smith river

Jennifer Ferenstein writes, "Having floated and fished the Smith River several times with my family, I know that it is a special place deserving of our careful stewardship.

The State Parks and Recreation Board passed a rule related to commercial outfitters on the Smith River, including a section on how revoked or abandoned outfitting permits would be reissued.

A coalition of environmental organizations opposed to mining in the Smith River watershed delivered a petition signed by about 10,000 people to the U.S. Forest Service urging it to withdraw mineral leases granted to a mining company.

The Montana Supreme Court on Monday overturned a district court decision that blocked a proposed 1,888-acre mine near Sheep Creek, which feeds into the Smith River watershed.

Lezlie Pearce-Hopper and Warren Hopper write, "As a Smith River landowner, it’s refreshing to know that an increasing majority of Montanans favor protecting the state’s finest natural attributes over developing them."