KALISPELL – Flathead National Forest is moving forward with a series of meetings as it works with Glacier National Park on a comprehensive river management plan for all three forks of the Flathead River.
The agencies started work on the Comprehensive River Management Plan for the Flathead earlier this spring. The idea is to assess the state of the river, on the anniversary of its 1978 designation as one of the first Wild and Scenic Rivers by the U.S. Government.
The plan is looking at a variety of issues, from current use and future development to water quality and wildlife habitat. The Forest Service and the park want to collaborate on a "monitoring strategy" so they can gauge future impacts and "secure the remarkable values" of the watershed. That includes the remote North and Middle Forks, as well as the South Fork.
A meeting at Flathead Valley Community College next Wednesday will focus on wildlife management and monitoring along the river. It runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Arts and Technology Building.
Other public meetings are being planned in the months ahead.
