Fourth Wild and Scenic river meeting next Wednesday

The fourth in a series of public meetings about a new plan for the three forks of the Flathead River will be held Wednesday, Aug. 29, at 6 p.m. on the lower level of the Flathead Community College’s Arts and Technology building. The meeting will focus on fisheries monitoring, management and concerns as part of the efforts to develop a comprehensive river management plan.

The Flathead National Forest, in coordination with Glacier National Park, began the process to prepare a plan for the three forks of the Flathead River.

Project activities include reviewing the existing Flathead River Wild and Scenic River Recreation Management Direction and River Management Plan.

The three forks of the Flathead was designated a Wild and Scenic River in 1976 and is a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The river and surrounding lands offer recreational opportunities and access to outstanding resources for a variety of public lands users.

The plan will address the current status of these resources, outline goals and desired conditions, determine user capacities, and create a monitoring strategy and plan to carry forward. The public is encouraged to contribute to this planning effort that will secure the remarkable values of the three forks of the Flathead River for future generations.

The planning team is interested in hearing from the public that has an interest in the three forks as it develops the plan.

For those who haven’t been to any of the first three meetings, an introductory presentation on the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act will begin at 5:45 p.m.

A presenter from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, in addition to the speakers from the Forest Service and Park Service, will address the public.

Future meeting topics, links to past meeting materials and the meeting schedule are posted on the Flathead National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/flathead/home/?cid=fseprd573051&width=full.