John Owen Fishing Access Site Name Change Proposal
Apr 25, 2025 9:32 AM
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks proposes to change the name of John Owen Fishing Access Site (FAS) to John and Nancy Owen FAS. The FAS is located along the Bitterroot River near Stevensville. FWP is taking comment on the proposal through May 9, 2025, and details are provided below.
Current Name: John Owen Fishing Access Site
Proposed Name: John and Nancy Owen Fishing Access Site
Background/Reason for Change:
This site was previously known as Stevensville Bridge, and was an informal area where the public accessed the river. When Myla Yahraus donated 6.25 acres to FWP to develop an official Fishing Access Site in 2018, she originally suggested the name “John Owen Fishing Access Site” to honor the location’s history. Major John Owen arrived in the Bitterroot Valley in 1850 and established a fort close to where the FAS is today.
FWP, after consulation with the previous landowner, proposes changing the name to John and Nancy Owen FAS because Nancy Owen was also an important part of the area's history. Nancy was Shoshone and John Owen’s wife. She was an avid angler, and the Fort Owen journals are filled with references to her fishing. Many of the journal entries about Nancy discuss her riding her horse to the river to go fishing, or to gather plants.
In addition, Nancy Owen owned half the land associated with Fort Owen in her own name, and was an integral part of the Fort’s operations.
FWP’s Design and Construction Bureau plans to construct new infrastructure at the FAS during spring/summer 2025, which will include new signage. FWP proposes changing the name of the site to John and Nancy Owen FAS before new signs are created.
Ben Dickinson, FWP Regional Recreation Manager, discussed this change with Myla Yahraus given her land donation, and her original request that the site be named for John Owen. She expressed support for naming the site John and Nancy Owen Fishing Access Site.
Public Comment Opportunity
Deadline: Comments will be accepted from April 25, 2025, through May 9, 2025.
Written comments can be mailed to:
Montana FWP Region 2
Attn: Ben Dickinson
3201 Spurgin Road
Missoula, MT 59804
Emailed comments can be sent to bdickinson@mt.gov