HELENA – The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission is accepting applications for the Madison River Work Group, which will work to develop recommendations to the commission on how to implement aspects of the Madison River recreation administrative rule.

In accordance with the Madison River recreation administrative rule, which was adopted last year by the Fish and Wildlife Commission, the 12-person work group will be made up by three commercial outfitters with current Madison River Special User Permits, three non-commercial river users, two people with Madison Valley business interests that are not connected to commercial outfitting, one person trained in natural resource management not employed by FWP, one at large person whose selected qualities are largely outside the descriptions for other work group members, a Fish and Wildlife Commissioner, and a representative from the Bureau of Land Management.

Applications for the work group will be accepted from April 2 through April 23.

The work group will specifically focus on developing recommendations to the commission regarding:

• The allocation of commercial-use trips to outfitters
• A process to permit new outfitters on the Madison River
• Rule language to address all recreational use on the Madison River, including the walk/wade and rest/rotation sections
• Consequences of permit violations.

FWP staff will review and forward all applications and any recommendations to the Fish and Wildlife Commission, which will make a final decision on work group membership at its June meeting.

To apply for the Madison River Work Group, fill out the application found at fwp.mt.gov and submit electronically by midnight April 23, or have postmarked no later than April 23.?