Data flag Lincoln County sinks in school lead exposures
Nearly half of all classroom sinks tested in Lincoln County schools require action to remove unsafe levels of lead in drinking water, according to the Department of Environmental Quality.
Forest Service looks to acquire 200 acres near Savage Lake in Lincoln County
U.S. Forest Service officials look to tap the Land and Water Conservation Fund to acquire roughly 200 now-private acres adjoining Savage Lake and Cabinet Mountains Wilderness.
Teck appears in Libby, fights back on troubling fish data
Key fish data prove invalid in flagging higher-than-allowed levels of selenium at Lake Koocanusa, representatives of Canadian coal miner Teck said last week at a meeting with Lincoln County Commissioners in Libby.
Spring turkey hunting draws near, bird numbers appear strong
Montana’s spring hunt for nonnative wild turkey starts five days later this season.
Ingelfinger returns to career roots as Kalispell area wildlife biologist
Franz Ingelfinger transitioned last month from restoration ecologist to Kalispell's area wildlife biologist.
High court affirms lower ruling on water-bottler dispute
A bottler of Flathead Valley artesian water will at least get to keep its grandfathered-in status within an expanded agricultural district near Creston — losing a host of recent cross-appeals.
Judge demands $300K to remove Flathead Lake’s ‘bridge to nowhere’
Flathead County District Judge Robert Allison has ordered that $300,000 be paid by early April to demo the tempestuous bridge to vacant Dockstader Island on the northern shore of Flathead Lake.
State seeks applicants for group on Church Slough wakes
Applicants with an open mind are sought for a new group to help pin down a formal ruling on boat wakes at Church Slough, state officials said Monday.
PSC’s open District 5 seat draws varied crowd
One of Montana’s smallest agencies offers one of its biggest election bouts this year following recent legislative audit scrutiny.
Recent data spell trouble for Koocanusa fish
If recent data from peamouth chub and other fish hold valid insight — and at least, biologists in Montana believe they do — selenium levels at Lake Koocanusa reach as high as 250% of what’s allowed in Montana waters.
4 from Flathead vie for western U.S. House seat
With just Monday remaining for candidates to file, four from Flathead County have so far entered a now brimming race for western Montana’s U.S. House District 1 seat.
Wild pig reports on the rise in Montana
Feral swine appear to be rooting up in Montana — and invasive species officials say they will be ramping up Big Sky’s “Squeal on Pigs!” campaign in the Flathead Valley and surrounding area.
Sanders County poacher still wanted on bear-baiting charges
Montana wildlife officials say a man who writes a muzzleloader hunting blog remains wanted on several Sanders County warrants for allegedly killing a third black bear over bait in the state.
Mountain lions likely trimmed island sheep herd to lowest number in decades
The three mountain lions recently killed on Wild Horse Island had unfettered access to a herd of bighorn sheep that has produced some of the biggest rams in the world.
State doubles funding for Somers Beach project
The cost increase covers initial development of the new state park, including basic items like a parking lot, signage, bathrooms and trash receptacles.
Local snowpack holds steady despite dry February
With its northwestern river basins still making par for snowpack by the start of March, natural resource officials say last month overall proved “disappointingly dry” elsewhere for Montana.
Conservation study sights recreational boating on Flathead River
The Flathead Conservation District hopes to start an erosion study this year centered on recreational boating on the lower Flathead.
Mountain lions killed on Wild Horse Island to protect bighorn sheep
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes collaborated to kill three adult mountain lions on Wild Horse Island over the past two months.
State park board reviews land deals, archery range options
State parks officials are looking for more money to develop the state's newly acquired Somers Beach, among other proposals in the Flathead.
Wildlife officials survey for snapping turtles, bullfrogs
A state invasive species partnership is taking a deeper look at snapping turtles and bullfrogs in Northwest Montana.
Smithsonian researcher finds new midge species, rare mosquito larvae from the Flathead
The ancient insects open a wider window to the tropical past and landscape of Northwest Montana
Known for his blood-engorged mosquito finds, a Smithsonian researcher has helped discover several new ancient midge species and a rare fossil of a mosquito larvae.
