Page 11 - Flathead Beacon // 9.2.15

NEWS
Record Low Streamflows on Flathead Tributaries Governor seeks disaster declaration for Lake County agriculture producers
BY DILLON TABISH OF THE BEACON
The two primary tributaries of the
Flathead River have the lowest stream- flows on record for this time of year, fur- ther reflecting the extreme drought con- ditions that are tormenting the region in a year being defined by smoky skies and stingy weather.
Entering the final days of August, the Middle Fork of the Flathead River was running at 470 cubic feet per second, a new record surpassing the previous low set in 1940, according to the National Weather Service. The median flow for this time of year is 977 cfs.
The North Fork of the Flathead River was running at 628 cfs, surpassing the 2001 record low. The median is 1,260 cfs.
The streamflows are the lowest since monitoring gauges were established 75 years ago, according to Ray Nickless, NWS hydrologist.
The Fisher and Yaak rivers, two of the primary rivers leading into the Kootenai, are also near record lows, Nickless said.
Both the main stem of the Flathead and Kootenai are being aided by input
from dams in Hungry Horse and Libby, respectively, he said.
“Those rivers would be much lower if they weren’t being helped out by the dams, but of course those dams are draw- ing way down as well,” he said.
The water temperatures in the Flat- head appear to be staying around normal, between 58-60 degrees, he said.
Northwest Montana is in the clutches of an extreme drought following an unprecedented spring and erratic sum- mer. The month of August has received only 0.07 inches of rain in Kalispell, three-quarters of an inch below the his- torical average, according to NWS data. The average temperature has been 1.1 degree warmer than normal. It has fluc- tuated from a monthly high of 101 degrees on Aug. 1 to a new record low, which was set Aug. 23 with 31 degrees. Kalispell experienced its driest May on record and warmest June on record. July was the sixth warmest on record.
Drought and weather conditions have fueled wildfires across the region, and as of Aug. 27, 303 square miles had burned in Montana, mostly in this corner of the state.
But perhaps the greatest impact has fallen on farmers and ranchers.
Livestock producers in Lake County are showing losses up to 70 percent of pasture and hay yields. Some may be forced to liquidate a portion or all of their livestock, according to a letter writ- ten by Gov. Steve Bullock urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to declare a natural disaster in the county.
“Extreme heat in June and July has stressed crops and created extraordi- nary demand for irrigation throughout Montana,” he wrote in the Aug. 24 letter.
Ed Daugherty, the Montana State Farm Service Agency county executive director for Lake and Sanders County, said producers throughout the area are struggling.
“I’ve had several hay growers tell me they’ve gotten anywhere from 10 to 25 percent of what they normally get,” he said.
The FSA announced recently that 15 counties in the state, including Lake, Flathead, Lincoln, Sanders and Glacier, are eligible for assistance through the Livestock Forage Disaster Program. Pro- ducers must send applications and pro- vide documentation of losses by Feb. 1.
“We don’t normally have disasters like this,” he said.
“It’s a tough year.”
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“Community banking means being listened to.”
- MICHAEL G.
“WE DON’T NORMALLY HAVE DISASTERS LIKE THIS.”
ED DAUGHERTY, MONTANA STATE FARM SERVICE AGENCY COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR LAKE AND SANDERS COUNTY
Immanuel Lutheran Develops Plan for
Low-Income Senior Housing in Kalispell
New facilities will offer one- and two- bedroom apartments, amenities and social spaces
BY CLARE MENZEL OF THE BEACON
A lot of things get more difficult as we age, but senior housing provider Imman- uel Lutheran Communities believes that finding an affordable place to call home shouldn’t be one of them.
Immanuel Lutheran has for 58 years offered faith-based care and housing for Flathead seniors, and this October it will apply for federal income tax credits in order to construct 40 new low-income senior-living apartments near Kalispell.
While conducting market research two years ago, Immanuel Lutheran’s CEO Jason Cronk discovered the region’s need for affordable living for seniors is greater than the national average – perhaps, in part, due to the growing elderly popula- tion. Cronk found that Kalispell’s hous- ing market alone could support 100 new low-income residential units.
“The board immediately saw this as a
mission fit,” Cronk said, referring to the not-for-profit organization’s declared purpose of providing a faith-based envi- ronment to enrich the lives of older adults.
Immanuel Lutheran Communities currently offers over 100 independent and assisted living apartments at Buffalo Hill Terrace, but these are not designated as low-income housing, according to the state of Montana’s standards.
The new housing unit, called Timber Meadows, will be located at 41 Meridian Court and will offer one- and two-bed- room apartments. Plans include ameni- ties such as a library, a fitness center, a business room, an arts and crafts room, and an outdoors area with a fire pit and picnic tables.
“We’re really building a community for seniors, not just an apartment building,” said Cronk.
The current cost estimate for the center is $7.5 million. In October, the community
center will submit an application and give a presentation to the Montana Board of Housing, and in January, the board will announce the tax-credit recipients. Some of the proposed construction’s cost bur- den may be alleviated by a federal home grant, for which Cronk is also applying.
As of August this year, 25 organiza- tions submitted letters of intent to apply for the credit, and Cronk predicts no more than seven projects will be awarded cred- its. Though Cronk says the application has many strengths, including a demon- strated need in the region as well as Immanuel Lutheran’s established history in providing senior care, he also wouldn’t be surprised if it takes two or three years to receive the needed credits.
“We’re going to keep applying,” Cronk said. “We’re responding to a local need. That’s our ministry serving the community.”
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SEPTEMBER 2, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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