AGP Executive Report

Public Lands Fight: The Trump administration has proposed rescinding the 2001 “Roadless Rule,” which has limited roads and logging across about 44–45 million acres of national forest, including major stretches in Montana, arguing it will help managers tackle wildfire risk, insects, and disease. Local Impact in Montana: Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte praised the move as restoring flexibility for wildfire management, while critics warn it could open habitat and watersheds to more industrial activity and increase fire risk by bringing more roads and people into remote areas. FWP Water & Fishing Updates: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks lifted some hoot-owl fishing restrictions on select western Montana streams as water temperatures cooled, while keeping other drought-related closures in place. Aquatic Leadership: FWP named Leo Rosenthal as the new regional fisheries manager for Region 1, bringing nearly two decades of fisheries experience to northwest Montana. Drought Context Beyond Montana: North Dakota activated livestock water assistance as drought worsened, highlighting how dry conditions are pressuring ranching operations across the region.

Public Lands Rollback: The Trump administration has filed a proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which has protected about 44–45 million acres of national forest— including major roadless areas in Montana—from new roads and logging, with USDA arguing local control will help wildfire and forest health work. Wildfire Debate: Supporters say more active management is needed; critics counter that roads can increase fire starts and fragmentation, and note overwhelming public comments urged keeping the rule. Montana Fishing Update: Montana FWP is lifting hoot-owl fishing restrictions on select western and southwest Montana streams as water cools, while keeping some drought and hoot-owl limits in place. Drought Relief Elsewhere in the Region: North Dakota activated a $2 million livestock water assistance program after declaring a drought disaster, offering cost-share for wells, pipelines, and related upgrades. Grizzly Recovery Conversation: A new “Working Wild University” season explores grizzly bear recovery and what state and tribal management changes could mean for people sharing landscapes. Local Fire Safety: Jefferson County and FWP lands near Whitehall moved into Stage I fire restrictions, tightening campfire and smoking rules.

FWP Public Input: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks opened a corrected 10-day comment period on a proposed term conservation easement south of Moore, clarifying a permanent access-easement component and adjusting the purchase price to $3.491 million; comments are due by 5 p.m. Aug. 21. Climate & Wildlife: Cornell research on U.S. data-center emissions is being widely misread online, with a “cars” comparison overstating the study’s own vehicle-equivalent translation; separate coverage highlights the American pika as a climate barometer as alpine snowpack declines. Water & Fish: FWP lifted some “hoot-owl” fishing closures in western Montana after cooler conditions eased stream temperatures, while Park City residents report basement flooding and raw sewage overflow tied to drainage/septic problems. Enforcement Leadership: FWP named Pete Glowacki as the new head of the wardens’ Enforcement Division as the agency works to reset culture after prior morale and trust concerns. Grizzlies & Wolves: A grizzly management plan comment period nears its close, and FWP is recommending a wolf harvest quota cut after updated population estimates. Energy & Permitting: A $2B Bridger Pipeline expansion faces a Montana DEQ waiver withdrawal, and a Laurel forensic mental health center fight centers on whether water/sewer needs were fully considered.

Climate & Wildlife: Montana’s alpine pika is getting attention as a “hard-working” climate barometer, with warming and shrinking snowpack threatening high-elevation habitat. Water & Fisheries: FWP lifted some “hoot-owl” fishing closures in western Montana after cooler weather eased river temperatures. Public Lands & Safety: FWP is urging hikers to know what to do around mountain lions, especially where deer draw them near yards and foothills. Agency Leadership: Montana FWP’s enforcement division brought in new chief Pete Glowacki after prior internal reviews raised concerns about leadership and morale. Grizzlies: The public comment period on Montana’s grizzly management plan is nearing its close, with big questions about shifting more control to states. Wolf Policy: FWP’s proposed cut to the wolf harvest quota is set for debate after concerns about how wolf numbers were estimated. Local Water Infrastructure: A Laurel forensic mental health center faces a lawsuit over whether environmental review properly covered water needs, with the state arguing it could use eminent domain to connect services. Wildlife Health: Epizootic hemorrhagic disease was confirmed in a dead deer in Richfield, Wisconsin, highlighting ongoing disease risks to deer populations.

