The first stage of understanding recreation-related issues was to gather input from Blackfoot community members and user groups. In fall 2024, we hosted a series of six meetings and two workshops across the watershed to collect perspectives on and connection to Blackfoot recreation. A report of the meetings was produced by our partners with the University of Montana Parks, Tourism and Recreation Management Program. Click on the button below to view the Community Perspectives on Recreation in the Blackfoot Watershed 2025 Report.

From there, recreation partners established long-term data collection and monitoring protocols to collect baseline visitor use and impact information. This cross-jurisdictional, collaborative effort launched during the 2025 summer season. In partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, the Blackfoot Challenge team began collecting information on the social dynamics at several fishing access sites as well as recreational land use on public lands in the Lower Blackfoot.

To learn more about recreation data collection, contact our Recreation Coordinator Marley Held-Wilson.