Tag Archives: Flathead National Forest

Website upgraded as Montana wildflower season approaches

Environmental Issues, News, ,

From a recent post to the Missoulian . . .

The white on the ground remains snow instead of trillium petals, but wildflower season approaches.

To plan for that, consider an expanded U.S. Forest Service website that features great bloom locations across the nation. Montana has a dozen options, including the Lolo, Bitterroot, Kootenai, Helena, Gallatin, Custer, Flathead, Beaverhead-Deerlodge and Lewis and Clark national forests.

Continue reading . . .

For more information, see the U.S. Forest Service’s “Celebrating Wildflowers” website.

Glacier National Park shifts to winter mode

News, ,

Glacier National Park is shifting over to winter mode. The park is not closed by any means; there’s still plenty to see and do.

A couple of online publications have excellent articles on Glacier’s winter operations, including fees, activities and facilities.

The National Parks Traveler has a very complete write up, whereas the Flathead Beacon has a shorter, but more personal, discussion that includes information about Flathead National Forest as well as Glacier Park.

Temporary road access closures in the North Fork area

News, , ,

From a press release posted to the Flathead National Forest web site . . .

Release Date: Jun 28, 2011

Public access on the Moose Creek Road, Forest Road #210C, and the Moran Creek Road, Forest Road #5241, both located north of Columbia Falls on the Flathead National Forest, will have temporary access changes beginning Friday, July 1.

The Moose Creek Road will be closed approximately 1mile before the Moose Creek Trailhead, Forest Trail #9, and the entire length of the Moran Creek Road will be closed.

The temporary closures are designed to mitigate disturbance to grizzly bears while activities of the Red Whale Fuels Reduction Project are taking place. The roads will open when the fuels reduction work is halted this fall. The temporary road closures will be implemented again next summer when the fuels reduction project continues.

For more information, please contact the Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District at 387-3800.

Rising water forces closures at several Flathead National Forest access sites

Flood Information, News,

From today’s Missoulian . . .

Rising water levels on the Flathead River have forced closures at several access sites in the Flathead National Forest, U.S. Forest Service officials announced Wednesday.

The closures went into effect at access sites at West Glacier and Blankenship Bridge, while some sites at Big Creek Campground near the North Fork of the Flathead River, north of Columbia Falls, were also closed.

Continue reading . . .

Red Meadow Road opening delayed

News, ,

From the Hungry Horse News comes word that conditions are just too soggy for Red Meadow Road to open on schedule . . .

The Flathead National Forest will keep Red Meadow Road, Forest Road No. 114, about 40 miles north of Columbia Falls, closed to protect the road surface past the usual June 1 opening date. The gate on the road, about two miles off the North Fork Road, will be closed until road surface conditions improve.

Continue reading . . .

Late snow melt presents forest challenges; Hay Creek Road closed

News, ,

Saturated soils and a delayed spring runoff are causing a lot of problems in the Flathead National Forest. In the North Fork, for instance, Hay Creek Road is closed due to a slump. Today’s Daily Inter Lake has the story . . .

Warming temperatures and snow melt are contributing to increased water levels in rivers and lakes, and saturated soils across the Flathead National Forest, especially on roads and trails.

Forest officials urge all forest users to use caution when encountering deep snow, downed trees, blocked roads and trails, wet and muddy conditions, or high and fast-moving water.

“We encourage all forest users to contact a local Forest Service office to obtain current information about road and trail conditions, access, and ideas for alternate travel routes,” said Denise Germann, the forest’s public affairs officer. “Recreationists on or near a river, stream or lake should use extreme caution as water levels may fluctuate quickly.”

Continue reading . . .

U.S. FWS investigating wolf poaching in Flathead Forest; reward offered

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

From today’s Daily Inter Lake . . .

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the recent shooting of two wolves on the Flathead National Forest.

The carcasses were found on the same day, Nov. 6, in different locations on the forest.

One was found along Coal Creek Road in the North Fork Flathead drainage and the other in the Miller Creek area west of Olney.

Read the full article . . .

The Missoulian also posted an article on this incident.

Life from the ashes

Environmental Issues, Fire Information and Status, News, , , ,

This week’s Hungry Horse News has an interesting write-up on forest recovery after a wildfire . . .

On a hard hot day in August, Scott Lang, Alison Lay and Mike McClellan are standing in a young forest in Glacier National Park, taking note of the trees.

The forest doesn’t look like much. The trees are short and sort of scruffy, most are no taller than five or six feet…

Read the full article . . .

New Flathead National Forest supervisor has full plate

News,

Here’s a pretty good article on Chip Weber, the new Flathead National Supervisor, from Thursday’s Daily Inter Lake . . .

Chip Weber has a diverse background and broad interests in forest management, all of which should be helpful for the new supervisor of the Flathead National Forest.

Weber came to the Flathead about two months ago after five years as a district ranger on the Willamette National Forest in Oregon . . .

Read the full article . . .