A River Runs Through It Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 9, 2026

Contacto:
Keagan Zoellner
Montana Mountain Mamas State Director
keagan@mtnmamas.org
406.871.2153

Over Two Decades of Collaboration from Montana Residents in Blackfoot River Watershed Results in “A River Runs Through It” Legislation

Congressman Ryan Zinke Introduces Bill to Support Timber, Agriculture, Recreation, and Conservation

Missoula, MT MISSOULA, MT: Today, in longtime Montana outfitter Smoke Elser’s barn, U.S. Congressman Ryan Zinke introduced the “A River Runs Through It” bill, a thoughtful, Montana-made legislative solution to large landscape management along the Blackfoot River watershed, spanning from Lincoln to Clearwater Junction, and through the Blackfoot and Clearwater valleys.

The Mountain Mamas are proud and honored to have worked in collaboration with many diverse interest groups and Montana residents for over 15 years in support of this legislation. “As Montana moms, we raise our families outside, teaching our children to fish, float, and cherish the wild spaces that define our communities. Today, we are absolutely thrilled to stand in strong support of Congressman Ryan Zinke as he introduces the ‘A River Runs Through It’ Bill to Congress. This visionary piece of legislation represents a historic milestone for our state’s conservation heritage, ensuring our most iconic landscapes remain healthy and productive for generations to come,” stated Mountain Mamas Montana State Director Keagan Zoellner.

By listening to local communities, families, timber industry professionals, recreationalists and conservationists, Congressman Zinke is advancing this Montana-made, commonsense, balanced approach that protects our state’s outdoor recreation economy while providing durable protections to our cherished public lands.

The ‘A River Runs Through It’ Bill is a love letter to the Montana way of life. It honors our outdoor heritage and secures a bright, wild future for our kids. We commend Congressman Zinke for his steadfast dedication to the Last Best Place, and we look forward to working alongside him to champion this critical legislation through Congress.

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Mountain Mamas is a Montana-based non-profit organization that educates, inspires, and activates moms to protect our air, water, climate and public lands for the next generation.