Community Briefs

Blood Drive in Potomac Feb. 19

POTOMAC – The Blackfoot Home and Community Club are sponsoring an American Red Cross Blood Drive at the Potomac Greenough Community Center, 29827 Potomac Road, Feb. 19 from 3 – 7:15 p.m. The schedule an appointment call Janelle at 244-6156.

SSHS and SLE Eighth Graders Announce Seeley-Swan 2018 Career Day!

SEELEY LAKE - Business owners and managers interested in reaching out to inform and/or hire students for summer employment/internships are cordially invited to the Seeley-Swan 2018 Career Day Wednesday, March 7 at Seeley-Swan High School. The job interviewing/information sharing opportunity will be during the afternoon session, from 12:45-2:50 p.m. (set up anytime after noon).

For more information, questions or to display a table/booth to share information about summer positions and/or do job interviews on site please call 677-2265 or email Michele Holmes at mholmessle@sleonline.org.

Proposed Flood Map Reflects Changes to Local Flood Risk, Insurance Rates

90-Day Appeal Period for Filing Appeals and Comments Began Feb. 8

MISSOULA — Missoula County’s flood insurance rate map update for the Swan River is nearing completion. The new maps will provide Missoula County with more accurate flood risk information for the Swan River area that can help local officials and residents make informed decisions about reducing flood risks and purchasing flood insurance.

The mapping project was initiated by Missoula County and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). It is part of a nationwide effort led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to increase local knowledge of flood risks and support actions to address and reduce those risks.

“Missoula County has worked closely with Montana DNRC and FEMA to update the existing Swan River floodplain maps that were produced back in the early 1980’s,” said Todd Klietz, Missoula County Floodplain Administrator. “These updated maps provide more reliable and detailed information about flooding risks in the Swan Valley for landowners and the County.”

Before new flood insurance rate maps become effective, there is a 90-day appeal period during which local residents and business owners can provide additional data for consideration before the maps are final. This appeal period starts Feb. 8 and ends May 8.

Missoula County officials encourage residents and business owners to review the proposed flood insurance rate maps for the Swan River to learn about local flood risks, potential future flood insurance requirements and any concerns or questions about the information provided.

If you have technical and scientific information, such as detailed hydraulic or hydrologic data, you may be able to appeal the flood risk information on the preliminary flood map during the 90-day appeal period.

For further details on this process or to view the proposed maps, visit http://www.missoulacounty.us/swanfp or contact Missoula County Floodplain Administrator Todd Klietz, at 406-258-4841 or tklietz@missoulacounty.us

Flathead Wild and Scenic River: Comprehensive River Management Plan

KALISPELL - The Flathead National Forest, in coordination with Glacier National Park, has begun the process to prepare a Comprehensive River Management Plan (CRMP) for the 3-Forks of the Flathead River.

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 will be reaching out to the public to provide information on background of the statutory requirements of a CRMP under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, describe the need for change from the current river management plan and to gather public input on management issues for the CRMP. The first public meeting introducing the project will be held on March 6th from 6-8 p.m. at the Cedar Creek Lodge Conference Room in Columbia Falls, Montana. Additional meetings will follow allowing for further participation and opportunities to comment, that will help develop the CRMP.

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.

The Wild and Scenic River Act became law in 1968. It is intended to recognize that certain selected rivers of the nation possess outstanding, remarkable scenic, recreational geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural or other similar values that shall be preserved in free flowing condition and that they and their immediate environments shall be protected for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.

This CRMP effort will be coordinated by HydroSolutions Inc, a Helena, Montana engineering, water and natural resource consulting firm, who was recently awarded the contract to complete the CRMP after a competitive bid process. Bids for the project were received and reviewed by the Flathead National Forest under an existing Region 1, USDA Forest Service Indefinite Delivery/ Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract. Work began in October 2017 and is scheduled for completion in 2020.

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