A surge of recreation activity in 2020 revealed a need to look closely at recreation use and impacts in the Blackfoot watershed. Blackfoot community members and partners began discussing the value of approaching recreation with the same ridgetop-to-ridgetop lens as other programs developed by the Blackfoot Challenge. Ultimately, the Challenge formed a Recreation Committee – a diverse group of people representing agriculture, local businesses, outfitters, conservation groups, and local, state, and federal land management agencies – and hired a coordinator to launch the program in 2024.

Partners and community members crafted a shared vision that: 

The level and character of recreational use in the Blackfoot watershed is well-balanced and supports high-quality natural resources, recreational infrastructure, and user experiences, while also maintaining and supporting healthy, vibrant rural communities.