Newsletters

From the Desk of the President and Vice President

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Spring has technically arrived, though it’s felt that way since December. This was a winter that confused the bears, confounded the plants, and cancelled our beloved community ski days and snowshoe softball. It turned the North Fork Road into months of mud, ice, and potholes — and on December 17th, instead of nine ladies dancing, we got hurricane-force winds and a monumental blowdown of thousands of trees, their roots sodden with record-breaking rain. Nearly every inch of the North Fork Road from Camas to the border became a latticework of toppled timber. Neighbors armed with chainsaws, handsaws, and tractors cut a zigzagging path through the mess — a true chainsaw rodeo. Hats off to everyone who made it passable. Then on December 19th, our agencies delivered a true Christmas miracle. Flathead National Forest, Montana Department of Natural Resources, and Flathead County Roads and Bridges worked nonstop to clear hundreds of downed trees, getting the road open in time for holiday celebrations that had seemed all but impossible the day before. In recognition of their extraordinary effort, NFLA President Jim Rittenburg presented a thank-you plaque to each agency at the winter interlocal.

The blowdown isn’t done with us yet. Miles of roadside are still lined with sawn timber, and many properties have blowdowns of their own to deal with. (Remarkably, reports from neighbors and the North Fork Patrol indicate very little structural damage up here; however, if you were away all winter, be aware that you may find trees blocking your driveway when you return.) There remains, unfortunately, a real risk of beetle infestation in all those downed trees. Local professional forester Holly McKenzie will be speaking at the Community Hall in June to advise landowners on how to assess and reduce that risk on their property.

Looking ahead to spring and summer, there is plenty to be excited about. You’re holding the Spring Newsletter right now — a testament to the hard work of editor Beth Ulrichsen and the many community members and friends of the North Fork who contributed articles on the issues and topics that shape life in our community. The community calendar is full of great events, including history days, engaging monthly meeting presentations, and our popular community pizza parties. We look forward to welcoming our migratory neighbors back to the North Fork, and to a wonderful — and hopefully not too dry — summer ahead!

North Fork Landowners Association

Click on the link below to get to a PDF version of the newsletter and calendar. And enjoy!

2026: Spring Newsletter
2025: Fall Newsletter
2025: Spring Newsletter
2024: Fall Newsletter
2024: Spring Newsletter
2023: Fall Newsletter
2023: Spring Newsletter
2022: Fall Newsletter
2022: Spring Newsletter and Calendar
2021: Fall Newsletter
2021: Spring Newsletter and Calendar
2020: Spring Newsletter and Calendar
2019: Fall Newsletter
2019: Spring Newsletter and Calendar
2018: 2018 Fall Newsletter and Fall Survey
2018: Spring newsletter, Wildfire Risk Assessment Request, and calendar
2017: Fall newsletter
2017: Spring newsletter and calendar
2016: Fall newsletter
2016: Spring newsletter, calendar, and emergency services
2015: Fall newsletter
2015: Spring newsletter and calendar
2014: Spring newsletter and calendar
2013: Spring newsletter and calendar
2012: Spring newsletter and calendar
2011: Spring newsletter and calendar
2010: Spring newsletter and calendar
2009: Fall newsletter, Spring newsletter
2008: Fall newsletter, Spring newsletter
2007: Fall newsletter, Spring newsletter
2006: Fall newsletter