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Severe Drought Plagues Northwest Montana

Heat wave subsides but fire danger remains high as dry conditions persist

By Dillon Tabish
Smoke rises from the Glacier Rim Fire early on June 30, 2015. Justin Franz | Flathead Beacon

The aftereffects of an unprecedented spring and early summer are showing up across Northwest Montana as stream flows and lake levels plummet, fire conditions worsen and drought conditions surface.

This corner of the state entered “severe drought” status last week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Flathead Valley did not receive measureable rainfall from June 4 through July 5, a record for consecutive dry days, and June was the warmest on record for the city of Kalispell, according to National Weather Service historical data dating back to 1899.

The elevation of Flathead Lake has dropped one foot in less than one month, leading NorthWestern Energy, which manages the lake’s outflows through Kerr Dam, to implement its drought management plan. The company announced July 2 that it would be taking measures to maintain the lake’s elevation at roughly 2,892 feet, which is the minimum target level for summer.

Claudia Rapkoch, a spokesperson with NorthWestern Energy, said the company is collaborating with the Department of Interior to balance the flow from Hungry Horse Dam into the lake and the outflow through Kerr Dam.

“We were really hoping for some rain and that hasn’t happened,” Rapkoch said.

The historic heat wave that swept across the region in recent weeks pushed temperatures into triple digits. Kalispell set several records for high temperatures, including new daily highs on the Fourth of July weekend. The mercury hit 95 degrees on July 3, breaking the 1922 mark of 94. The high on July 4 was 99, breaking the 2001 record by four degrees. Temperatures hit 103 degrees in Libby and 102 in Polson. The heat subsided on July 5 but is expected to return to the mid to low 90s this week.

The blistering conditions have created critical fire danger throughout the region. Fireworks were banned throughout Flathead County after the city of Whitefish and Flathead County commissioners made a last-minute decision on July 2 to prohibit them on all public and private lands. Public displays at Whitefish Lake and in Bigfork and Lakeside were also canceled as the National Weather Service announced a red flag warning.

“We have to say no fireworks, period. It’s a fire hazard we’re discussing here,” Flathead County Commissioner Gary Krueger said.

Counties across western Montana implemented similar bans.

The local 911 dispatch center, which serves the valley’s cities and surrounding Flathead County, received 213 fireworks complaints between 4 p.m. and 4 a.m., July 4-5, according to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office. Aside from the complaints, 87 calls were actual fire-related. Crews were successful in suppressing a number of small fires last weekend that were either human-caused or sparked from lightning. Only one local fire in West Valley reached half an acre.

The Glacier Rim Fire, the largest fire in the region, has burned 100 acres and was 70 percent contained on July 6. The human-caused blaze, situated north of Columbia Falls off the North Fork Road, spilled over on July 4 and burned 25 additional acres due to high winds. Cooler weather and higher humidity helped firefighters catch the spill over and secure containment lines.

Flathead County assembled a team that assessed structures in the Spoon and Bailey Lake areas. Canyon Creek Road has been closed to public access at the junction with the North Fork Road #486 and at the junction at Trumbull Creek Road #9848.

The valley entered Stage 1 fire restrictions starting July 3, which means campfires are prohibited except in designated areas, like fire rings at developed campgrounds.