New Montana FWP Director Promises to Support Employees

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - Early this month, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte announced that Christy Clark, the former Director of the Montana Department of Agriculture has been chosen to lead Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

I spoke with Clark on Friday about her new role in state government, and she described how Governor Gianforte approached her to head FWP.

Governor Gianforte Convinced Clark to Head Fish Wildlife and Parks

“He said, ‘Hey, I have a great idea,” began Clark. “And he said, ‘Let's think through this. And I said, you know what that is? That’s a great idea. Once you start to think about putting Agriculture and Fish, Wildlife and Parks together, and you realize how much those two industries are intertwined, it makes complete sense, and so it was a consensus between the two of us that is was a great idea.”

Clark said the two agencies deal with much the same issues, collaboration and cooperation.

“In agricultural production, a big component of that comes with cooperation and a partnership with our ag producers, and so what I really see my job as is building consensus and collaboration between these two entities,” she said. “Like I said, they already overlap, and they already have a very valuable partnership, and I'm just looking for ways to expand that, to further the state of Montana.”

Clark Wants to Pursue Management of Grizzly Bears in Montana

One specific area Clark spoke of is the future possible management of grizzly bears in Montana.

“I reflect on the last 50 years, and Montana has learned a lot about the grizzly bear, and we've come a long way,” she said. “I know that our agency, the Fish Wildlife and Parks agency, is very enthusiastic about taking control of state management of grizzly bears, and I suspect that we're going to see that coming in the near future.”

Clark Promises Her Full Support to all FWP Employees

Clark said more and more people will be coming into the state through tourism, hunting and fishing, and she wants every employee at FWP to know that she supports them.

“Part of the governor's agenda is to create more opportunity for the public to enjoy our great outdoors, and so that does put pressure on our park systems,” she said. “It’s really important to me to make sure that leadership at Fish, Wildlife and Parks is supportive of those efforts and those people on the front lines, and I want to make sure that they have the support from the director's office all the way through leadership.”

Clark and her husband have raised three children on their family ranch in Montana.