Bill to Protect East Rosebud Heads to President’s Desk

Montana Delegation’s Landmark Bill Will Designate East Rosebud as “Wild and Scenic”

(U.S. Congress)—The bipartisan legislation to protect the East Rosebud Creek is on its way to the President’s desk.

The Senate today passed Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines and Congressman Greg Gianforte’s bill that will protect 20 miles of the East Rosebud in south-central Montana as part of the Wild and Scenic River System.

“The East Rosebud will be a destination for Montanans who love to fish, hike, and float for years to come,” Tester said. “Getting this bill to the President’s desk was a bipartisan effort and it was led by the folks on the ground who access this river year-round. Because of their hard work, a Montana stream will be designated as ‘Wild and Scenic’ for the first time in a generation.”

“After years of work and strong community support, the East Rosebud will now be protected as a Wild and Scenic River,” said Daines. “Having spent time in this beautiful place, I know how important it is to our Montana way of life and outdoor economy. I’m glad that we could work together in passing this bill and look forward to seeing the President sign it into law. I’ll be visiting the East Rosebud again soon with my family.”

“With the House passing the bill unanimously last week and the Senate passing it today, momentum is on our side, and we’re one step closer to conserving East Rosebud Creek for generations of Montanans to come. This is a win for the people of Carbon County and for all Montanans who have worked so hard for so long to protect East Rosebud,” Gianforte said. “I look forward to President Trump signing this bill into law and to getting back to East Rosebud soon.”

The Senate passed legislation to designate the East Rosebud as “wild and scenic” last December. The House of Representatives passed a similar bill earlier this month. The Senate today passed the House version of the bill, therefore sending it to the President.

East Rosebud Creek originates in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and flows out to the prairie where it joins the Yellowstone River just west of Columbus. No private land will be impacted by this legislation.

“Friends of East Rosebud, after bills in the past three congressional sessions, greatly appreciate the bipartisan work of Senators Tester, Danies and Congressman Gianforte,” said Leslie Ziegler, President Friends of East Rosebud. “This bill will protect the East Rosebud Creek for generations to come. People come from all over the world to the East Rosebud to live, raise families, hike and enjoy the splendors of the area. Often referred to as the “Alps of Montana” the East Rosebud provides great economic value to surrounding communities.”

In 1968, Congress passed the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to preserve rivers with cultural and recreational value in their free-flowing condition for present and future generations. Less than one-half of one percent of Montana’s approximately 170,000 miles of river is designated as “wild and scenic.”