Scoping document released for the Comprehensive River Management Plan

North Fork Flathead River, May 16, 2018 - by William K. Walker
North Fork Flathead River, May 16, 2018 – by William K. Walker

I just got this note from Rob Davies, Hungry Horse/Glacier View District Ranger . . .

The Proposed Action for the River Plan is out today. [In the press release below,] you will see the link to the Flathead NF web page where you can locate the July, 2019 Draft Proposed Action (50 pages).

Also public meetings are now set for Tue Aug 13th, and Tue August 20th, Flathead Community College, 06:00 pm to 08:00 pm.

If you could please pass this on to the home owners association and others in the North Fork on your email list who you know are interested. This info will also be distributed in all the next editions of the local papers.

And here is the official press release . . .

Flathead Wild and Scenic River: Scoping for the Comprehensive River Management Plan

Kalispell, MT, July 31, 2019- The Flathead National Forest, in coordination with Glacier National Park, is beginning the scoping process for the Comprehensive River Management Plan (CRMP) for the Flathead Wild and Scenic River.

The proposed action document discusses potential management direction and information on the desired conditions for the Flathead River segments. The public is asked to pay particular attention to how the desired condition statements as well as the proposed monitoring indicators, thresholds and triggers protect and preserve Outstanding Remarkable Value’s for the three forks of the Flathead River system presently and into the future. This is the foundation of the CRMP and will inform management actions and inform how the user capacity process will be done. More information on the Flathead Wild & Scenic River Comprehensive River Management Plan can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/crmp.

The proposed action can also be accessed at the Flathead National Forest NEPA page (Flathead Comprehensive River Management Plan): https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=56536.

Hard copies of the proposed action document are also available for review at the Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger Station (10 Hungry Horse Drive, Hungry Horse, MT, 59919) or at the Forest Supervisor’s Office (650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901).

The public can provide us comments by doing the following:
• Email comments to: comments-northern-flathead@usda.gov. Acceptable formats include MS Word, RTF, or PDF.
• Fill in an electronic form by going to the same Flathead National Forest NEPA page (see above) and selecting “Comment/Object on Project” on the right hand side of the screen.
• Hand-deliver or mail comments to the Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger Station in Hungry Horse or the Forest Supervisor’s Office in Kalispell (see above for addresses).

To assure your comments are fully considered during this scoping phase of the project, we request that you submit comments by September 13, 2019. Additional comments are welcome throughout the planning process.

Two public open house meetings will provide further information about this project will occur on August 13 and 20, 2019, from 6 pm to 8 pm at the lower level of the Arts and Technology Building at Flathead Valley Community College.

Summer North Fork Interlocal meeting Wednesday, July 10

Bob Dunkley explains Park plans for the Polebridge Ranger Station, post Red Bench Fire, at the 1989 Interlocal at Sondreson Hall.
Bob Dunkley explains Park plans for the Polebridge Ranger Station, post Red Bench Fire, at the 1989 Interlocal at Sondreson Hall.

The Summer 2019 North Fork Interlocal Agreement Meeting is at 1:00pm, on Wednesday, July 10 at Sondreson Hall. This year’s sponsor is the North Fork Road Coalition for Health and Safety (NFRCHS).

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.

This summer’s meeting will include a special presentation by the Forest Service on the planned Frozen Moose Project. This is a new vegetation and fuels project in the northern part of the North Fork. Sarah Canepa, NEPA Team Leader, will give a brief overview and answer questions.

Preceding the Interlocal meeting is the annual FireWise Day Workshop at 9:30 a.m. and lunch at noon. Lunch is a community potluck, with the NFRCHS supplying the main course and drinks.

July/August/September Wildland Fire Potential Outlook

Greetings!   Here is the July/August/September Wildland Fire Potential Outlook issued today.  No big change here:

https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf

While we have appreciated the moisture we received lately, we are still behind in overall precipitation for the year.  And while there is probability of showers in the forecast, I’m thinking things are going to dry out – and probably quickly by late July.  So, we will transition into an active fire season certainly by the end of July.  Still time to prepare – I know I have to get our sprinkler system set up!

Thanks!   Allen

Montana Tree Farm Flathead Field Day

Join us at Sondreson Community Hall on June 28 for a forestry field day sponsored by Montana Tree Farm, hosted by Allen Chrisman and Mark Boardman.

2019 MT TF Flathead Field Day.PDF

After an hour PowerPoint presentation by Allen and Mark, we’ll drive up to the Chrisman/Wiley Family Forest to view recent timber harvest, discuss management objectives, logging systems, and regeneration.  We’ll have a potluck lunch – with a meat entree’ provided.  Please bring a side dish to share, beverages of your own choice, and a lawn chair.  RSVP to Allen Chrisman by June 21 at achrisman52@gmail.com.   Everyone welcome!

