Colin Maas on the past, present and future of management of the Smith River

After more than 40 years and 1,200 holes, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has dug its last pit latrine on the Smith River. 

Starting this year, floaters are now required to carry with them something they have always been able to leave behind - their excrement.

According to FWP, the Smith River corridor was the only permitted river in the lower 48 that did not require people to pack out human waste.

In early April, I joined personnel from the U.S Forest Service, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and volunteers from the Montana Vet Program on a five-day trip down the river to remove and raft out the latrines, officially ushering in the new era of recreational management on the river.

On this episode I sit down with Colin Maas, manager of Smith River State Park, to talk about the past present and future of managing the river.