After years of planning, the stream made famous in the fly fishing book and movie featuring Brad Pitt, “A River Runs Through It,” will soon be open to all.
The Interior Department this week announced plans to buy thousands of acres in Montana’s Lower Blackfoot River watershed that gave author Norman Maclean a classic.
Secretary David Bernhardt said the plan is to work with the Nature Conservancy to buy 13,000 acres of private land and eventually open it to anglers, campers, floaters, and others while also keeping forest management projects.
“From the very beginning of my tenure, public access is a critical component to how we manage lands. Acquiring these lands dramatically increases access to public lands available for recreational activities such as fishing, hiking, hunting, mountain biking and snowmobiling,” said Bernhardt.
It is the latest initiative from President Trump’s Interior Department to expand access on federal land to those wishing to take advantage of the outdoors.
Once completed, the area around Missoula would be overseen by the Bureau of Land Management.
Interior highlighted the aspects of the Blackfoot River that Maclean focused on, and actor Pitt displayed as the tragic but magical fly angler in the book.
“The Blackfoot River’s waters are cold and fast with many deep spots, which makes it an ideal habitat for several trout species. The river is also a destination for many floaters, and excellent big game hunting opportunities abound in the area,” said Interior.
It plans to use money from Sportsman’s Access funds allocated by Congress from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It plans to spend $3 million to acquire approximately 4,800 acres of the 13,000 acres later this year.
