The Gallatin River Legacy Agreement, A New Approach for the Gallatin:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOZEMAN, 1/21/07 – The foundation is simple: Protecting the Gallatin is in everyone’s best interest. That’s the sentiment behind a recent agreement involving American Wildlands, prominent Big Sky landowners and builders, Trout Unlimited, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

The agreement has its roots in a conversation between Shawn Regnerus, Living Waters coordinator at American Wildlands, and Bill Simkins, a Big Sky landowner and builder. After a public hearing on the outstanding resource water designation (ORW) Regnerus and Simkins realized they shared a common goal – protecting the Gallatin River. Instead of fighting over ORW designation, the parties decided to see if they had enough in common to work towards a community based solution that protects the river from current and future nutrient sources while allowing for development and economic growth.

Six years ago, American Wildlands filed a petition to designate the Gallatin River as an Outstanding Resource Water. That process has recently become increasingly controversial based on the perception that it would significantly limit development in the Big Sky area.

“We have learned two important things through the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS),” said Regnerus. “The first is that no one wants to degrade the river. The second is that based on the findings of the EIS, a local, community-driven solution that addresses all sources of nutrient pollution has the best potential to protect and even improve the water quality on the Gallatin.”

To create the necessary time to explore the new strategy, American Wildlands and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality are requesting that the process to designate the Gallatin River as an Outstanding Resource Water be placed on hold. This will give the Big Sky community an opportunity to figure out local solutions to reduce nutrient pollution in the upper Gallatin.

“I am a fourth generation Montanan, this river is part of my heritage,” said Simkins. “I want to pass that on to my children and grandchildren, as a place of beauty, and I certainly do not want to impair what my family has invested in: property that relies on clean air and water. I want to protect that investment.”

While the agreement already has widespread support, the parties also realize the success of any effort to will need to involve the entire Big Sky community.

James Taylor, a Big Sky developer said “Our goal with this agreement is to go beyond the ORW to find technical solutions that address current uses as well as future uses in way respects property rights.”

Both sides are confident that this agreement can avoid the controversy surrounding ORW designation and better protect both the areas natural amenities and the Big Sky communities economic future.

CONTACTS:
Shawn Regnerus, Living Waters Coordinator, American Wildlands: 586-8175
James Taylor, Bostwick Properties: 922-2000