On the recordDecember 17, 2010
I thank the Senator. In 1975, I introduced the bill to designate the Flathead River as a Wild and Scenic River. It was designated as such a year later. For me, that began a lifelong effort to protect the North Fork. At that time I said: A hundred years from now, and perhaps much sooner, those who follow us will survey what we have left behind . . . let us leave the Flathead as we found it. Let us prove that we care about those who will come after us. Today, this small step demonstrates that with cooperation between our two nations, between the Province and the State, we can ensure that every Montanan, every American, and every Canadian who follows us will survey the North Fork of the Flathead River and share our feeling of awestruck wonder that such a place still exists. ____________________
