Minor flooding affects West Glacier, Polebridge

The Daily Inter Lake

Low-lying areas in the Polebridge and West Glacier areas were flooded Monday as area rivers rose above flood stage.

The Middle Fork of the Flathead River rose almost three feet from Sunday afternoon to Monday afternoon and was more than a foot above the river's 10-foot flood stage Monday afternoon.

Three holes of Glacier View Golf Club were closed by high water and portions of the road between the golf course and the river were under water.

The road, River Bend Drive, was closed Monday afternoon by the Flathead County Road and Bridge Department.

There are 10 homes affected by the flood waters in the West Glacier area.

In Polebridge, the North Fork of the Flathead River rose gradually over the last few days, finally swamping the lawn at the North Fork Hostel on Sunday night.

"I have some water in my yard as of this morning," hostel owner Oliver Meister said on Monday.

The river gauge at Polebridge showed flows reaching 11.25 feet, just below the river's 12-foot flood stage. But the North Fork was forecasted to reach flood stage by Tuesday morning.

The Middle Fork was expected to crest at 12.14 feet Tuesday morning.

The main stem Flathead River rose above its 14-foot flood stage Monday afternoon. It was expected to rise to 15.05 feet Tuesday morning.

In Glacier National Park, Chief Ranger Mark Faust said the Many Glacier Road was closed Monday morning after it was obstructed by debris from a high-flowing creek, but the road was reopened within hours.

Faust said park road crews have been busy maintaining culverts along Going-to-the-Sun Road, ensuring that the runoff was reaching Upper McDonald Creek.

For full flood coverage, see Tuesday's Daily Inter Lake.