Eagle Creek on the Missouri River Recreational Waterway. This was 

 campsite for Lewis and Clark in 1805. 



RECREATION AND PARKS 



The two years covered in this report have 

 been especially eventful in the field of outdoor 

 recreation throughout the nation. This increased 

 emphasis has been felt in Montana in many 

 ways. A Division of Recreation was organized 

 in the Fish and Game Department in 1963 and 

 was expanded to Recreation and Parks in mid- 

 1965. This broadening of scope and increased 

 responsibility was brought about by a series 

 of important events. 



Early in 1964 the Montana Fish and Game 

 Department was designated by the Governor 

 as the official state recreation agency. This 

 action was further spelled out by the State 

 Legislative Assembly in the passage of the 

 assent to the Land and Water Conservation 

 Fund Act of 1965. (Sec. 62-402, 62-403, Fish and 

 Game Codes, State of Montana). This legisla- 

 tion charged the Fish and Game Department 

 with the responsibility of preparing a compre- 

 hensive Statewide Outdoor Recreation Plan and 



representing the State in the implementation 

 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund 

 Act (1965). 



Additional legislation (Sec. 62-301, Fish and 

 Game Codes) moved the administration of State 

 Parks from the Highway Commission to the 

 jurisdiction of the Fish and Game Commission 

 as of July 1, 1965. Also the Powers and Duties 

 of the Fish and Game Commission (Sec. 26-104) 

 were amended to clarify the handling of sur- 

 plus lands as well as making possible the 

 acquisition of recreation lands by easement in 

 addition to the already existing authority of 

 purchase or lease. 



The state's spaciousness, coupled with a 

 wealth of scenic resources and a wide variety 

 of recreational opportunities, has moved outdoor 

 recreation into a position of major importance. 

 The proper coordination of recreation with 

 other natural resource programs of Montana is 

 highly important and requires careful planning. 



24 



