Flathead Wild and Scenic River: Comprehensive River Management Plan Wildlife Outstandingly Remarkable Value Meeting

The Flathead National Forest, in coordination and partnership with Glacier National Park, has begun the process to prepare a Comprehensive River Management Plan (CRMP) for the 3-Forks of the Flathead River.  Project activities will include reviewing the existing Flathead River Wild and Scenic River Recreation Management Direction and River Management Plan.

The river and surrounding lands offer recreational opportunities and access to outstanding resources for a variety of public lands users. The CRMP will address the current status of these resources, outline goals and desired conditions, determine user capacities, and create a monitoring strategy and plan to carry forward.  The public is encouraged to contribute to this planning effort that will secure the outstanding remarkable values of the 3-Forks of the Flathead River for future generations.  The planning team is interested in diverse stakeholder input as we develop the CRMP.

A series of resource-focused public meetings are being held beginning with the first meeting in May. Our upcoming meeting on Wednesday, June 20, will focus on wildlife monitoring, management, and concerns as part of the efforts to develop the CRMP. The meeting will be held in the lower level of the Arts and Technology Building at Flathead Valley Community College. A campus map can be found here: https://www.fvcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2017-11-Campus-Map-Large-WEB.pdf. The main meeting will be from 6 pm to 8 pm and will include presentations on current wildlife information and some facilitated discussion on how wildlife will be addressed in the CRMP. An introductory presentation on the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act for those new to the CRMP process will begin at 5:45pm. Future meeting topics, links to past meeting materials, and the meeting schedule are posted on the CRMP website.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/flathead/home/?cid=fseprd573051&width=full

The 3-Forks of the Flathead was designated a Wild and Scenic River in 1978 and is a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. It 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. The North Fork and the lower Middle Fork form the boundaries between the Flathead National Forest and Glacier National Park.  Portions of the Middle and South Forks flow through the Bob Marshall and Great Bear Wilderness Areas. A total of 219 miles of the Flathead River are included in the designation.

For more information, please call Flathead National Forest Recreation Program Manager, Chris Prew at 406-758-3538.

Ongoing updates on the CRMP can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/flathead/home/?cid=fseprd573051&width=full

NFLA 2018 Spring Newsletter and Calendar are Out

By now, if you have paid up your NFLA dues, you should have received a copy of the 2018 Spring Newsletter and Calendar in the mail.

The newsletter is the main result of work by Carol Groebe and Chris Heitz, plus articles by Lynn Ogle, Allen Chrisman, Lois Walker and Mark Heaphy. Besides social activities, the articles give great information on wildfire and how to protect your property, the activity of the North Fork Patrol, as well as the latest in the Lois Walker series of North Fork history. This time, she writes about the history of the Pole Bridge, which, since 1988, has been converted to steel and concrete.

If you’re not a member or didn’t receive the newsletter in the mail, you can read it here on the website. Check out our NFLA Newsletters page that includes a message from NFLA President Larry Wilson.

And don’t forget to check out the NFLA Calendar on line throughout the summer. Dates change and new events get added!

Please Check out Your Bear Attractants

Ursus arctos horribilisAs bears emerge from their dens in the next few weeks, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks offers guidance for avoiding conflicts between humans and bears. Visit FWP’s Be Bear Aware web pages for important tips on maintaining bear-safe residences and camping expeditions.

“You’ll learn responsible ways to feed your pets, manage your garbage, landscape the yard and build electric fences to protect beehives and chickens in bear country, ” said Ron Aasheim, FWP spokesman. “Managing each of these activities properly will significantly reduce conflicts between bears and people.”

Learn about bear attractants, how to tell if your residence is bear-friendly, and some bear-aware tools to help keep bears wild.

If you have any problems with bears coming too close to your structures, please contact FWP Bear Management Specialist Tim Manley at tmanley803@gmail.com or call (406) 892-0802.

FWP’s Be Bear Aware web page is a great resource and this perfect time to be making an assessment about attractants around your North Fork home. Please, let’s keep our grizzly friends safe.

