How to Comment on Draft Comprehensive River Management Plan for the Flathead Wild and Scenic River and associated Environmental Assessment
A River Worth Protecting
Safeguard the Future of the Flathead River System
Together we can work towards the collective vision of a resilient and healthy river ecosystem with people interacting respectfully and responsibly. The 219+ miles of the three forks of the Flathead (North, South, & Middle Forks) are nationally designated wild and scenic rivers. Usage and visitation has dramatically increased over the last decade while resource management agencies have been increasingly unsupported and have been challenged to keep up with the increasing threats to the resource. Updating the outdated 1980 river management plan provides an opportunity to further balance recreational use with the protection of the river's other outstanding remarkable values. Flathead National Forest is inviting public input on proposed action updates to the Comprehensive River Management Plan (CRMP) for the Flathead Wild & Scenic River. Now is your opportunity to provide input on several components of the proposed plan.
Submit Written Comments
An environmental assessment (EA) has been prepared, which discloses the potential effects of implementing the proposed actions on National Forest land within the draft CRMP. Glacier National Park is a cooperating agency on this project. Project documents, including the environmental assessment and maps, can be accessed at the project web site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/flathead/projects/56536. Hard copies of the EA are available by request. How to comment and timeframe Specific written comments (36 CFR 218) on the EA will be accepted for 30 calendar days, beginning February 11 and ending March 13, 2026 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time). It is the responsibility of persons providing comments to ensure timely submission. Comments submitted via mail must be postmarked by the end of the comment period.
The Flathead National Forest is seeking comments on the Draft Comprehensive River Management Plan(CRMP) for the Flathead Wild and Scenic River and its associated Environmental Assessment.
Comments are due Friday, March 13th, 2026 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time).
Comments may be submitted electronically on the Forest Service website.
Written comments on the EA can be submitted via mail to: Rob Davies, District Ranger, Hungry Horse Ranger Station, P.O. Box 190340, Hungry Horse, MT 59919, or submit in person to the Hungry Horse Ranger District (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays).
Thank you for sharing your love of the Flathead Wild & Scenic River!
For questions or information about the Forest Service’s proposal, please contact Robert Davies, District Ranger at 406-387-3801 or robert.davies@usda.gov.
Please submit comments to help the Forest Service improve their Comprehensive River Management Plan!
CRMP Planning Project Milestones
Jan.-Feb. 2025 Scoping Period
Forest Service released proposed action plan 1/6/2025 and is gathering input on user capacity, management actions, and monitoring. Public input was originally solicited for this project in August 2019. Comments from the initial scoping period were utilized to identify public concerns and guide development of the CRMP, and a new request for public comments on the updated proposed action are being accepted with Feb. 7, 2025 deadline.
Winter 2025-2026 (estimated) – NEPA Analysis
Draft CRMP and Environmental Assessment (EA) will be released for public review and comments. EA will evaluate issues, consider alternatives, and analyze effects of the proposed action and any alternatives. There will be an additional 30-day public comment period.
Winter 2025-2026 (estimated) – Final Review
A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) / Decision Notice (DN) will be issued, followed by a formal Objection Period.
February 2026 (estimated) - Comment Period
Public comment period for proposed will be open, concluding March 13, 2026 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time).
April 2026 (estimated) - Objection Period Start
July 2026 (estimated) – Decision/Final Plan Implementation
Comprehensive River Management Plan (CRMP) finalized and put into action.
2027 (estimated)- Implementation
Open Houses
Public CRMP Info Sessions February 17 & 18, 2026 6:00-8:00 PM @ Flathead Valley Community College (Arts and Technology Building, room 139, Kalispell, MT) + Limited Virtual Option: www.flatheadrivers.org/events/comprehensive-river-management-plan-public-info-sessions-hosted-by-flathead-national-forest
On January 21st & 22nd, the Flathead National Forest hosted two hybrid Open House Public Info Sessions, at Flathead Valley Community College, ahead of the February 7th deadline for comments on their proposed action plan for Flathead Wild & Scenic River Comprehensive River Management Plan. Agency staff specialists from Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park, and Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks were on hand to answer questions related to the proposed action plan. Approximately 200 people attended in person, along with additional virtual attendees.
