Category Archives: News

Flathead County road department is planning ahead

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Well, we can’t go too many weeks without talking about the darn road. So, here’s the latest, courtesy of the Daily Inter Lake. The item of most direct interest to North Forkers is that the county will probably start taking applications for this summer’s dust control cost-share program in February . . .

The work plan that classifies and prioritizes Flathead County road projects will be updated in the next few months, following Thursday action by the county commissioners.

County Public Works Director Dave Prunty asked commissioners to approve a $7,900 expenditure to Peccia and Associates to update that plan, which they prepared about two years ago. The document identifies which roads will be maintained and which roads will be improved each year.

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Flathead Basin snowpack just 69 percent of average

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Confirming what everyone has noticed, snow accumulation is considerably less than normal so far this winter . . .

Mountain snowpack in the Flathead River Basin is 69 percent of average, according to Jan. 1 figures from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The Kootenai River Basin to the west has snowpack that is 88 percent of average.Statewide, mountain snowpack is below average.

Jan. 1 represents about 45 percent of the expected seasonal snowfall, so more than half of the snowfall season remains.

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Winter North Fork Interlocal meeting scheduled for February 15

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The winter Interlocal meeting is scheduled for February 15. Here’s the official announcement from the North Fork Landowners’ Association website . . .

The 2012 North Fork Winter Interlocal will be hosted by Glacier National Park February 15, 2012 at the Glacier National Park Headquarters’ Community Building in West Glacier. The meeting will take place from 10am-1pm and include updates from all of the North Fork organizations and local agencies. Agencies planning to present include Glacier National Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the Flathead National Forest, the US Border Patrol, State Lands, Flathead County and others.

If you already have questions that you would like to ask, send them to contact@nflandowners.org and we’ll pass them along to the event organizers. Giving the presenters an opportunity to prepare in advance always helps ensure that the best information is provided.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear what is happening in our area and exchange ideas. For more information about who will be participating, see the draft meeting agenda here.

More snowy owls migrate to Montana this winter

Environmental Issues, News

This is pretty interesting. It seems Montana is getting more than its share of snowy owls this winter . . .

More snowy owls appear to have migrated from the Arctic to Montana and other states this winter in search of food.

The owls are identifiable by their brilliant white color, measure 2 feet tall or taller and have wingspans of nearly 5 feet.

In Montana, the owls have been seen from Kalispell to Plentywood and as far south as the Crow Reservation.

Last week, one snowy owl was spotted in the area of the Kidsports complex and Glacier High School in north Kalispell while five owls were observed in the Somers area.

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Wolf hunting to close in large section of NW Montana; quota reached

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

This AP article is referring to Wolf Management Unit 101, which covers a good portion of Flathead and Lincoln counties. Wolf hunting is still open in Unit 110, covering the North Fork. See the FWP Wolf Hunting Guide page for more detail . . .

Wildlife officials say wolf hunting will close in portions of northwest Montana on Thursday after hunters filled the harvest quota for the area.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesman Tom Palmer said hunters filled the 19-wolf quota for a wildlife management area that includes portions of Lincoln and Flathead counties.

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Tester’s Forest Jobs and Recreation Act dead for 2011

Environmental Issues, News,

It’s official, Sen. Jon Tester’s “Forest Jobs and Recreation Act” is dead for this year . . .

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester’s Forest Jobs and Recreation Act was not included in a House version of the 2012 omnibus bill to fund the federal government that was released Thursday morning, setting off a round of finger-pointing between his office and that of Rep. Denny Rehberg.

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New aviation group formed to aid search & rescue efforts

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This is a pretty big deal, with potentially significant impact on search and rescue operations in Flathead County, including the North Fork . . .

FEAR is in the air.

In this case, FEAR is not a formless feeling of terror, but Flathead Emergency Aviation Resources, a new nonprofit organization designed to give wings to search-and-rescue efforts.

The organization’s goal is to save time, energy and money in aviation endeavors of law enforcement and search-and-rescue groups by providing easier, cheaper access to aircraft and pilots, according to one of the main organizers, Flathead County Undersheriff Jordan White.

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Tester’s Forest Jobs and Recreation Act might get a shot before year-end

Environmental Issues, News, ,

From today’s Missoulian . . .

Sen. Jon Tester’s Forest Jobs and Recreation Act may get a last-minute vote before Congress closes out 2011.

But a lot of other Montana-related legislation will probably give the hurly-burly of December’s must-pass congressional action a pass. That includes Sen. Max Baucus’ Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act, Rep. Denny Rehberg’s Montana Land Sovereignty Act, and the Flathead Watershed Protection Act that both Baucus and Tester co-sponsored. However, Rehberg may get a vote on a measure to fast-track permitting of a U.S.-Canadian oil pipeline.

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Grizzly bear sightings increasing on Montana’s Beartooth Front

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

From the Associated Press . . .

Wildlife biologists say that reports of grizzly bears are increasing in Montana’s Beartooth Front, but it’s difficult to tell if there are more bears or just more bear sightings.

Barb Pitman, wildlife biologist with the Beartooth Ranger District in Red Lodge, told The Billings Gazette it’s not clear if there are simply more people exploring bear country.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife grizzly bear recovery coordinator Chris Servheen says bears are pushing out in all directions from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem…

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Headwaters Montana starts “Flathead River Otter” Facebook page

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

This is kind of fun. Headwaters Montana started up a “Flathead River Otter” Facebook page to increase awareness of the Flathead watershed and provide a place for informal discussion. If you’re on Facebook, wander over there and “like” the otter’s page . . .

Folks, no one knows the Flathead River and Flathead Lake better than the Flathead River Otter. If you love the Flathead, you “otter” like this page and share it with your friends!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Flathead-River-Otter/214196345315615