But despite my draining hope that the snow gods will drop a Hail Mary in the mountains to save the season, there are still reasons to celebrate the Flathead River system amid an underwhelming snowpack. This year marks 50 years since the 219 miles of water on the north, middle and south forks were officially designated for protection under the Wild and Scenic River Act.
Even though the Middle Fork inspired the 1964 Act following a decades-long effort by conservationists to halt the proposed Spruce Park dam in what is now the Great Bear Wilderness, the river system was not designated until 1976.
That delay is largely due to the reluctance of Democratic Sen. Lee Metcalf, who was beset with painful memories of the 1964 flood, which wiped out roads, bridges and homes across the Flathead Valley. Could the Spruce Park dam have mitigated the destruction while also promoting energy independence? Those considerations, among others, delayed the designation for 12 years. But by 1976, Sen. Metcalf was finally swayed, smoothing a path forward for Congress to designate the Flathead River system under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
Five decades later, the river system remains free-flowing and one of the most ecologically intact waterways in the lower 48 states, despite increasing development pressure as the Flathead Valley’s population and recreation opportunities grow.
You can read more about the history of the Flathead River system’s Wild and Scenic designation in the spring edition of Flathead Living, which is on stands now.
The spring runoff has triggered the official launch of 50th anniversary celebrations hosted by the Flathead Rivers Alliance (FRA). The party starts this month with a stacked calendar of volunteer opportunities, educational programming, river safety initiatives and events, including the headliner party of the summer on July 10 at the 50th River Fest in Marantette Park in Columbia Falls.
Summer events include volunteer trainings, a river rundown speaker series in April and May, an Earth Day River Cleanup, the 21st Annual Paddling Film Festival on May 2, and more.
Warm Temperatures Drive ‘Early-Onset’ Spring Runoff in Northwest Montana
After a record-breaking warm and wet winter, hydrologists are forecasting streamflow deficits ranging from 75% to 90% of normal in northwest Montana as the chance of late-season snowpack recovery diminishes
Montana Judge Upholds Lake Koocanusa Water Quality Rule
Conservation groups and the state's environmental regulatory agency prevailed in a lawsuit challenging efforts by B.C. coal miners and a state oversight board to invalidate Montana's 2020 selenium standard
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