Counter-Drone Training at F.E. Warren: The U.S. Air Force plans to buy Chinese-made DJI drones to simulate real-world threats for counter-drone drills around the Minuteman III nuclear missile complex, underscoring how small unmanned aircraft are now a security priority near strategic infrastructure. Prairie Dog Conservation Tech: Montana researchers tested drone-dropped peanut-butter vaccine baits in 2016 as a way to slow sylvatic plague and protect black-footed ferrets, showing how wildlife medicine and aerial delivery could scale disease control. Bear-Safety Rule Push: Montana conservation and animal-rights groups petition Montana FWP to require hunters and trappers to carry bear spray and to conduct mandatory 24-hour trap checks, arguing it’s both a public-safety and grizzly-protection measure. Elk-Kootenai Watershed Planning: The International Elk-Kootenai/y Watershed Study Board will release its draft final report Sept. 30, starting a public comment period through Oct. 16 on water quality, human health, ecosystem impacts, and mitigation. Coal Mine Expansion Review Fight: A cross-border coalition is urging an independent review of Glencore’s proposed Fording River coal mine expansion in B.C., citing selenium pollution impacts that have long flowed into Montana and Idaho. Wildfire Safety in Spain: A wildfire in Aragón’s Peñas de Riglos area continues to be fought after a soldier died in an accident, with evacuations still affecting more than 1,000 people.

Watershed Planning: The International Elk-Kootenai/y Watershed Study Board will release its draft Final Report Sept. 30, kicking off a public comment period through Oct. 16, with virtual and in-person meetings planned and input focused on water quality, human health, ecosystem impacts, and mitigation. PFAS in Schools: Helena Public Schools says “forever chemicals” were detected at Jim Darcy Elementary and earlier at Rossiter Elementary, with more testing needed to confirm whether the source is school wells; officials say it won’t delay the start of school. Wildlife Protection Fight: Conservation groups petition Montana FWP for mandatory bear spray and 24-hour trap checks ahead of hunting season, arguing it’s about public safety and protecting grizzlies. Fisheries Management Update: FWP released its proposed 2027–2030 Statewide Fisheries Management Plan and draft environmental assessment for public review, with a Billings meeting Aug. 18. Mining Expansion Pressure: A cross-border coalition is urging an independent review of Glencore’s proposed Fording River coal mine expansion in B.C., warning selenium contamination could keep flowing into Montana and Idaho. Energy Demand & Data Centers: A draft Northwest power plan calls for adding 11 gigawatts of new generation in five years, citing data center growth as a major driver of uncertainty. Local Ballot Clash: A nonprofit backing local control over data center decisions sued Butte-Silver Bow County after a signature deadline was changed to a past date.

Grizzly Bear Protections Under Fire: A coalition of groups says the Trump administration and Western governors want to loosen Endangered Species Act protections, making it easier for states to authorize grizzly killing in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, with public comments due Monday. Mine Expansion Cross-Border Fight: Montana, Idaho and Canadian partners are pushing for an independent review of Glencore’s Fording River coal mine expansion in B.C., warning that more waste rock could worsen selenium contamination flowing into Montana and Idaho. PFAS in Helena Schools: “Forever chemicals” were detected at Jim Darcy and earlier at Rossiter Elementary; Helena Public Schools says more testing is needed to confirm whether the source is school wells. Water and Habitat Work: DEQ finished stabilizing Libby Creek embankment damage from last December’s flood, and FWP began reintroducing Westslope cutthroat trout into Dutchman Creek after removing invasive trout. Fire Safety on FWP Lands: Stage 1 fire restrictions start Aug. 15 on FWP lands in Jefferson County, with additional restrictions also reported for Lake County. Energy Planning and Data Centers: A draft Northwest power plan urges adding major new generation by 2032, citing uncertainty from fast-growing data center demand. Local Rulemaking for Hunters/Trappers: Conservation groups petition Montana FWP for mandatory bear spray and 24-hour trap checks ahead of hunting season.

