12.7.1401    COOPERATIVE FISHING ACCESS AGREEMENTS

(1) The department may provide monetary benefits under 87-1-285 , MCA, to a landowner who enters into a cooperative agreement with the department to allow public fishing access across or on the landowner's property.

(2) In determining whether or not to enter into a cooperative agreement and/or the amount of monetary benefits paid under the agreement, the department shall evaluate the public benefit of acquiring access to the site. The department shall use the 2002 private land fishing access scoring form to make this evaluation. This form is incorporated by reference as part of this rule and is available from the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Fisheries Division, 1420 East Sixth Ave., P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.

(3) The score a site receives on the 2002 fishing access scoring form will determine the amount of landowner benefits, if any, that the department offers to the landowner for the purpose of acquiring fishing access.

(4) Compensation schedules will be prorated biennially to conform to legislative appropriations for the program.

History: 87-1-285, MCA; IMP, 87-1-285, MCA; NEW, 2003 MAR p. 304, Eff. 2/28/03.