Flathead August River News: Trip Planning, Events & Opportunities

Floating conditions finally improved in July and with that a flurry of activity for Flathead Rivers Alliance volunteers and staff. Recreate safely and responsibly has been the theme of the summer between our popular loaner life jacket program, River Ambassadors at river access sites and development of a recreate responsibly animation series and video. Thanks to your help we’ve identified additional signage, outreach and site improvements to address and develop during the off season.

National Water Quality Month (August) was kicked off with a partner float that brought together 20 diverse stakeholders to discuss whose doing what, what data are we missing and capture priorities for short and long term monitoring to ensure health of watershed. In addition, we were awarded River Network’s Wild & Scenic River Stewardship Partnership Funding and AFFTA’s Fisheries Funding to expand responsible recreation messaging, focusing on fisheries conservation and stewardship and further implement components of the Responsible Recreation Framework Plan. This will boost our ability to help coordinate annual Flathead Waters Cleanup event, expand recreate responsibly animation series, purchase river camping gear and reusable river cleanup bags for educational purposes and distribution and further develop our in school River Youth Program.

RIVER ALERTS, GEAR, TRIP PLANNING TIPS, OUTFITTERS & RESOURCES HUB

Note: River levels have dropped significantly. There are hydraulic features on the river and hazards that may be difficult to navigate at current river levels. Know your skill level and always wear a PFD/Life Jacket!

River access site conditions are posted weekly on our Facebook and Instagram feeds and/or stories. If you head out to river and want to share photos with us send them HERE with photo credit and location and we’ll share on our platforms.

JULY HAPPENINGS

River Management Society NW Chapter Blackfoot Float - FRA Partner Float - River Ambassador Whitewater & River Safety Training w/ Glacier Raft Co. - River Ambassadors @ Access Sites - Recreate Responsibly Video Filming w/ Montana PBS - ADA Accessibility River Access Site Assessments

Huge thanks to our 2022 River Ambassador and River Recreation Monitoring/Citizen Scientist Volunteers! Volunteers are critical to our work at and on the three forks of the Flathead Wild & Scenic River, especially in the summer. Their passion and willingness to devote time to serve as liaisons with the public at popular river access sites and collect river user, wildlife, and invasive species data as they float the river doesn’t go unnoticed. Learn more HERE.

This summer we headed out to the Middle and North Forks of the Flathead River with DREAM Adaptive Recreation, Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park and Jackola Engineering and Architecture to assess river access sites. Phase 1 of Removing Barriers for Accessibility project assesses barriers and prioritizes opportunities to improve ADA accessibility and universal design at river access sites for individuals with disabilities and their companions and guides. Learn more HERE.

NEXT UP: We will host a workshop with organizations and individuals that represent or serve individuals with disabilities. Workshop will allow us to share our access site findings and work together to recommend which sites to prioritize for improvements.

HELP US REACH OUR FUNDRAISING GOAL FOR THIS ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT

WEST GLACIER ELEMENTARY ART INSTALLATION
July through August
ImagineIf Library (in same building as City Hall)
130 6th St. W., STE C
Columbia Falls, MT

We had the honor of teaching K-6 students at West Glacier Elementary School about the three forks of the Flathead River system and wrapped the two part program with the creation of a sculpture depicting the watershed and unique features of the river system. The art installation will be available for viewing July 8th through end of August at the entrance of ImagineIf Library.

Annual Flathead Waterways Cleanup- August 13th- Flathead Basin wide event brings together agencies, organizations, and community members in an all-day volunteer event to clean-up trash and celebrate the region’s incredible waterways. Make it a day or an hour depending which site or float you pick. Flathead Rivers Alliance is responsible for coordinating volunteers on the three forks of the Flathead Wild & Scenic River. Sites we still need volunteers for:

Essex River Access- Walk
Moccasin to West Glacier- Float
Old Belton Bridge Access/West Glacier- Walk
Blankenship River Access NW/SW - Walk
South Fork River Drive Road River Access- Under Hungry Horse Highway 2 Bridge- Walk
South Fork River Drive Road Access 2- River Access Boat Launch Site below Hungry Horse Dam- Walk

If you'd like to volunteer to help on the three forks of the Flathead River on water or by foot, please email info@flatheadrivers.org or visit HERE for more info. Sign up for all other river and lake sites in Flathead and Lake County HERE.

2023 Big Sky Watershed Corps Member
Interested in becoming an AmeriCorps Big Sky Watershed Corps member? Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Position interviews will begin the last week of August. Learn more HERE.

July 12th Public Hearing Rescheduled to August 9th 6:30 PM @ Columbia Falls Junior High Cafetorium (1805 Talbot Road) - No Virtual Meeting Option

River Highlands is a proposal for 455-unit housing development that requires drilling sewer and water lines under the Flathead River. For more information on proposed Zone Change or Planned Unit Development (PUD), call Eric Mulcahy, CFalls City Planner (406) 755-6481. Tuesday, August 9th 6:30 PM Planning Board Meeting agenda HERE.

Special City Council meeting will be August 29th 7PM at Columbia Falls Junior High. Comments can be submitted to City Clerk, 130 6th St. W., Columbia Falls 59912 or at staalandb@cityofcolumbiafalls.com to be seen prior to Monday, August 29th City Council meeting. Upper Flathead Neighborhood Association has more information HERE.

North Fork Preservation Association celebrated its 40th Anniversary and recently hosted annual interlocal meeting. Learn more HERE and HERE.

AIS Inspection Stations are officially opening, so if you’re traveling in and out of the Flathead Basin or into Glacier you’ll need an inspection for your watercraft. Always Clean. Drain. Dry to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Learn more HERE.

Recreate Responsibly | Flathead Wild & Scenic River

We can’t thank our river community, partners, volunteers, donors, and sponsors enough! Our programming and projects wouldn’t be possible without your support. Interested in becoming a Sponsor? Visit HERE or email info@flatheadrivers.org to learn how.

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