The Madison and Gallatin mountain ranges in southwest Montana are located just outside Yellowstone National Park, extending roughly 155 miles across Montana and bordering some of the fastest-growing communities in the state including Bozeman, Big Sky, Livingston, and West Yellowstone. Given the rapid growth and change in the Madison-Gallatin region, a politically viable solution that protects this landscape from encroaching development and increasing motorized use is critical. The Greater Yellowstone Conservation and Recreation Act (GYCRA) is proposed legislation that will permanently protect 250,000 acres of public land in this region.
GYCRA will protect vital connectivity and wildlife habitat for grizzly bears, elk, osprey, native cutthroat trout, bobcats, bighorn sheep, and more in the Madison and Gallatin mountain ranges. The legislation will also protect high-quality hunting, fishing, and recreation access in the Madison and Gallatin mountain ranges, including connections to land and water that enhance quality of life and support southwest Montana’s outdoor recreation economy. The Gallatin Forest Partnership (GFP) – a coalition of recreationists, business owners, sportsmen, landowners and conservationists who call the Madison and Gallatin ranges home – reached an agreement to protect this landscape. Over the next year, Wild Montana will focus on engaging individuals, Tribes, businesses, user groups, and organizations to demonstrate bipartisan support.