Grizzly Bear Rule Fight: The Trump administration and three Western governors are proposing to loosen Endangered Species Act protections for Lower 48 grizzlies, shifting more control to states; the public comment window runs until Monday. Cross-Border Coal Pressure: A Montana-led coalition is urging an independent review of Glencore’s proposed Fording River coal mine expansion in B.C., warning selenium pollution could keep harming the transboundary watershed that reaches Montana and Idaho. PFAS in Helena Schools: “Forever chemicals” were found at Jim Darcy and earlier at Rossiter Elementary; Helena schools say testing is ongoing and won’t delay the start of school. Wildlife & Water Updates: FWP is reintroducing Westslope cutthroat trout into Dutchman Creek after removing invasive trout, and DEQ finished stabilizing Libby Creek embankment damage from last December’s floods. Fire Risk on FWP Lands: Stage 1 fire restrictions start Aug. 15 on Jefferson County FWP properties, limiting campfires and other ignition sources. Energy Planning: A federal Northwest power draft calls for major new generation in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington—driven in part by data center growth. Mining Watch: DEQ is taking comments on a proposed exploration project near Lake Mary Ronan, including deep drilling and large daily water use. Hemp Policy: Montana hemp processors are praising a Senate delay of a proposed THC ban, buying time for a longer-term fix.

Wildfire & access: Crews are clearing Montana backcountry trails to keep public lands reachable despite smoky August conditions. Fire danger: FWP put Jefferson County lands under Stage 1 fire restrictions starting Aug. 15, with similar caution across dry, high-risk areas. Water quality: Helena Public Schools says PFAS “forever chemicals” found at Jim Darcy and later Rossiter won’t delay the start of school, though more testing is underway to confirm sources. Fisheries: FWP released its proposed 2027–2030 Statewide Fisheries Management Plan for public comment, and it also reintroduced Westslope cutthroat trout into Dutchman Creek after removing invasive trout. Habitat & wildlife: The Bison Range is seeing an uptick in calves and visitors, while a new paddlefish record from Sidney highlights ongoing fisheries monitoring. Mining & land use: DEQ is reviewing a draft environmental assessment for the Crossover Project near Lake Mary Ronan, and Libby Creek stabilization work after December flood damage is now complete.

PFAS in Helena schools: Helena Public Schools says “forever chemicals” found at Jim Darcy Elementary won’t delay the school year, but more testing is underway after PFAS turned up at Rossiter Elementary too, raising questions about whether the source is the schools’ own wells. Water cleanup after floods: Montana DEQ finished stabilizing a Libby Creek embankment damaged in December flooding, restoring a site tied to earlier asbestos remediation and seeking partial FEMA reimbursement. Fish restoration in the Elkhorn Mountains: FWP has begun reintroducing Westslope cutthroat trout to Dutchman Creek after removing invasive trout and confirming only minimal remaining brook trout. Mining near Lake Mary Ronan: DEQ released a draft environmental assessment for WRH Nevada’s Crossover exploration project on private land west of Lake Mary Ronan, with public comments due Aug. 27. Data center fight in Butte: A nonprofit sued Butte-Silver Bow County after a data center ballot initiative signature deadline was changed, aiming to let voters decide on data center development. Wildlife policy pressure: A federal proposal would shift grizzly bear management toward state control, with public comment due Aug. 17. Heat risk in Missoula: A new Missoula heat map highlights “heat island” hotspots tied to lack of shade and greenspace, pointing to where cooling efforts may matter most.

