MILES CITY – The Lower Yellowstone River Corridor Advisory Committee (LYRC Committee), has made substantial progress since its first meeting in late August.
The LYRC Committee is a citizen group sponsored by Gov. Greg Gianforte and convened by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. The group was tasked with exploring new access, recreation and habitat conservation opportunities along the Lower Yellowstone, prioritizing areas where access is most limited.
After dividing into three work groups, LYRC members engaged with local landowners and community members, considered regional impacts, and conducted site visits to develop recommendations to FWP, to include:
- A scoring matrix for evaluating land acquisitions and other opportunities aimed at improving public access and habitat conservation
- Overall management approaches that maximize diverse recreational opportunities, prioritizing those where access is most limited
- A list of existing or potential future opportunities for public access and/or habitat conservation
- Needed amenities, safety features, and economic growth considerations at access points
- Strategies for securing long-term funding needs
During the 2021 legislative session, FWP secured $4 million in state spending authority to support this effort. The LYRC Committee is well on its way to meeting its goal of submitting a report of recommendations to FWP by January 2022 or earlier. Its next in-person meeting to refine recommendations will be held in Miles City on Nov. 8.
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