A recent incident on Montana’s legendary Blackfoot River has sparked outrage among anglers, conservationists, and river users alike. A viral video showing a SHERP all-terrain vehicle driving directly through the River Junction Hole has raised serious concerns over habitat destruction, water quality, and regulatory oversight.
We spoke to Kyle Rausch, a fly fishing guide who first shared the footage of the vehicle operating in and across the river repeatedly, stirring up mud, moss, and debris with each crossing. Kyle spoke to the fact that this is the first time he has ever seen anything like this in his 25 years of guiding in the area. “I had the pleasure of playing leapfrog with it for a couple of hours as the amount of debris this machine was kicking up was making it hard for my clients to fish”. He wrote “All the weed control businesses I know use boats and rafts. This was tearing up the river so bad we had to wait every time it would cross upstream of us. I would share this and get the word out—we don’t want this kind of crap tearing up our river!”
The area in question, River Junction Hole, is not only a popular section for fishing but also a sensitive stretch of habitat for native fish and aquatic species. Kyle had just got done showing his clients a school of pre-spawn bull trout that were staging up in the hole shown in the video. Kyle also informed us about “hoot owl restrictions” which are fishing restrictions put in place after 2pm in order to protect trout from high water temperatures during the most sensitive times of the day. Driving heavy equipment through it, particularly without proper permits, can do serious damage to the stream bed, displace wildlife, and degrade water quality downstream.
No Permit. No Excuse.
Shortly after the video began circulating, Montana Trout Unlimited issued a public statement:
“We’ve received multiple messages about a recent video circulating regarding a vehicle driving in the upper Blackfoot. The group in question were contractors performing weed control for Powell County, but were using the vehicle in the river without a permit. [Montana FWP] is investigating the incident for potential citations and the work has been stopped.”
The operator of the SHERP initially stated that they had permission from the Powell County Sheriff’s Department and were even bragging about the purchase of their new machine. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is now reviewing the case and may issue citations for illegal stream bed alteration. According to state law, any modification to a stream or its banks, especially when involving heavy machinery, requires a 310 permit from the local Conservation District.
Why It Matters
This isn’t just about muddy water. Stream bed alterations, especially unauthorized ones, can have lasting ecological consequences, including:
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Destroying spawning gravel for trout and other native species
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Increasing sediment load and reducing water clarity
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Disrupting aquatic insect life critical to the food chain
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Setting a dangerous precedent for future misuse
The Blackfoot River, immortalized by A River Runs Through It, is more than just a fishing destination, it’s a symbol of Montana’s wild heritage and a crucial watershed worth protecting.
How You Can Help
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Stay vigilant and speak up when you see potential violations.
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Report illegal stream bed or bank activity to Montana FWP and your local Conservation District.
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Support organizations like Trout Unlimited that are working to protect our coldwater fisheries.
This event is a reminder that conservation doesn’t just happen on the policy level—it starts with people on the water, paying attention, and demanding better.
What travesty. Thank you for bringing this to the attention of those in authority.