Teck opens third B.C. water treatment plant
Teck Resources Ltd. says the Canadian coal company has made a third water treatment facility operational in the Elk Valley of British Columbia.
CSKT increases recreation fees, closes areas for tribal use only
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have hiked camping and conservation fees to help preserve tribal lands and activities, as well as bring in additional game wardens and outdoor recreation staff.
Snail discovery prompts warning about illegal dumping of aquariums
Shell of nonnative 'Mystery Snail' washes ashore at Flathead Lake
State wildlife officials believe aquarium dumping released a nonnative snail to Flathead Lake.
Beetle picked to battle Flathead’s flowering rush invasion
A statewide invasive weed group is planning to release a European-born weevil in and near Flathead Lake to battle flowering rush.
Daines, Tester support ‘good samaritan’ mine cleanups
With names like “One Dead Digger, “Hog Heaven” and “Blue Moon Pit,” at least 600 abandoned or inactive mine sites pepper Flathead, Lake, Sanders and Lincoln counties, according to Montana’s Bureau of Mines and Geology.
State plan aims to reduce haze on federal land
The Department of Environmental Quality is now accepting public comment on a new statewide plan to reduce haze through 2028.
Senate bill looks to alleviate park crowding, gateway stresses
A congressional bill sponsored by Montana Sen. Steve Daines aims to bolster so-called gateway communities overrun with burgeoning tourism at federal lands by tapping federal coffers to address local housing, infrastructure and other visitation woes.
State trapping-education workgroup meets Friday
The six-member panel charged with developing Montana's new trapping education requirement will meet Friday in Polson.
Farm roots, life outdoors helped groom Amy Pearson For Yaak Valley leadership
Amy Pearson has been tapped to lead the Yaak Valley Forest Council
Regional wildfire mitigation efforts OK'd for more than $2M
Efforts to mitigate wildland fires in Northwest Montana will be getting a $2 million shot in the arm.
Few but weighty new elk regs affect Region 1
Elk hunters sighting the northwestern reaches of Montana already tagged a brute ahead of the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
State commission opts for citizen group on Church Slough wakes
The state Fish and Wildlife Commission on Friday stalled its vote on a proposed yearlong wake ban for Church Slough in favor of developing a citizen’s group to suss out a solution.
Commission to review Church Slough no-wake petition
Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials say boating speeds at Church Slough on the Flathead River just north of Flathead Lake remain a “social issue” of no great further impact to wildlife or resources in the area.
Comments taken on easement for 114,000 acres of timberland
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials want feedback on a proposed conservation easement to protect nearly 114,000 acres of timberland near the Thompson Chain of Lakes.
Regional snowpack nearing, exceeding normal levels
Bouts of heavy snowfall through Tuesday helped still-lagging mountain snowpack in the region draw nearer to normal.
Wolf hunting and trapping down despite added opportunities
Following years of record regional harvests, hunters and trappers in the northwestern corner of the state have so far achieved less than a third of total state-sanctioned wolf kills for the season.
Library trustees approve contract for new director
The Board of Trustees for ImagineIF Libraries approved on Thursday a contract to hire its new system director, also hearing of another executive resignation and yet another blow to system funding.
Library trustees to review proposed director’s contract
The Board of Trustees for ImagineIF Libraries is expected Thursday to review a proposed contract for its new director that offers up to $10,000 in relocation costs.
Commission tables septic facilities for further review
The Flathead County Commission hit pause Tuesday on a proposed contract to plan for and design a regional septic waste plant and biosolids composting facility.
Commission to review contract for septic waste, biosolids facilities
Flathead County commissioners will review on Tuesday a proposed design contract to select sites and plan a new regional septic waste plant and biosolids composting facility.
Water rights board faces urgent task list
The Flathead Reservation Water Management Board held its inaugural meeting this past week.
High court closes oral arguments on water-bottler case
Proceedings show shaky start for 'MAWC' attorney
The Montana Supreme Court opened oral arguments Wednesday on an appeal challenging an exemption for Montana Artesian to operate within a voter-approved expansion of the Egan Slough Zoning District near Creston.