Click play to listen to this article.

With the Montana Legislature scheduled to gavel in next week, conservation leaders are looking ahead at ways to protect the state's public lands, waterways and air quality.

Conservation groups are concerned the state's entire federal delegation and top statewide offices are now in the hands of anticonservation leaders.

Image

Senator Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, said given the loss of some environmental and conservation advocates it is important to protect the progress Montana has made, especially when it comes to water quality.

"Now more than ever, we have to stay incredibly vigilant about any erosion at all," Flowers emphasized.

Conservation groups said an anticonservation supermajority in the legislature was broken by picking up a dozen seats with candidates who support conservation efforts.

Longtime U.S. Senator Jon Tester, D-Mont., lost his reelection bid to Republican Tim Sheehy, despite being credited with protecting Montana's public lands and waterways. It is the first time in more than 110 years Montana has had a federal delegation advocates consider ant-conservation.

Niki Zupanic, conservation advocate and former deputy director and staff attorney at Upper Seven Law, said it will be important to craft a message for moderate lawmakers.

"Who are thinking about tourism, who are thinking about why people come to Montana to recreate here," Zupanic stressed.

Zupanic also highlighted a nonpartisan supporter of the environmentally friendly Montana Constitution being elected to the state Supreme Court as a bright spot for the state in 2025.