Drought earns Flathead, Lincoln counties natural disaster area designation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture designated Flathead and Lincoln counties primary natural disaster areas Monday.

The declaration comes after Gov. Greg Gianforte asked the federal agency to assign the designation due to drought conditions in Northwest Montana. His request, made last week, was in response to lobbying from Flathead County commissioners, who worried about the drought’s effect on the regional economy.

Gianforte had declared a statewide drought disaster as of July 1, but the federal designation opens the region to multiple drought-assistance programs. These include programs such as the Livestock Forage Program, the Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program.

“This designation will help Montanans impacted by drought access critical resources,” Gianforte said in a post on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter on Monday.

Requests for the designation arose mainly because of Flathead Lake’s record-low water levels. As of July 31, the lake’s surface water level was 2890.71 feet, nearly two feet below the full pool mark. Residents and politicians alike expressed concern about the economic effect the low water level would have on lake-reliant businesses and agricultural needs.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the drought suffered by Flathead and Lincoln Counties is rated as between severe and exceptional, according to a letter Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack wrote to Gianforte confirming the natural disaster status.

“A secretarial disaster designation makes farm operators in primary counties and those counties contiguous to such primary counties eligible to be considered for Farm Service Agency emergency loans assistance, provided eligibility requirements are met,” Vilsack wrote.

Eligible farmers have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for emergency loans. Local Farm Service Agency offices can provide affected farmers with further information, Vilsack wrote.

Members of Montana’s delegation, including Rep. Ryan Zinke and Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines, all backed Gianforte’s efforts to secure the designation from the Department of Agriculture.

“We must ensure our Montana communities have the aid and resources they need,” Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, said in a statement last week.

Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at kheston@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.