The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission on Thursday approved a nonmotorized designation for a stretch of the Whitefish River.

The year-round rule brought forward by the city of Whitefish limits the river to manually and electric powered watercraft from the railroad trestle south of the Whitefish Lake outlet to the bridge on JP Road.

The rule amends a no-wake restriction that was established in 1989.

The commission’s unanimous vote Thursday in Bozeman reverses the panel’s original decision. In June, it rejected Whitefish’s petition for a year-round closure and asked Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to take public comment on a proposed seasonal closure.

Commissioner Gary Wolfe of Missoula said he changed his position after floating the stretch of river this summer.

“When I voted against this the first time, I was concerned about folks along river with docks,” he explained at the meeting. “On the day I floated, I saw numerous small docks in backyards. I did not see a single motorized craft either on the river or at those docks. I saw literally dozens of canoes, kayaks and paddleboards.”

“[The year-round restriction] seems like a reasonable request by the city. I’ve changed my position based on that trip to Whitefish and what I observed on a Sunday afternoon in late June.”

Commissioner Richard Stuker also changed his position. Originally, he said he was concerned about setting a precedent in the state, but he since learned there are other rivers in Montana with nonmotorized designations.

In making a motion to approve the city’s petition, Commission Chairman Don Vermillion noted the potential economic impact associated with the nonmotorized stretch of river.

“Whitefish is one of the more viable tourism communities in our state,” Vermillion said. “Anybody that looks at the economy of the state of Montana realizes what an incredibly crucial role tourism plays ... in this state’s economic health.”

“I hope this is successful — I think it will be.”

Whitefish Mayor John Muhlfeld applauded the decision.

“This is one more amentity that we’ve created in Whitefish, in addition to all the other assets, to support our recreation-based economy,” he said.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks Warden Captain Lee Anderson had recommended denial of the nonmotorized proposal.

He told the commission about a time-lapse camera he set up in the closure area this summer that showed low levels of motorized use and few wake violations. He said Fish, Wildlife and Parks received only one complaint in the closure area.

Anderson said that while the state agency recognized the strong public and political support to make the river nonmotorized, it also received a significant number of comments in favor of keeping the status quo.

“FWP supports multiple public user groups, so long as use levels are sustainable and don’t damage the resource,” he said.

“The current no-wake rule limits resource damage, provides safety to all users, maintains historic recreational access by motorized vessels, and also provides a unique opportunity for nonmotorized users.”

After the commission voted down the original petition in June, public comment was taken on a seasonal closure of the river that was aimed at being a compromise.

Anderson said the seasonal compromise received only one comment in support. He counted 35 comments supporting the status quo and 95 supporting a year-round closure.

“The majority wanted to see a full closure,” he said. “Neither group supported the compromise.”

Whitefish City Council member Richard Hildner first proposed the nonmotorized restriction in May 2013. As a concerned citizen in the 1980s, he pushed to establish the no-wake rule.

On Thursday, he told commissioners the historical use on the river is changing. After looking at the time-lapse footage, he counted 420 nonmotorized boats compared to just 28 motorized.

“What is abundantly clear from the camera data is that nonmotorized use far exceeds motorized,” he said. “The trend is pretty clear. Historical use is rapidly changing.”

Whitefish resident Michael Jamison added that use has changed since the river cleanup was completed last year. He called the river a “centerpiece” of the community.

“The lake provides tremendous opportunity for unlimited motorized use,” Jamison said. “The river is a special place for those who choose a different kind of use.”

He said his son often paddles up the river to the lake and fishes while he floats back.

“Those are the kinds of opportunities we’ll be jeopardizing” without a nonmotorized designation, he said.

Leonard Howke was against the nonmotorized plan. He said he has lived on the river for 72 years and never has seen a problem with motor boats.

“I’d like to see the river kept as is and open to the public,” he said.