In the News
Flathead Beacon: It’s not perfect but we’re proud of this plan agency specialists detail revisions to Wild and Scenic Flathead River Strategy https://flatheadbeacon.com/2026/02/19/its-not-perfect-but-were-proud-of-this-plan-agency-specialists-detail-revisions-to-wild-and-scenic-flathead-river-strategy/
Hungry Horse News: Eight years after first meeting, draft Flathead River Management Plan released https://hungryhorsenews.com/news/2026/feb/13/eight-years-after-first-meeting-draft-flathead-river-management-plan-released/
NBC Montana: Flathead National Forest holds information session on Draft River Management Plan https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/public-input-wanted-on-flathead-river-management-plan
KPAX: Flathead National Forest releases proposed changes to Flathead River management plan https://www.kpax.com/news/local-news/flathead-county/flathead-nf-releases-proposed-changes-to-flathead-river-management-plan
Whitefish Pilot: Draft Flathead River Management Plan released https://whitefishpilot.com/news/2026/feb/16/draft-flathead-river-management-plan-released/
Flathead Beacon: Federal Agencies Release Proposed Rewrite of Flathead River Management Plan https://flatheadbeacon.com/2026/02/11/federal-agencies-release-proposed-rewrite-of-flathead-river-management-plan/
NBC Montana: Flathead National Forest seeks public comment on river management plan https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/flathead-national-forest-seeks-public-comment-on-river-management-plan
Daily Inter Lake: Float permits, parking ban proposed for Flathead River under new management plan https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2026/feb/12/permit-system-rule-changes-proposed-for-flathead-river/
American Rivers: Loving Montana’s Flathead River Responsibly https://www.americanrivers.org/2025/10/loving-montanas-flathead-river-responsibly/
Hungry Horse News: CRMP Comments: Many folks want more river protections, not less https://hungryhorsenews.com/news/2025/apr/02/crmp-comments-many-folks-want-more-river-protections-not-less/
Flathead Beacon: Forest Officials Reopen Public Engagement Process on Long-awaited Flathead River Management Plan
https://flatheadbeacon.com/2025/01/07/forest-officials-reopen-public-engagement-process-on-long-awaited-flathead-river-management-plan/
Flathead Beacon: New Project Leader Assigned to Guide Overdue Flathead River Management Plan
https://flatheadbeacon.com/2024/05/07/new-project-leader-assigned-to-guide-overdue-flathead-river-management-plan/
Flathead Beacon: User Capacity Among Public’s Concerns as Flathead River Management Plan Update Proceeds https://flatheadbeacon.com/2025/01/24/user-capacity-among-publics-concerns-as-flathead-river-management-plan-update-proceeds/
NBC Montana: Public input wanted on Flathead River management plan https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/public-input-wanted-on-flathead-river-management-plan
Bigfork Eagle: Comment period for Flathead River management plan ends February 7 https://bigforkeagle.com/news/2025/feb/05/comment-period-for-flathead-river-management-plan-ends-february-7/
Daily Inter Lake: Plan to manage Flathead River recreation garners mixed reactions https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2025/feb/05/forest-service-calls-for-comments-on-flathead-river-management-plan/
Missoula Current: Comment Period to Close on Flathead River management draft https://missoulacurrent.com/flathead-river-management/
Hungry Horse News: Rivers meetings draw crowds, concerns https://hungryhorsenews.com/news/2025/jan/29/rivers-meetings-draw-crowds-concerns/
KPAX News: U.S. Forest Service seeking public input on long-awaited Flathead River plan https://www.kpax.com/news/local-news/flathead-county/u-s-forest-service-seeking-public-input-on-long-awaited-flathead-river-plan
Hungry Horse News: Rivers plan calls for free, unlimited, mandatory use permits https://hungryhorsenews.com/news/2025/jan/15/rivers-plan-calls-for-free-unlimited-mandatory-use-permits/
Flathead Beacon: Forest Officials Reopen Public Engagement Process on Long-awaited Flathead River Management Plan https://flatheadbeacon.com/2025/01/07/forest-officials-reopen-public-engagement-process-on-long-awaited-flathead-river-management-plan/
Hungry Horse News: Flathead National Forest releases proposed action for rivers https://hungryhorsenews.com/news/2025/jan/08/flathead-national-forest-releases-proposed-action-for-rivers/
FLATHEAD WILD & SCENIC RIVER
The Flathead River system was the inspiration behind the Wild & Scenic River Act of 1968 that created the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System. Designated in 1976 as a Wild and Scenic River, Three Forks of the Flathead 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. A total of 219+ miles of the Flathead River are included in the designation. The river system flows through the traditional homelands of the Ktunaxa, Kootenai, and Séliš (Salish) Peoples who have long stewarded this landscape and the Pikuni (Blackfeet) Peoples who often traveled in the river corridor.
Formed in 2019, the Flathead Rivers Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the Flathead River System. Our mission at Flathead Rivers Alliance is to support and enhance the outstanding and remarkable Three Forks of the Flathead River.