Community Briefs

Seeley Lake Shelter Available

SEELEY LAKE - As of 12 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, the American Red Cross opened a shelter in Seeley Lake at Mission Bible Fellowship for those displaced by flooding in or around Seeley Lake. MBF is located on Highway 83 and School Lane.

If the shelter is not being used for a 12-hour period, it will not be staffed and put back into standby. If this is the case call the Red Cross directly at 1-800-853-2570 if needing shelter. They have personnel on standby that will be able to open the shelter within four to six hours of receiving the call.

Opening for Placid and Salmon Lake State Parks Delayed Due to Flooding

SEELEY LAKE - Montana State Parks delayed the opening of Placid Lake State Park and Salmon Lake State Park due to spring flooding at both sites. Salmon Lake State Park campground opened May 8 however the boat ramp at Salmon Lake and Placid Lake State Park remain closed until further notice.

The parks were expected to open May 1 but high water levels in both lakes have resulted in flooding to park areas and roads. Extended flooding is expected due to weather conditions and excessive amounts of winter snowfall. Park staff will continue to monitor the situation and the parks will open for the season once public safety concerns have been alleviated.

For current park conditions and updates visit stateparks.mt.gov. Montana State Parks apologizes for any inconvenience and would like to thank visitors for their patience.

Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA Opening Delayed Until June 1

The Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area (WMA) will open at noon on Friday, June 1 this year, instead of the regularly scheduled opening of May 15. 

Persistent snow, a slow spring thaw and extremely wet roads have prompted the extended closure, as well as the need to allow habitat bordering the WMA to thaw and green up to receive migratory wildlife that wintered on the WMA.

The extended closure to all public entry pertains to that portion of the WMA bounded by Clearwater Junction on its southwest corner, generally lying north of Highway 200, east of Highway 83, and south and west of Woodworth Road. The portion of the WMA within these bounds will be closed to all public entry, whether by foot or other means, until noon on June 1.

Also included in the extended closure is that portion of the WMA lying west of Highway 83 along the west shore of the Clearwater River. That portion of the WMA will be closed to vehicles until noon on June 1, due to wet roads, but is open for the public to travel on foot without the use of bikes or other vehicles.

Temporary Closure on Cramer Creek Road #2964

 KALISPELL – Cramer Creek Road, Forest Road #2964, located approximately 3 miles northwest of Lakeside on the Swan Lake Ranger District, will be closed to motorized public use at approximately mile marker 5 to mile marker 5.25 from 6:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Monday - Friday starting May 1st. This closure will be in effect until May 11th. This includes vehicle and snowmobile traffic.

 This road restriction is in place for public safety during skyline logging operations associated with the Louie Timber Sale. The skyline will be hanging over the Cramer Creek Road during operational hours and therefore will be unsafe to travel underneath.

While recreating on the Flathead National Forest, users are advised to use caution on plowed roads, and not to block gates on haul routes. Additionally, please report any road damage, or road issues of concern to your local forest service office.

For updated information on temporary road restrictions, campgrounds and spring access on the Flathead National Forest, please contact the respective ranger district: Hungry Horse/Glacier View at 406-387-3800, Tally Lake at 406-758-5204, Swan Lake at 406-837-7500 or Spotted Bear at 406-758-5376 or 406-387-3800.

Public Hearing for Road Use Agreement for Evergreen Drive, May 10

MISSOULA – The Missoula County Commissioners will hear from Missoula County Chief Public Works Officer Greg Robertson May 10 at a public hearing 2 p.m. regarding the road use agreement between the Double Arrow Ranch Land Owner’s Association and Deer Creek Excavating, LLC. This hearing is required to discuss the use of Evergreen Drive as a secondary haul route from the proposed Cottonwood Gravel Pit to access the Double Arrow Ranch.

The DARLOA Board requested the Conditional Use Permit for the Cottonwood Gravel Pit proposed by Deer Creek Excavating be amended to lift the restriction on Evergreen Drive as a haul route for Double Arrow Ranch projects. The Powell County Planning Board approved the amendment at their Jan. 11 meeting providing Deer Creek Excavating enters into an Ingress and Egress Agreement with DARLOA and Missoula County. This was required “to minimize adverse impacts to adjacent landowners within the Double Arrow Ranch.”

Without reaching an agreement between DARLOA, Deer Creek and Missoula County, Powell County Planner Carl Hamming said Deer Creek Excavating would be limited to using Cottonwood Lakes as its only haul route.

The meeting is open to the public. It will be held in the Courthouse Annex conference room 151. Full agenda is available at https://www.missoulacounty.us/government/administration/commissioners-office/commissioners-meeting-minutes-agenda-portal

Farmers’ Market Coupon Program Available

MISSOULA – The Farmer’s Market Coupon Program is available again this summer through Missoula Aging Services. Eligible seniors can receive $50 worth of coupons for purchasing fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables at Missoula’s farmers’ markets from June until the markets close in October.

To be eligible, the applicant must be 60 years of age or older, a resident of Missoula County and meet income eligibility guidelines. This is a seasonal program. Applications are only accepted in the spring.

Interested seniors must complete a Farmers’ Market Coupon Program application form, which is available online at https://missoulaagingservices.org/our-services/nutrition-program/other-nutrition-programs/. Hard copies are also available at the Seeley Lake Senior Center and from MAS Seeley-Swan Resource Specialist Linda Howard at her office in the Bison and Bear Center. For more information call Howard at 406-541-7688.