Camp Fortunate on Clark Canyon Reservoir is one of the 

 many state provided water-based recreation areas. 

 Immediately across the reservoir are facilities of the 

 Beaverhead Camp Area. It was at this site where Lewis 

 and Clark cached their dugouts in 1805 and headed 

 overland by horseback. 



Recreational areas and access points are being provided 

 along our unique and valuable river waterways. 

 Recreation ists who float the nation's last wild stretch of 

 the Missouri River, Montana's famed Missouri River 

 recreational waterway, will see many historic and lovely 

 sites such as Citadel Rock which stands like a great 

 fortress above the river. 



This is a particularly popular program with the 

 sportsmen and landowners as it provides legal 

 access for the recreationist and has gone a long way 

 toward solving serious trespass problems. 



Land Acquisition 



Efforts in this program during the biennium 

 have emphasized the purchase of lands desirable 

 for water oriented recreation. Prices for this type 

 of property are accelerating at a rapid rate. It is felt 

 that important areas for this purpose should be 

 acquired as rapidly as possible even though 

 development may have to wait for some time. 



Careful planning is required to assure the 

 greatest benefit to the recreationist from available 

 funds. Close cooperation with federal and other 

 state agencies makes it possible to gain 

 administrative control over certain areas witliout 

 necessitating acquisition by fee title. Donations 

 and gifts of land by individuals have also been 

 helpful. 



Fee titles were acquired to «40 acres of land at 



nine sites by purchase and several sites were 

 acquired by exchange of land deemed surplus. 

 Payments in lieu of taxes are made on most of the 

 land owned and like other landowners, this cost is 

 continuing upward. 



The Legislature will be requested to approve 

 additional funds for land acquisition and in turn to 

 clarify the procedures for disposition of surplus 

 portions of state parks. 



Preservation of Historic Sites 



National legislation (a National Act for the 

 Preservation of Historic Sites-Public Law 89-665) 

 followed by appropriate state level action gave the 

 responsibility for administration of this program to 

 the Recreation and Parks Division of the 

 department. This is a Grant-ln-Aid program and 

 will require an appropriation of state funds for its 

 implementation. This program can be extremely 

 important in the preservation of Montana's historic 

 past. 



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