High water leads to closure of Blankenship gravel bar area

High water levels prompted U.S. Forest Service officials to close a portion of the Blankenship Bridge area until further notice.

The emergency closure primarily impacts the Blankenship Southwest gravel bar, which stretches south from the Blankenship Bridge. The road to access the gravel bar is currently submerged, according to a May 5 Flathead National Forest press release. 

“This short-term closure order has been put in place for public safety and will be lifted when water levels recede,” officials said.  

The water level in the Flathead River typically peaks in spring, due to a combination of seasonal runoff and spring rains. The annual influx has long posed a public safety concern for Forest Service officials, as motorists often got stuck trying to cross the gravel bar. 

Last month, the Forest Service installed a gate on the path to the gravel bar in order to implement seasonal closures.  

While the emergency closure is in place, all camping and motorized use on the gravel bar is prohibited. 

The most current information on the closure can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/r01/flathead/alerts. 

Reporter Hailey Smalley may be contacted at 758-4433 or hsmalley@dailyinterlake.com.