Meeting to discuss Flathead River management

As part of its efforts to prepare a comprehensive river management plan for the the 3-Forks of the Flathead River, Flathead National Forest and Glacier National Park are hosting a public meeting June 20 at Flathead Valley Community College.

The meeting, which is open to the public, will be held from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 20.

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

Wednesday’s meeting will focus on wildlife monitoring, management and concerns as part of the efforts to develop the CRMP. The meeting will be held in the lower level of the Arts and Technology Building at Flathead Valley Community College.

The main meeting will be from 6 to 8 p.m. and will include presentations on current wildlife information and some facilitated discussion on how wildlife will be addressed in the CRMP. An introductory presentation on the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act for those new to the CRMP process will begin at 5:45 p.m. Future meeting topics, links to past meeting materials, and the meeting schedule are posted on the CRMP website at www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/flathead/home/?cid=fseprd573051&width=full.

The three forks of the Flathead was designated a Wild and Scenic River in 1978 and is a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. It encompasses the North Fork of the Flathead from the Canadian border to its confluence with the Middle Fork, the entire Middle Fork, and the South Fork from its headwaters to Hungry Horse Reservoir. The North Fork and the lower Middle Fork form the boundaries between the Flathead National Forest and Glacier National Park. Portions of the Middle and South Forks flow through the Bob Marshall and Great Bear Wilderness Areas. A total of 219 miles of the Flathead River are included in the designation.

The public is encouraged to contribute to this planning effort that will secure the outstanding remarkable values of the three forks of the Flathead River for future generations. The planning team is interested in diverse stakeholder input as it develops the CRMP.

For more information, please call Flathead National Forest Recreation Program Manager, Chris Prew at 406-758-3538.

Ongoing updates on the CRMP can be found at: www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/flathead/home/?cid=fseprd573051&width=full