Outrage on the Blackfoot: Amphibious Vehicle Sparks Environmental Backlash

When Montana fishing guide Kyle Rausch posted a video of a hulking amphibious vehicle churning through the Blackfoot River’s fragile trout habitat, he didn’t just capture a moment—he lit the fuse on a firestorm of ecological outrage and regulatory scrutiny.

Rausch’s (Instagram user the_reel_406) video was quickly shared by many prompting Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) to issue a public statement and a cease-and-desist warning to Powell County, which contracted the firm seen using the vehicle. Such actions require a “Stream Protection Act Permit (SPA124 Permit)” which was not sought and likely would have been denied.

"As a born and raised Montanan and an outfitter in Montana for 25 years I have never seen something so atrocious," Rausch said. "The lack of concern for the environment and disrespect for the Blackfoot River could have devastating impacts on the ecosystem as a whole.  We cannot allow this type of behavior on our public lands." His video can be viewed here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DM87COmyWm7/.

“Once our fisheries staff was made aware of the video, and after further investigation, they reached out to Powell County to immediately stop the use of a vehicle driving in the river,” said the FWP statement.

The county hired the firm for weed control, which had been done via raft in the past.

Longtime Blackfoot River advocate and co-owner of the Blackfoot Angler Fly Shop Kathy Schoendorfer shared her concerns with Lee Newspapers.

“I got people storming in here and going, ‘What the hell?’” she said. “There's just no way to think that this could do any good to the environment at all.”

The incident came at a bad time as the Blackfoot is currently under Hoot Owl Restrictions due to warm water that stresses trout.

“A whole lot of people saw, and my biggest fear is people are going to think, ‘Oh, we can now take recreational vehicles in the river,’” added Schoendorfer.

Such vehicles are commonly known as "Sherp" ATVs or amphibious all-terrain vehicles (AATVs), and feature massive, ultra-low-pressure tires that allow them to traverse water, swamps, rough terrain, and rivers with ease. They can go up to 4 miles per hour in water.

Similar incidents have been reported on rivers like Washington’s Skagit, which is facing a similar crisis for its declining wild steelhead.

“Actions like these seen in the video can have a negative impact on habitat and the fishery of the Blackfoot River both of which are already experiencing difficult conditions this summer,” continued the FWP statement. “Simply put, operating a motor vehicle impacting Montana's stream bed should not happen without a permit whether it’s along the Blackfoot or any stream across the state. We must protect Montana’s natural resources and enforce the law. FWP will continue to investigate this matter regarding future citations of the responsible parties.”

With a little luck, events like these will bring attention to our rivers’ delicate ecosystems and will help prevent similar incidents in the future.

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