Loaner Life Jacket Stations Make Debut on Flathead River System
All too often agency partners and Flathead Rivers Alliance have seen river users putting on the three forks of the Flathead River without life jackets. On May 27, 2022, Flathead Rivers Alliance and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers- Armed Forces Initiative volunteers teamed up to install two permanent loaner life jacket stations. Loaner life jacket stations have been traditionally provided by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MT FWP) at lake access points, but not river accesses. This installation project for river access sites is said to be the first of its kind in Montana.
To increase river safety education, reduce burden on agencies and eliminate preventable fatalities on the three forks of the Flathead River it was identified that select river access sites would benefit from installation of permanent loaner life jacket stand stations. Thanks to funding from a Flathead Electric Coop Roundup Grant Mike Beckwith, FRA Volunteer/Former Board Member, was able to construct stands like existing MT FWP loaner life jacket stands in schematics and materials. Flathead Rivers Alliance worked with MT FWP and other agency partners to develop river specific safety messaging that was attached to station stand to ensure cohesive messaging.
In 2021, a partnership was entered between MT FWP and Flathead Rivers Alliances to boost river safety. MT FWP supplies life jackets for Flathead Rivers Alliance’s River Ambassador Program. River Ambassadors then offer loaner life jackets at popular river access sites during their shifts. The move to permanent loaner life jacket stations at select river access points not only allows additional river safety messaging, but also accessibility of life jackets beyond volunteer shifts. The desire is to expand loaner life jacket station system over time.
Did You Know: When it comes to rivers not only does Montana law require persons under 12 to wear a life jacket when boating, but there must be a wearable life jacket for each person on water recreational vessels. Good rule of thumb is if a vessel is designed to be rowed, paddled, or has a motor attached you need wearable life jackets for everyone. 2022 Montana Boating Regulations
Permanent Loaner Life Jacket Station Locations
Life jackets available Memorial Day - Labor Day
West Glacier River Access Boating Site (Middle Fork of the Flathead River)
Glacier Rim River Access Boating Site (North Fork of the Flathead River)
Roving Loaner Life Jacket Stations
Loaner life jackets will be available during River Ambassador volunteer pop-up information booth shifts at popular river access sites on Middle and North Forks throughout the summer.
Loaner Life Jacket Drop Return Locations
Roving River Ambassador pop-up information booths
West Glacier River Access Boating Site (Middle Fork of the Flathead River)
Glacier Rim River Access Boating Site (North Fork of the Flathead River)
Lary’s Fly & Supply (604 Nucleus Ave., Columbia Falls)
Home Ranch Bottoms (8950 N Fork Rd., Polebridge)
Hungry Horse Ranger Station (10 Hungry Horse Dr., Hungry Horse) *Weekdays Only
Sunshine Flamer (FRA Staff) and Mark Beckwith (FRA Volunteer and Former Board Member ) load loaner life jacket station materials in preparation for spring installation at river access sites.
This project is made possible thanks to grant funding from Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Roundup for Safety Program and in-kind donations and services from MT FWP, Flathead National Forest, and Flathead Rivers Alliance and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Armed Forces Initiative volunteers. Huge thanks to volunteer Mark Beckwith for building the loaner life jacket station structures.
