Issues for the 2026 North Fork Winter Interlocal

2025 Winter North Fork Interlocal Agreement Meeting – W. K Walker

In case some of you are North Fork residents/landowners, but are not on the Interlocal mailing list, Here’s a copy of a recent email about submitting local issues and concerns for discussion at the meeting…

Hi, folks.

This year’s Winter 2026 Interlocal  Agreement Meeting is hosted by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks on February 11, at 10:00am. The location is not yet determined, but should be settled soon.

For those of you new to this, Interlocal meetings are held twice each year, winter and summer. These semi-annual get-togethers are intended to encourage open discussion between North Fork landowners and neighbors, and local, state and federal agencies. In other words, it’s a big deal if you have an interest in the North Fork.

As a convenience (it’s not required), I’m serving as a central point of contact for issues that North Fork organizations and individuals would like to see addressed by the various government agencies represented at the meeting. If you’ll send me your issues via email to wkwalker@nvdi.com by the afternoon of Tuesday, January 27, I’ll see to it that they get passed on to the various organizations in enough time for them to prepare their presentations.

Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

Bill

North Fork Firewise Community in good standing!

A note from Allen Chrisman . . .

Our Firewise Certification has been Renewed for 2026, and our Firewise Community is in Good Standing!!

We recorded $120,000 in qualifying work, and greatly exceeded the required $16,000 investment.

This translates to about $255 per dwelling, compared to the requirement of $34 per dwelling.

That is simply an indication of the work so many North Forkers are doing to make their structures and surrounding forest more fire resistant.
We appreciate everyone who reported their hours and expenditures last year. Thanks to Suzanne Hildner for gathering all that information! She has big shoes to fill after taking over the data collection from Molly Shepherd, who has done it religiously since our beginning.

If you missed reporting last year, please keep track of the work you do from November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026 and submit it by November 1, 2026. We will make sure to get it counted! [Suzanne Hildner’s email: sdhildner@icloud.com.]

The North Fork Flathead has been recognized as a Firewise Community since 2006. We look forward to celebrating 20 years of Firewise next year!!

Don’t miss Thanksgiving at Sondreson Hall, Nov 27, 3pm!

Folks get in line for the Thanksgiving feast at Sondreson Hall, November 28, 2024. – W. K. Walker

It’s that time again! Don’t miss the Thanksgiving 2025 celebration and potluck at Sondreson Hall, November 27, starting at 3:00pm.

NFLA provides ham, turkey and mashed potatoes, hall doors open at 3:00pm with food served starting at 4:00pm. Bring your own place setting, silverware, drink ware and beverage. Please bring a dish to share and, if it is a specialty dish (vegan, vegetarian, contains nuts, gluten free, etc.), please note this on a card to be placed in front of the dish.

If anyone wants to help or has any questions, text or call Zoe at (406) 955 1017 (phone number is wrong on official calendar).

Cyclomoose Forest Management Project – comment deadline is October 16th

Cyclomoose Forest Management Project Map
Cyclomoose Forest Management Project Map

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) is asking for public moment on the proposed Cyclomoose Forest Management Project. Most of the work would be located in the Coal Creek State Forest near Polebridge. (See the map.)

Comments should be sent to:

Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
Attn: Cullen O’Brien
Stillwater Unit
P.O. BOX 164, Olney, MT 59927
Cullen.O’Brien@mt.gov

The comment deadline is October 16, 2025 so, realistically, comments should be sent via email.

For more detail, including project objectives, here’s the meat of the original press release . . . Continue reading Cyclomoose Forest Management Project – comment deadline is October 16th

Flathead Forest to begin prescribed burns

Flathead National Forest
Flathead National Forest

It’s that time again. The US Forest Service is planning on a number of prescribed fires across the Flathead National Forest. They also hope to burn some slash piles here and there. Details are limited, probably because of the government shutdown, but they are not announcing any significant activity in the North Fork.

Here’s the meat of the official press release . . .

Flathead National Forest to Begin Prescribed Fires
As favorable weather conditions allow for hazardous fuels reduction work

Kalispell, Mont., October 9, 2025— The Flathead National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations beginning this week, pending all required approvals. We estimate this work to continue through November as weather conditions allow. We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.

Planned prescribed fires for this fall may include:

  • Spotted Bear Ranger District – 20 acres in the Spotted Bear Mountain area, south of Spotted Bear Ranger Station (broadcast and pile burning).
  • Swan Lake Ranger District – hazardous fuels reduction work in Beaver Creek and Lindburg areas, Crane Mountain area, and Blacktail Mountain area (pile burning).
  • Tally Lake Ranger District – 146 acres in the Star Meadows area, west of Whitefish, MT (broadcast and pile burning).
  • Pile burning across the Flathead National Forest to reduce hazardous fuels in Flathead, Missoula, and Lake counties.

Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns. Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed burns. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road. Go to https://fire.airnow.gov/ for detailed information about air quality.

We will evaluate weather conditions in the hours before a burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may not commence.

Stay informed about the scheduled prescribed fires through the forest website and social media channels. We will notify county emergency management officials when burning begins.

Red Meadow & Moose Creek Roads construction update for Sep 26th

(September 26) Here’s the latest information on the construction work scheduled for Red Meadow and Moose Creek roads from Rob Davies, Hungry Horse-Glacier View District Ranger…

I just talked to the Forest Service COR, Cliff Lewis.

The contractor is still working on the 1677 cut-across road towards Red Meadow Road. He is hoping to finish the 1677 Rd this week and then start on the Red Meadow Road on Monday. The Road work on Red Meadow will have delays and is expected to last 2 weeks.

So, at this point, Moose Creek Rd work is expected to start in 2 weeks — approximately Oct 13th.

Once the Moose Cr Road work and culvert replacement gets started, the contractor, and myself, will do our best to communicate what’s going on. There will be an option for emergencies.

If a resident needs to get through for medical reasons or other emergencies they could use the newly refurbished 1677 and cut-across to Red Meadow… then out to the North Fork.

The contractor is Erin Gyman of AGS Inc. He is willing to communicate directly with land owners once he begins work on Moose Cr. Rd.

Wedge Canyon Fuels Reduction – last chance!

Do you have a forest that’s located within the boundary below? Do you want to help protect against fire, disease and insects? Then this sounds like an opportunity for you!

This is your last chance to get financial and technical assistance for your property from the NRCS.

Last chance to sign up: October 31, 2025.

Sign up in person at 133 Interstate Ln, Kalispell, MT 59901 or call us
at (406) 752-4242 ext. 3