June 2019 Large Fire Potential Outlook

Northwestern Montana (including the Flathead) is forecasted for  above normal large fire potential starting in mid-July and continuing through August into at least mid-September.

So, it has the potential to be a busy fire season in the North Fork.     Click on the link below for the report.

Allen Chrisman

https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf

North Fork Patrol update

The North Fork Patrol had its spring meeting on 30 May. So far this year the patrol has logged 722 miles and checked on 132 residences. Only two owners had to be notified of damages. 

As folks return to the North Fork for the summer, the patrol reminds them to be sure to have a plan of action incase of medical or fire emergencies. 

I hope you are having good early summer.

Mark

First Aid/CPR/AED Course on Friday, May 31 at Sondreson Hall

Bob Lee will be giving his well-regarded First Aid/CPR/AED class in the North Fork again this spring on Friday, May 31, at Sondreson Hall. It is an all-day course, starting at 9:00am and usually finishing up at 4:00pm or a bit earlier. Cost should be $45/person, cash or check.

Bring a lunch and drinks.

Course size limit is 10 people! Contact Bill Walker (wkwalker@nvdi.com<mailto:wkwalker@nvdi.com> or 406-407-2764) to reserve a place.

(Note! This year, the certification cards will be distributed electronically. The folks sending the cards insist that every recipient have a unique, individual email address. If this is a problem, contact Bill Walker.)

Glacier AIS Program 2019

The park’s AIS program will remain the same as it was last year, with one, possibly two changes. The changes being electric motors under 15 horse power will be allowed back on Bowman and Two Medicine Lakes with a same day inspection and permit, and it is likely, although not official yet that motorized boats will be allowed back on Two Medicine Lake by early July with the inspection and 30-day quarantine we require for motorized boats in Lake McDonald. Park waters will open for all boating Saturday, May 11th. Here is a refresher in the park’s boat inspection policies:

Trailered watercraft with gas-powered motors are permitted on Lake McDonald after an inspection and after being quarantined for 30 days prior to launch. Boats will be sealed to the trailer after inspection and seals will be removed by park personnel following the 30-day drying time. Non-motorized watercraft, and non-trailered electric motorized watercraft will also be permitted, and do not require the quarantine period.

Non-motorized watercraft and non-trailered electric motorized watercraft are permitted same day launch on Lake McDonald, Bowman Lake, Two Medicine Lake, St. Mary Lake, and Swiftcurrent Lake, after inspection and permit issuance by NPS staff. They will not require a 30-day dry time because the motors are not water-cooled and therefore are classified as lower risk, similar to hand-propelled water-craft.

Kintla Lake is open to hand-propelled watercraft, after inspection. All boat Inspections for the North Fork area of the park (Bowman and Kintla Lakes) are performed at the Apgar Village permit station.
*Boat inspections are not available in the North Fork area.

You may want to get a hold of Amy Secrest to find out more about the proposed plan to use Rotenone to kill off non-native fish in the Camas drainage starting this August, because she is the one who wrote it… but here is an MTPR article that summarizes the plan nicely:

https://www.mtpr.org/post/glacier-park-plan-would-give-native-fish-boost

Credit: Julie Nelson, Glacier Park Service

Winter Ball at the Hall on February 16

A fairly new North Fork tradition is the Winter Ball in February.  For the third year in a row, the culmination of weekly winter dance lessons is the glamorous Winter Ball at the Hall.  For all of its glitz and glitter, the Winter Ball is funky and in keeping with North Fork lifestyles.  Ladies comb through ball gowns in local thrift stores searching for just the right outfit and everyone brings refreshments to share.  Debo provides the music which is mostly along the lines of two step, waltz, and swing dance music……sometimes there is line dancing too.

The entire community is invited to this event which starts at 7:00.

Even if you don’t want to dance, it is a great opportunity to visit with neighbors and see what North Forkers have been learning in the winter dance classes.

Winter 2019 Interlocal Meeting – Updated

The Winter 2019 Interlocal Meeting will be hosted by Flathead County. It is scheduled to be held from 10:00 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20 at the Flathead Forest headquarters building, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901. (The Forest Service volunteered to supply meeting space.)  The meeting will be in the 3-Forks Conference Room.

David Prunty, Flathead County Public Works Director has included the attached agenda.
North Fork Interlocal Meeting Agenda – Winter 2019
Interlocal Issues – Winter 2019
David’s email address is: dprunty@flathead.mt.gov

As a convenience Bill Walker is serving as a central point of contact for issues that North Fork organizations would like to see addressed by the various government agencies represented at the meeting. If you can send him your issues by the afternoon of Tuesday, February 5, he will pass them on to the various organizations in enough time for them to prepare their presentations. 

Bill’s contact information is:
William K. Walker
11233 North Fork Road
Polebridge, MT 59928-9611
(406) 407-2764
e-mail wkwalker@nvdi.com

Thank you,
Vernon