Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 77. STATE LANDS

CHAPTER 1. ADMINISTRATION OF STATE LANDS

Part 2. Board of Land Commissioners

Multiple-Use Management

77-1-203. Multiple-use management. (1) The board shall manage state lands under the multiple-use management concept defined as the management of all the various resources of the state lands so that:

(a) they are utilized in that combination best meeting the needs of the people and the beneficiaries of the trust, making the most judicious use of the land for some or all of those resources or related services over areas large enough to provide sufficient latitude for periodic adjustments in use to conform to changing needs and conditions and realizing that some land may be used for less than all of the resources; and

(b) harmonious and coordinated management of the various resources, each with the other, will result without impairment of the productivity of the land, with consideration being given to the relative values of the various resources.

(2) If a parcel of state land in one class has other multiple uses or resource values which are of such significance that they do not warrant classification for the value, the land shall, nevertheless, be managed insofar as is possible to maintain or enhance these multiple-use values.

(3) State lands, including those lands that are leased primarily for other purposes, are open to general recreational use subject to legal access and to closures and restrictions pursuant to rules adopted under 77-1-804.

(4) The department shall include in all new or renewal leases and licenses a provision that leased lands may not be closed at any time to the public for general recreational purposes without advance written permission of the department.

History: (1)En. Sec. 3, Ch. 60, L. 1927; re-en. Sec. 1805.3, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 113, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 67, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 428, L. 1973; Sec. 81-103, R.C.M. 1947; (2)En. Sec. 16, Ch. 60, L. 1927; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 428, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 8, L. 1974; Sec. 81-302, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 81-103(part), 81-302(part); amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 15, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 609, L. 1991.