Grizzly Bear Rule Fight: The Trump administration and three Western governors are proposing to loosen Endangered Species Act protections for grizzlies, with public comments due Aug. 17—raising alarms in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Predator Protection for Ranchers: Sen. Steve Daines and Sen. Adam Schiff unveiled the Human-Wildlife Conflict Reduction Act, aiming to fund nonlethal tools like guard dogs and fencing to reduce wolf and bear livestock losses. Wildfire Updates: Firefighters protected Maverick Mountain’s ski lodge and Elkhorn Hot Springs as the Sand Creek Fire pushed through; crews also reported steady progress against the Ant Park Fire with cooler, wetter conditions helping. Energy & Power Reliability: Montana DEQ awarded $10.34M for rural grid resilience projects, including transmission upgrades near the Fort Peck Reservation. Heat & Public Health: Missoula’s new heat map highlights hot spots tied to lack of shade and greenspace, underscoring climate-linked urban heat risks. Local Conservation & Land Use: A Park Lake restoration project is underway with a new dam after seepage problems were found. Invasive Species Watch: Montana’s Central & Eastern Invasive Species Team is running a BioBlitz for the Eastern Heath Snail (Aug. 10–17). Data Center Pushback: The Fort Peck Tribes voted to ban future discussions with data center developers, citing lack of clear benefits.

Wildfire & smoke response: Crews are making progress on the Skillet Fire west of Olney, with containment rising to 39% as cooler weather and improving air quality move smoke out of Montana. Wildfire operations: The Sand Creek wildfire response was described as an “absolute firefight,” underscoring how fast conditions can shift in the West. Fire management updates: The Ant Park Fire near the Showdown Mountain Ski Area is up to 53% contained, helped by cooler temperatures and higher humidity. Energy resilience: DEQ awarded $10.34M for rural Montana grid upgrades, including a major transmission rebuild on the Fort Peck Reservation aimed at reducing wildfire risk and outages. Data centers & local control: Fort Peck Tribes voted to ban discussions with data center developers, while a Montana law (“Right to Compute”) is limiting what counties can do against proposed AI data centers. Invasive species watch: A one-week Montana bioblitz targets the Eastern Heath Snail, asking residents to report presence/absence during Aug. 10–17. Wildlife & people: A weak berry season is pushing bears toward subdivisions, with FWP reporting elevated bear incidents. Climate context: NOAA says July was the hottest month on record for the contiguous U.S., with drought and extreme weather impacts continuing. Disaster relief: FEMA designated 28 Montana counties as natural disaster areas from the Dec. 2025 winter storms, unlocking USDA emergency loans for producers.

Wildfire & public health: As wildfire smoke lingers across Montana, a Flathead Valley clinic reports COPD and asthma flare-ups while air quality hit “very unhealthy” levels, underscoring how fast smoke can turn into a health crisis. Fire restrictions: Montana FWP has issued Stage 1 fire restrictions for Lake County and other counties, with Stage 2 restrictions also moving onto some FWP lands in Granite and Mineral counties—campfires and smoking rules tighten as conditions stay dry. Climate impacts on land & wildlife: Missoula’s new heat map shows hidden temperature hotspots, helping communities target cooling and tree/green-space planning as summers warm and nights stay hotter. Water quality & pollution: Missoula is partnering with UM’s pesticide monitoring program to track emerging contaminants in Pattee Creek, aiming to understand runoff impacts and improve stormwater quality. Legal fights over development: A Butte-Silver Bow data center ballot fight is headed to court after a restraining order keeps the status quo while petitioners challenge a signature deadline. Energy & climate policy in court: A federal appeals court again rejected a youth climate challenge to Trump fossil-fuel and climate policies, leaving the U.S. Supreme Court as the last path. Wildlife recreation management: Yellowstone lifted most hoot-owl fishing limits as water temps improve, but some geothermal-influenced rivers remain closed or restricted. Outdoor safety: FWP also rolled out a wildlife-vehicle collision planning tool to guide where habitat crossings and road fixes could reduce crashes.

