Last month, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission adopted new boating rules on a number of waters in northwest Montana. These rules are now in effect, and they include:
Church Slough: Church Slough will be closed to boating annually from March 1 to April 10 to protect resting waterfowl.
Fennon Slough: Boating on Fennon Slough is restricted to a controlled no-wake speed, year-around. The Commission adopted this rule primarily to control bank erosion.
Flathead River Forks: These rules were already in place under authority of the U. S. Forest Service; by adopting these rules, the FWP Commission established that state game wardens can enforce the rules:
–The North Fork of the Flathead River is closed to all motorboats from the Canadian border to the Camas Bridge; and is closed to all motorboats with motors greater than 10 horsepower from Camas Bridge to the confluence of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River.
–The Middle Fork of the Flathead River is closed to all motorboats from the (Great Bear)Bob Marshall Wilderness boundary to the Highway 2 Bridge at Essex; and is closed to all motorboats with motors greater than 10 horsepower from the Highway 2 Bridge at Essex to the confluence of the South Fork of the Flathead River.
–The South Fork of the Flathead River is closed to all motorboats from Spotted Bear Footbridge to the Bob Marshall Wilderness boundary; and is closed to all motorboats with motors greater than 10 horsepower from Spotted Bear Foot Bridge to Hungry Horse Reservoir at full pool (3850 feet elevation).
Alvord and Kilbrennan Lakes in Lincoln County: Boating is limited to controlled no-wake speed year-around. This rule was proposed by the U. S. Forest Service and the Lincoln County commissioners to address safety and boating conflicts.