Petition Banning Motorized Travel on Shields River Advances

News Type: State Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle
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A petition to ban motorized boats on the Shields River moved forward this week after Montana officials voted to draft new rules addressing the issue.

Jeff Welch, a landowner on the Shields River east of Livingston, presented his petition to the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission at a virtual meeting Thursday. The petition requests a ban on motorized use of the Shields River from its headwaters to its confluence with the Yellowstone River, citing concerns over public safety.

Jet boats traveling at high speeds have increasingly used the river, putting children, livestock, irrigation equipment, floaters and anglers at risk, Welch said. He worries a collision is likely, as the river is narrow, shallow and has many sharp bends.