Recreation Landscape in Montana Is As Diverse As the Lands Our Public Agencies Manage
43 SUPPLY AND PREFERENCES OF OUTDOOR RECREATION RESOURCES 44 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 3 RECREATION LANDSCAPEIN MONTANA The recreation landscape in Montana is as diverse as the lands our public agencies manage. Federal, state, Tribal, and local agencies manage 40% of the total land base in Montana, while the other 60% 45 is in private land ownership. This section describes the roles and importance of major recreation providers in Montana including federal, state, and local agencies in more detail. Collectively, these agencies play a unique and vital role in providing and supporting diverse public outdoor recreation experiences throughout the state. While it is impossible to highlight every agency and organization relevant to outdoor recreation in Montana, particularly non-profits and the private sector, the most significant providers and public land managers that impact recreation statewide are highlighted in this section. The Montana SCORP only focuses on the public land management agencies. As part of the collaborative efforts for SCORP, Montana State Parks requested agencies to draft a narrative of their role in providing recreation in Montana. A template was provided to guide the development of the narrative. The following section includes the narratives provided by each agency, in the agency’s own words, for their role as public outdoor recreation providers in the state, their mission, visitation levels, agency trends, and challenges faced in the coming years. RECREATION LANDSCAPE IN MONTANA COMMON THEMES A number of themes emerged from the agency narratives that discuss similar challenges public land agencies are facing in managing outdoor recreation opportunities and facilities, including decreasing budgets and deferred maintenance.
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