Category Archives: News

Burn permits required starting May 1

News,

If you’ve got a slash pile or whatever that needs burning, you’ll need a burn permit starting May 1 and running through June 30. (No burning is allowed July 1 – September 30.) Here are the highlights . . .

Burn permits are available online at http://www.firesafekalispell.com/.  Fill out the online form and a permit will be emailed to you.

If you don’t have Internet access — or don’t know someone who does — several locations can issue burn permits during normal business hours: the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation office in Kalispell at 655 Timberwolf Parkway, the DNRC office in Olney at 7425 U.S. 93 N., Flathead County Environmental Health on the second floor of the Earl Bennett Building at 1035 1st Ave. W. in Kalispell or the Bigfork Fire Department at 810 Grand Ave. in Bigfork.

Permits are free. One permit is required for each location, but the permit is good through June 30.

Have a copy of your permit with you when you burn.

Depending on air quality, there may be burning restrictions on some days. Before you burn, call the Flathead County Air Quality Hotline at 751-8144 or check online at http://flathead.mt.gov/environmentalhealth/burning.php.

You are responsible for any and all suppression costs if a fire escapes your control. Escaped debris burns are the leading cause of all wildfires in Montana. Don’t leave your fire unattended and don’t burn when windy.

Warm days; rising waters

Flood Information, News

The warm weather triggered a rise in river levels. It doesn’t look like much excitement in the Flathead Valley, though . . .

The National Weather Service is projecting Northwest Montana rivers and streams to rise over the next few days with some expected to approach or exceed flood stage.

The rising waters are due to recent warm weather and rain that is expected Wednesday night, continuing through Thursday. Along the Montana-Idaho border, as much as an inch is expected. About a half inch is expected in areas farther east.

Continue reading . . .

Crown of the Continent makes list of “Top 5 American Treasures to Protect in 2012”

Environmental Issues, News, ,

The “Crown of the Continent” area in Montana, including the North Fork of the Flathead River, made the list of “Top 5 American Treasures to Protect in 2012” published on Earth Day by the Center for American Progress . . .

The United States is home to some of the most stunning and unique natural areas in the world, including 397 national parks, 101 national monuments, and 556 national wildlife refuges. But many more public lands—managed by the federal government and owned by all Americans—are worthy of protection for future generations. This Earth Day it’s worth thinking about the places that have strong local coalitions calling for protection that should be granted this year.

Continue reading . . .

Yellowstone Grizzlies to keep ‘threatened’ status until at least 2014

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

The debate over the Grizzly’s status in the Yellowstone Park area continues . . .

Grizzly bears in and around Yellowstone National Park will keep their threatened status for at least the next two to three years, as wildlife officials said Friday they plan to bolster their case that the species has recovered.

Federal and state officials insist there are enough bears in the three-state Yellowstone region to guard against a reversal of the decades-long effort to bring them back from near-extermination.

Continue reading . . .

Earth Day: Glacier Park embracing green initiative

Environmental Issues, News, ,

Glacier National Park is a climate change poster child . . .

Against the backdrop of a warming world, Glacier National Park and its waning namesakes have for years stood out as one of the most tangible manifestations of climate change.

And because the park’s administrative brass consistently marches at the vanguard of research, education and climate-friendly initiatives, Glacier Park has assumed a dual role, serving both as a poster child for the perils of global warming and a trailblazer in the efforts to mitigate its effects.

Continue reading . . .

Most difficult Sun Road work just about finished

News, ,

Looks like the worst of the remaining Going-to-the-Sun Road maintenance in Glacier National Park should be wrapped up by next spring . . .

Glacier National Park visitors again can expect traffic delays on Going-to-the-Sun Road this summer due to a long-term road reconstruction project.

But the $137 million Sun Road rehabilitation project’s most difficult phase on the road’s alpine section is expected to be almost entirely finished by this fall.

“The most expensive, most difficult construction areas, the ones with the adverse weather and short seasons, our plan is to have that done at the latest by spring of 2013,” said Jack Gordon, the park’s landscape architect.

Continue reading . . .

Web site offers good guide to climbing and hiking in the Whitefish Range

News, Travel Articles,

Rachel Potter passed along a link to a rather thorough write-up on the Whitefish Range or, rather, the entire mountain corridor, starting in Montana and running up into Canada. Lightly edited, here are her notes/comments: ‘This is a very interesting site.  Lots of hike descriptions in the Whitefish Range.  It’s a “peak bagger” site, but lots of walk-ups listed.  The intro to the range is okay, but not 100%accurate.’

Link: Whitefish Range(MT/BC) page at summitpost.org.

Lake Mountain trail offers good wildflower viewing later this year

News, , ,

An earlier post included a link to the Forest Service’s “Celebrating Wildflowers” website. Rachel Potter points out that the site’s “Northern Region Viewing Area” page includes a nice description of wildflowers on the Lake Mountain trail in the Flathead National Forest.  She goes on to mention that the route to Lake Mountain can also be accessed from Red Meadow — the same trailhead as Link Lake.