Wildlife & Roads: Montana’s Wildlife and Transportation Partnership tool is spotlighting where habitat crossings and safety upgrades could cut down on the state’s thousands of wildlife-vehicle collisions each year. Water Quality: Missoula is partnering with the University of Montana’s pesticide monitoring program after contaminants were found in Pattee Creek, with sampling aimed at tracking runoff impacts. Public Health (Smoke): Central Montana saw unhealthy air from wildfire smoke, with AQI readings in the “unhealthy” range and health concerns tied to fine particles. Recreation & Hunting Access: Missouri Headwaters State Park near Bozeman is rolling out a free online hunting lottery with assigned parking permits, plus updated maps and weapon limits. Algal Blooms: Harmful algal blooms are showing up in multiple Montana lakes, triggering advisories and closures in some areas. Mosquito-Borne Disease: West Nile virus has been detected in Montana mosquitoes in Roosevelt County, raising the risk of human illness through fall. Legal Fight (Bison Grazing): American Prairie is suing to block BLM’s revocation of federal bison grazing permits in Montana, arguing the agency is upending decades of settled practice. Grizzly Management Policy: The Interior Department is proposing changes that would shift grizzly bear management authority to states, drawing pushback from conservation groups.

Grizzly Bear Policy Fight: The Department of the Interior proposed shifting grizzly bear management to states under an Endangered Species Act section 4(d) change—an approach Montana and other states back, but critics warn it could weaken protections for a slow-reproducing species. Climate Heat Record: The U.S. logged its hottest month on record, with July 2026 tying and surpassing past extremes—another reminder of how heat and drought can drive wildfire risk and stress ecosystems. Wildfire Smoke & Health: Montana air quality alerts lingered in parts of the state as smoke moved in, and local groups taught residents how to build DIY air cleaners to reduce particle exposure. PFAS in Schools: Helena Public Schools reported “forever chemicals” detected at a Rossiter Elementary faucet after a similar preliminary PFAS finding at another school, with confirmation testing still required. Wolf Hunting Data Dispute: Montana’s wolf numbers and hunting quotas are under fresh scrutiny after FWP acknowledged its counting method may have overestimated wolves, raising calls for a moratorium on wolf killing. Water & Recreation Impacts: Heat is forcing fishing restrictions across the West, including Montana waters, to protect trout from lethal temperatures. Energy Rule Overturned: A federal appeals court struck down Biden-era stove and oven efficiency rules—an outcome that could affect energy policy debates that Montana regulators and residents are watching closely. Bison Grazing Lawsuits: Two federal lawsuits challenge a new BLM policy revoking bison grazing permits on Montana federal land, arguing it upends decades of settled management. Local Fire Restrictions: Stage 1 fire restrictions were put in place at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks sites in Lake County, limiting campfires and smoking due to dry conditions.

Wolf Management Under Fire: FWP says its iPOM 2.0 count puts Montana at about 725 wolves (down from 1,094), but longtime researchers argue it’s closer to 400—raising alarms as FWP proposes a 250-wolf quota and wolf-killing continues amid declining pack sizes. PFAS in Schools: Helena Public Schools reports “forever chemicals” detected at a faucet at Rossiter Elementary, following similar preliminary PFAS findings at Jim Darcy Elementary; DEQ confirmation testing is still needed. Bison Grazing Lawsuits: Two federal lawsuits challenge BLM’s move to revoke American Prairie’s Montana bison grazing permits, arguing the agency is changing rules under the Taylor Grazing Act. Heat-Driven Fishing Closures: Record heat and low flows are pushing river temperatures to lethal levels for trout, prompting fishing restrictions across the West, including Montana waters near Yellowstone. Wildfire Smoke Relief Efforts: A Flathead County air quality alert eased in places as smoke forecasts point to improving conditions with clouds and cooler weather later this week. Rabbit Virus Spreads: Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is confirmed near Tongue River Reservoir and in Billings, with officials warning it’s becoming a lasting part of Montana’s wildlife landscape. Wolf Hunting Area Changes: Proposed tweaks would reduce wolf harvest limits in the Yellowstone-adjacent Region 3 and specific management units, after FWP acknowledged counting may have overestimated wolf numbers. Climate Court Setback: A youth-led climate lawsuit challenging Trump fossil-fuel actions was dismissed again by the Ninth Circuit, leaving the case without further review. Appliance Rule Overturned: A federal appeals court struck down Biden-era stove and oven efficiency standards, including a Montana-led challenge.