Public comment period now open to develop Flathead National Forest’s Comprehensive River Management Plan; Public informational sessions announced for January 2025

News and Adventure from Glacier National Park

The Flathead National Forest is developing a Comprehensive River Management Plan for the three forks of the designated Wild and Scenic Flathead River. The Forest has released a proposed action document that describes draft river management components, available for public review on the project webpage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/flathead/?project=56536

The proposed action document outlines desired conditions, as well as indicators that will be monitored throughout the life of the plan, to protect and preserve outstandingly remarkable values of the three forks of the Flathead River System. The proposed action document describes user capacity, proposed management actions and monitoring indicators, and identifies upper thresholds of use for the different river segments that would trigger additional management actions needed to protect Wild and Scenic River values into the future.

The draft river management plan is still being developed and will be modified throughout the NEPA analysis process. Public input on the proposed action will be considered and influence the environmental analysis. A draft of the Comprehensive River Management Plan is expected to be released in summer of 2025, accompanied by the environmental analysis document. At that time there will be an additional 30-day public comment period.

Wild and Scenic River management plans protect and enhance the outstandingly remarkable values identified in Wild and Scenic designation. Management of the three forks of the Flathead is currently directed by the 1980 Flathead Wild and Scenic River Management Plan and the 1986 Recreation Management Direction.

The Comprehensive River Management Plan project will revise the 1980 Plan and bring it into compliance with the statutory requirements of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The plan will reflect and account for the changes that have occurred since the Wild and Scenic designation, including visitor use patterns, environmental conditions, Endangered Species Act species listing, and other laws that affect resources within the Wild and Scenic River corridor. The plan will provide direction towards meeting and maintaining desired conditions, as well as monitoring indicators, triggers, and thresholds for adjustment to management of the Flathead Wild and Scenic River into the future.

Two opportunities to join us for an information session on developing the revised Comprehensive River Management Plan:

Tuesday January 21 at 6pm – 8pm
Wednesday January 22 at 6pm – 8pm
Flathead Valley Community College, Arts and Technology building, room 130 (AT-130)

Flathead National Forest and Glacier National Park will provide background on river management, information on the development of the Comprehensive River Management Plan, history of the three forks, and Wild and Scenic designation. Both information sessions will be open house format with information stations staffed by members of the planning team available to answer specific questions. The sessions will start with a brief presentation with an option for virtual attendance.

How to submit comments on the project:

This public comment period will be open for 30 days, concluding February 7, 2025. Comments including attachments may be submitted electronically at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?project=56536

Written comments may be mailed, or hand delivered Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays, to the Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger Station (PO Box 190340, 10 Hungry Horse Drive, Hungry Horse, MT, 59919) or to the Forest Supervisors Office, (650 Wolf Pack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901).

To join the email list and receive notification of future public engagement opportunities, visit the project webpage above and click “Subscribe to Email Updates” on the right sidebar menu under “Get Connected”.

Additional information on the Comprehensive River Management Plan and the development of the plan to date can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/flathead/home/?cid=fseprd573051

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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Source: http://hikinginglacier.blogspot.com/2025/01/public-comment-period-now-open-to.html