Bitterroot River closed near dam

CORVALLIS (AP) — The state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has issued an emergency closure for a section of the Bitterroot River near a diversion dam where a young girl drowned last year.

The emergency rule closes the river near Corvallis to all floating between the Woodside and Tucker Crossing fishing access sites because fast-moving water is making it difficult to portage around a diversion dam.

Ravalli County search and rescue crews have already responded to at least two accidents this year. Several were reported last year. A 6-year-old girl drowned last June and a man and his sons were trapped in the backwater below the dam for nearly an hour last July 1 until they were rescued.