River management issues that may be addressed in the planning process. Click on each issue to learn more about current conditions and practices, issues and concerns, and alternatives included in the Draft Management Plan and Environmental Assessment. You may also submit comments about specific issues by clicking on each link:

• Human waste management
• Floater opportunities
• River capacity and social conditions
• Boat camp selection
• User fees
• Pet policy
• Outfitter administration

Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC)

FWP appointed a citizen advisory committee to assist with the planning process. The committee includes members of the recreating public, outfitters, landowners, and representatives from county, state, and federal government. The committee is developing recommendations on various management issues and will present its work to the FWP Parks Division.

• List of the committee members
• CAC Meeting Notes
• Committee Charter ( 224 KB)

Smith River Management Documents and Rules

• Smith River Draft Management Plan & Environmental Assessment ( 4.4 MB)
• Smith River Special Use Area Rule (2008)
• Smith River Management Plan (1996) ( 8 MB)
• Smith River Management Act (1989)