NFLA Dues are Due Before April 1st

I am SURE summer is right around the corner, so this is just a reminder that your NFLA dues ($15 per person) are due before April 1st if you want to receive the Spring Newsletter with the calendar of wonderful events planned for the summer.  Once again your Board of Directors has been working hard to make this summer memorable.  In addition to our usual picnics, floating, hiking and biking we have TOURS OF HISTORIC HOMESTEADS, a bi-weekly FARMER’S MARKET, and presentations on BEARS, FIRE MITIGATION around your home, and a 1st AID, CPR, AED Class to name just a few of the  events lined up so far.

Tap here for a copy of the NFLA Membership Form.  Just send it and $15 per member to:

NFLA Treasurer
PO Box 1603
Columbia Falls, MT  59912

We look forward to seeing you this summer!

North Fork stalwart and NFPA board member Alan McNeil dies

Alan R. McNeil – courtesy Cecily McNeil

The North Fork Preservation Association has a story about Alan McNeil that begins… Alan Rideout McNeil died of a heart attack on the 29th of December, 2017. The family wish to thank the neighbors, the Sheriff’s department, and the Coroner, all of whom were most helpful in the midst of the recent blizzard conditions. Read the full story here.

There will be a gathering on the North Fork this summer in Alan’s memory. Alan will certainly be missed.

Alan McNeil has Passed

We just received word that Alan McNeil, dear friend of the North Fork, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on Friday. Our hearts go out to Cecily, Bruce, and especially Alan’s daughter Fiona. Alan was a good neighbor and active member of the NFLA. He will be greatly missed.

Champion of the North Fork John Frederick dies

John Frederick at the 1987 Polebridge Forth of July parade
John Frederick at the 1987 Polebridge Forth of July parade John Frederick at the 1987 Polebridge Forth of July parade

John Frederick at the 1987 Polebridge Forth of July paradeJohn Frederick, champion of the North Fork and a founder of the North Fork Preservation Association, died today following a long illness. John passed away peacefully, his final weeks filled with the affection, laughter and tears of friends, family and well-wishers.

Here is John’s obituary, written by long-time friend and North Fork historian Lois Walker.

Long-time Polebridge resident and champion of the North Fork, John Frederick, Jr., passed away on November 15. He was 74.

He was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1943, to John and Betty Watson Frederick. He attended school in Marion, Ohio, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from The Ohio State University. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1969, stationed for almost two years in Alaska. Continue reading Champion of the North Fork John Frederick dies

Family, Forests and the Future

From the Flathead Beacon

The Flathead Beacon has a wonderful article about our good neighbors the Chrismans and the good work that they’re doing. It starts… NORTH FORK — To accompany siblings Allen Chrisman and Kari Wiley in the Chrisman Family Forest is less of a nature walk than it is a meander through the woods to meet old friends. Read the full story here.

2017 NFLA Fall Newsletter

The 2017 NFLA Fall Newsletter comes to you courtesy of the North Fork Landowners Association (NFLA).  A copy of the newsletter is sent out every fall to NFLA members reminding them to renew their membership and includes a membership renewal form as well as a letter from the NFLA President.

We invite you to join us! Membership dues are only $15 a year per person. Your dues are important to us. They help us maintain the Community Hall and organize lots of exciting activities that bring the community together. We have activities for everyone, whether you are interested in reading, gardening, hiking, biking, dancing, birding, or floating the river.  We hope to see you at NFLA activities this fall/winter including Thanksgiving day dinner.  More information about joining the NFLA may be found here.

Get a copy of the current newsletter and access to past newsletters on the NFLA Newsletter page.

2017 Annual Financial Report Available for Review

Treasurer Chris Heitz reports that the Annual Financial Report for the 2017 fiscal year has been audited and is now ready for your review. Read the full report here.

Thank you, Chris, for all of your hard work throughout the year. And thanks to the Audit Committee who performed the audit!

Don’t forget, you can get access to all of the associations documents including this report on the Documents/Meeting Minutes page.